Living with a semi anti-vax husband.

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Hi all,

I have been a nurse for 11 years, my husband has recently become an anti-vaccine, stating he wants his immune system to be bale to build and fight off naturally. He needs his Tdap, and flu season is approaching. He did allow me to give him his flu vaccine last year. I am hopeful to get some recommendations how to explain the importance of vaccines. If he has the facts most time he will understand, I have tried explaining in multiple ways why. But he is still resistant. Any advice is appreciated. 

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.
On 9/26/2020 at 5:56 AM, AceOfHearts<3 said:

Here is a link about a boy in New Zealand that contracted tetorifice. His family was anti-vax until they experienced first hand the consequences. This happened in 2012, but it’s a story I’ve never forgotten and like to share in these circumstances. 
 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&amp;objectid=10855638

Isn't it a shame a child had to suffer for his idiotic parents to learn their lesson?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
9 hours ago, Nunya said:

I'm not sure I'd go the "flu shots are like homeopathy" route as homeopathy is a crock and flu shots aren't.  Flu shots aren't perfect but homeopathic meds are basically useless.

I agree, it's not the explanation I would give to a scientifically minded person.  It's how I explain the premise of a vaccine to someone who incorrectly believes that vaccines are full of chemicals that replace your immune system, rather than teaching your immune system how to deal with a pathogen.

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Point out that there are many things we rely on experts for.  Whether it is auto mechanics, retirement investing, electricians, etc...  When somebody with no training assumes they know better than an expert, it is like the fat guy eating chips, drinking beer saying how the professional coaches are all wrong, but he knows how to manage a football team.  (If he happens to be one of these guys, I would skip this analogy.)

My mechanic tells me to change the oil every 3,000-5,000 miles in the car.  But a lot of people on facebook say that that just makes the car dependent on oil changes, rather than teaching it to run on old oil......

The architect says the house needs a two foot concrete foundation, but I am going to go with some old stumps so the house can adapt to the weather...

It is a crazy how folks who take all kind of expert advice in most facets of their lives are happy to ignore scientific expertise.

 

 

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
On 9/27/2020 at 12:23 PM, Nunya said:

I'm not sure I'd go the "flu shots are like homeopathy" route as homeopathy is a crock and flu shots aren't.  Flu shots aren't perfect but homeopathic meds are basically useless.

While I agree that homeopathy as it is understood by the general population has many downsides, it does have a place in modern medicine. I have had consults with a Doctor of homeopathic medicine (They have medical schools with rigorous training and Harvard is one of them) that were a helpful adjunct to the treatment I receive for my four autoimmune diagnoses.  When a homeopathic doctor works in conjunction with a medical doctor the results can be amazing. Most homeopathic doctors are not anti-Vax, nor do they want to replace modern medical practices but to be a part of a integrative team.

hppy

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Specializes in ER.

If this is a deal-breaker,  get a divorce. Your healthcare philosophies are incompatible. 

If he is otherwise a fantastic friend, lover, provider, companion,  then come to peace about it. 

 

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Specializes in oncology.
1 hour ago, Emergent said:

Your healthcare philosophies are incompatible. 

Do you want to spend the rest of your life taking care of someone with Covid-related sequelae? Talk it out now...just like you do other talking points in your marriage

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Specializes in ER.
16 minutes ago, londonflo said:

Do you want to spend the rest of your life taking care of someone with Covid-related sequelae? Talk it out now...just like you do other talking points in your marriage

You can apply that principle to any of many other things...

- eating a high sugar diet leads to obesity and diabetes. That is a known fact. 

‐ smoking causes cancer,  heart disease,  COPD

I, personally,  would never be attracted to a man who had either habit. 

My point is, that the OP has to decide what is acceptable for HER, based on her personal value system. 

Agreed, they need to talk it out, probably with a counselor,  and DEFINITELY  before having kids. 

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

"Honey, when we have a minute this weekend, I'd like to go over our health insurance and life insurance file to make sure everything's up to date."

Seriously. Might get him thinking about why you're interested.

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