[Mistify]

I am on another forum that is very anti-vaccinations for children (or anyone for that matter), and it got me thinking how do nurses and other healthcare workers feel about vaccinations and anti-vaxer's. Most of the posters on that forum are very hostile to anyone in healthcare and no matter what a healthcare worker posts it is always wrong or they are spying for "The Man". They tend to see healthcare workers as uninformed, uneducated, and uncaring. How do you feel about vaccinations for yourself or children? Do you ever have people that are very anti-vaccination and what reasons do they give? And do you think that most people that decline vaccination are informed about or understand the effects of the route they are taking? I am not trying to judge, I am just very curious.

[Jolie]

I find that those who are rigidly opposed to vaccines of all types are usually ill-informed in the basic principles of public health, and that those who unquestioningly support every vaccine available are equally ill-informed on matters of personal health. I personally believe that EVERY American high school student should have to take a basic course in public health, in order to equip themselves to make INFORMED decisions regarding their health and that of their children.

[sddlnscp]

Well, I am a nursing student, not a nurse, but I do have an opinion anyway. I am very pro-vaccinations. My children I have kept up-to-date with vaccinations from day #1 and I recommend vaccinating to anybody who asks my personal opinion on the subject.

I do know a lady who was very anti-vaccination until recently, where she had actually discussed it for many months with the local health nurse and has finally decided to begin vaccinating her children. She had a hard time coming to this decision, but she decided that ultimately it was what was best for her kids.

I also feel it is very important for me to keep up my own vaccines. I am working around a multitude of people with many different disease processes and I want to be protected for both myself and my family as much as I possibly can. I respect people's differing opinions on the subject, but I would never allow my own children's vaccines or my own personal vaccines to lapse.

JMHO.

[TazziRN]

All my children are vax'd on time, but I don't fault parents who decide not to if they make the decision knowing all the risks. I have a problem who don't have their kids vax'd because they just don't bother.

[GardenDove]

I opted out of most vaccines. I feel the number of vaccines given to children today is harmful to their immune systems and contributes to immune disorders, which are on the rise. I've read more honest research on pet vaccinations which have been implicated in the rise of rheumatoid arthritis in dogs.

I also have a holistic approach in other ways. I gave birth to my 6 children at home, breastfed for at least one year, and did not run to the doctor for illnesses. I can count on one hand the times my children were on antibiotics, and only once was for an actual illness. My children have totally above average health which I don't think is coincidental. My oldest child will be 30 years old this year.

I don't share this information with my co-workers as it is considered heresy.

[WolfpackRed]

Originally Posted by GardenDove

I opted out of most vaccines. I feel the number of vaccines given to children today is harmful to their immune systems and contributes to immune disorders, which are on the rise. I've read more honest research on pet vaccinations which have been implicated in the rise of rheumatoid arthritis in dogs.

This is OT, but in talking to our vet, she suggest getting titers drawn annually to determine ab levels, and if low to give the vaccine. I can understand that repeated annualy vaccines could be detrimental in the long-run.

Back on topic, I was breast feed as a child and was also vaccinated in accordance to state standards for primary school and college, and then later while entering the military. Feel fortunate to have good health *knock on wood*. Anyways, I feel that people should get the shots.

[LovebugLPN]

I worked for a school district and had a woman who taught there insist that vaccines were the cause of her child's autism. She actually headed a group that tried to "educate" people about the dangers of vaccines. On the other hand my son's pediatrician was livid because I refused to have my son get the varicella vaccine. She showed me horrible pictures of children with chicken pox. I didn't appreciate her scare tactic. While I was in nursing school he came to me and told me he had chicken pox. It ran its course with no problems. I do believe in vaccinating but I don't jump on the bandwagon for every vaccine without considering it.

[INtoFL_RN]

I tend to believe in the benefits of vaccination not only for individuals, but for public health as a whole. I vaccinate my child, and I got the Hep B, influenza, and pertussis booster for work. My mother-in-law is very anti-vaccine, but she seems to be also misinformed. She thinks that because she is over the age of 60, her body is "used" to all the different flu strains and that the flu vaccine with just make her sick. She freaks every time my son goes in for a well-child visit and gets multiple vaccines. She is also a person that believes in the power of supplements and vitamins. She takes 1000's of % of her RDA of every vitamin thinking that it will keep her healthy.

I'm not one to jump on every new vaccine that comes out though, especially for kids. I am wary of the long-term studies done on some of these before they get put on the market.

[JaneyW]

I think one of the main reasons for the varicella vaccine is the prevention of shingles later in life--not just the prevention of chicken pox. Shingles are horrific and I would have liked to have had a vaccine to not have to go through what my grandma did with them. Too late for us--we all had chicken pox before the vaccine.

[LovebugLPN]

My son's pediatrician said he would not have lifetime protection with the vaccine and, as we all know, chicken pox as an adult can be bad.
As a previous poster mentioned we don't always know the long term effects of vaccines that are coming out.