Anti-vax nurses? Are you serious?

Nurses COVID

Published

We were discussing the Disneryland measles outbreak at work, and I was appalled to find some of my co-workers refuse to vaccinate their kids. They (grudgingly) receive the vaccines they need to remain employed, but doubt their safety/necessity for their kids.

I must say, I am absolutley stunned. How can one be a nurse and deny science?

As a nurse, you should darn well know what the scientific method entails and what phrases such as "evidence based" and "peer reviewed" mean.

I have to say, I have lost most of my respect for the nurses and mistrust their judgement; after all, if they deny science, on what premise are they basing their practices?

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
think this is mandated... at least that is what they told me. once you bring in your animal, they ask a series of questions and WILL NOT let you leave without one.

I don't think that's accurate. I can't imagine my vet forbidding me from leaving until I vaccinate my dog.

Specializes in Tele, OB, public health.
I wonder if they really look at their logic. They hate the idea of a risk of autism. But there is also a risk of death from the actual disease. Makes me want to ask them: Do you hate autistic kids so much you'd rather have your child die than be like them?

Yes and yes!I often think this! Essentially these parents are saying their kids are so wrong, it would be better if they were dead

To quote a friend of mine who both vaccinates and has an autistic kid

"Even if there was a link between vaccines and autism, I'd rather have an Autistic kid than a dead one"

This hysteria over the measles is overblown, in my opinion. I actually remember having the measles when I was 4 years old. It's not a death sentence by any means. Losing total respect for people with other healthcare philosophies? Well, that goes against my ethics as a nurse that preaches tolerance.

Yes, the Polio vaccine has saved millions from getting that crippling disease. Vaccines have done a lot for the public health. But, I still believe in individual rights and the rights of parents to make healthcare choices for their children. That means that they also should have the right to bottle feed, feed them junk food, and not have bed times for them, all things I disapprove of.

According to the CDC website, measles IS a death sentence for 2 of 1000 children who get it. 1 of 1000 will get encephalitis with possible long-term deafness or brain damage.

A friend's aunt died at age 4 from measles while her mother, age 6 at the time, survived it.

I found out early in my first pregnancy, when I had titers done, that I was not immune to rubella. I am not sure if my mom accidentally skipped the booster or it just didn't take. Thanks to herd immunity my child was born healthy.

If a person wants to have the right to not vaccinate their children, fine. But the children who are too young or suffer from immuno-compromised systems (like many of the children who are my patients) have a right to be safe in school and the community. The anti-vax families need to keep their children at home. Measles would most certainly be a death sentence for many of my patients.

Sending unvaccinated children to school or other public places to possibly infect vulnerable populations of children is just as inconsiderate and irresponsible as a person lighting up a cigarette and blowing smoke in a place where there might be people who have lung diseases and severe smoke allergies. Just darned inconsiderate and selfish.

Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

off track but I did not have to have organic Chem for either my biology degree (BS) or BSN

My thing is, if you are not gonna vaccinate your kids, KEEP THEM OUT OF PUBLIC PLACES

My thing is, if you are not gonna vaccinate your kids, KEEP THEM OUT OF PUBLIC PLACES

Yes -- as already noted, I, too, have to produce my dog's vaccination records to bring him to the grooming salon or dog daycare. I'd love to see Disney and other businesses introduce a policy that parents have to show their kids' vaccination records to bring their kids in ... :)

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

I have to agree with you on this. A nurse I worked with seriously stated the vaccines weren't necessary because "nobody gets the measles or mumps anymore." Umm...maybe because we were all vaccinated?

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
According to the CDC website, measles IS a death sentence for 2 of 1000 children who get it. 1 of 1000 will get encephalitis with possible long-term deafness or brain damage.

A friend's aunt died at age 4 from measles while her mother, age 6 at the time, survived it.

I found out early in my first pregnancy, when I had titers done, that I was not immune to rubella. I am not sure if my mom accidentally skipped the booster or it just didn't take. Thanks to herd immunity my child was born healthy.

If a person wants to have the right to not vaccinate their children, fine. But the children who are too young or suffer from immuno-compromised systems (like many of the children who are my patients) have a right to be safe in school and the community. The anti-vax families need to keep their children at home. Measles would most certainly be a death sentence for many of my patients.

Sending unvaccinated children to school or other public places to possibly infect vulnerable populations of children is just as inconsiderate and irresponsible as a person lighting up a cigarette and blowing smoke in a place where there might be people who have lung diseases and severe smoke allergies. Just darned inconsiderate and selfish.

Devil's advocate...why should the anti-bad parent keep their kid home? Why does the right of the other child trump the rights of the anti-vaxer's child? Maybe the child with the compromised immune system should be kept home. When do we decide who has more rights?

I can say as a parent to children with special needs I've always assumed my children's rights are not priority in society. If I need something different...I expect it as long as it doesn't cause issues to somebody else. If our needs/wants cause issues for another...we step back.

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
My thing is, if you are not gonna vaccinate your kids, KEEP THEM OUT OF PUBLIC PLACES

Because the vaccinated child has more rights?

And I'm not anti-vax...but I support freedom of choice.

Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

We can't expect parents to trust medicine or big pharma 100%. We told them Tamiflu was safe an effective. It isn't. Newest Cochrane report shows the manufacturer of Tamiflu didn't tell the entire truth. So when these things happen...it gives parents the right and desire to not trust and question big pharma and medicine.

I'm not anti-vax. My children are vaccinated. I also have an autistic children...who was autistic before his vaccines. I have a very close family member who had a severe vaccine reaction. I still vaccinated.

I still believe parents have a right to make a choice. I also do not believe that their rights are less important than anyone else...including somebody with immune system issues. I have children with other special needs in my home and their rights and needs never trump the rights and needs of others if it means somebody else is put out. We have the special needs...means we suffer the consequences and suck it up.

Also, not every anti-vaxxer is afraid of autism and such. Some just don't fear the diseases, some feel the diseases are treatable (yes they killed before but we can treat better now), some don't believe that vaccinations are natural or normal. They can have their beliefs...great thing we can freedom of choice. Our country wasn't founded on the "greater good" as defined by certain people but on personal freedoms.

Devil's advocate...why should the anti-bad parent keep their kid home? Why does the right of the other child trump the rights of the anti-vaxer's child? Maybe the child with the compromised immune system should be kept home. When do we decide who has more rights?

I can say as a parent to children with special needs I've always assumed my children's rights are not priority in society. If I need something different...I expect it as long as it doesn't cause issues to somebody else. If our needs/wants cause issues for another...we step back.

Kindness and consideration for others.

Specializes in OB.
We can't expect parents to trust medicine or big pharma 100%. We told them Tamiflu was safe an effective. It isn't. Newest Cochrane report shows the manufacturer of Tamiflu didn't tell the entire truth. So when these things happen...it gives parents the right and desire to not trust and question big pharma and medicine.

I'm not anti-vax. My children are vaccinated. I also have an autistic children...who was autistic before his vaccines. I have a very close family member who had a severe vaccine reaction. I still vaccinated.

I still believe parents have a right to make a choice. I also do not believe that their rights are less important than anyone else...including somebody with immune system issues. I have children with other special needs in my home and their rights and needs never trump the rights and needs of others if it means somebody else is put out. We have the special needs...means we suffer the consequences and suck it up.

Also, not every anti-vaxxer is afraid of autism and such. Some just don't fear the diseases, some feel the diseases are treatable (yes they killed before but we can treat better now), some don't believe that vaccinations are natural or normal. They can have their beliefs...great thing we can freedom of choice. Our country wasn't founded on the "greater good" as defined by certain people but on personal freedoms.

Couldn't have said it better. I do not approve of the CDC schedule. Too many too soon in my humble opinion. My son was diagnosed with autism coincidentally right after his first MMR and at the height of the controversy... Guess what... He didn't get his 3yr. MMR. I know now that there is no correlation. He is caught up. I have had another child just have a severe reaction to the TDap and meningococcal. I will not give this one 2 vaccines at the same time again and the doctor agrees. There are other reasons people are not caught up and it isn't just because they are anti vaccine.

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