I recently found out that one of my older son’s playmates has not been vaccinated at all. I’m not concerned for my older son, who has had all his vaccines, but I am afraid for my one-year-old, who has not yet gotten his full series. What is the risk for him contracting something like measles from this unvaccinated child? And how do I approach this subject with the boy’s mother, if at all? — Measles and Mumps and Rubella, OH MY!
Dear Measles,
As parents increasingly choose not to vaccinate, this kind of scenario comes up more often; theoretical questions begin to feel practical. In communities where not all children are vaccinated, what are the risks?
The good news is that most of the diseases our children are immunised against aren’t real risks anymore; vaccines have been so successful that some horrific illnesses (like polio) have been all but totally eradicated. Without a breeding ground, the diseases can’t keep on keeping on. This is one reason people argue that it’s selfish not to vaccinate: is it ethical to reap the benefits of other people’s vaccinations without returning the favor?
We decided to ask Dr. Saha, the pediatrician who advised us on From the Hips about the specific risks.
His take: Polio may not be a problem, but some diseases are still around, including pertussis, pneumococcus, and haemophilus influenzae type B. If your child is being vaccinated on the schedule, he will have been largely immunised against these diseases already, even without the last shot in the series (which is due at 15 months). The measles and chicken pox vaccines are given at 12 months, so your son may actually have received these as well.
Chicken pox happens, but in babies it is not severe (not fun, but not dangerous). [Read more about the chicken pox vaccine here.] Measles is very, very rare. According to Dr. Saha, a baby is also protected from measles if his or her mother is immune (as a result of prior infection or vaccination) as the antibodies cross the placenta.
You can ask your son’s doctor whether she keeps to the schedule or uses her own, and let her know your concerns. She should have the best idea of where you are immunisation-wise, and be able to help you assess the situation from there.
Regarding whether or not to raise this issue with the other parent: What do you hope to accomplish? Do you want to learn about her choices? Debate them? Confront them? Knowing that the risk to your child is likely very minimal, it seems that a conversation might be more trouble than it’s worth.
Of course if you want to open up the debate for reasons beyond your own personal safety, fire away. It’s a free country, as they say. Just remember that it’s free for both of you. And that though your beliefs and methods may clash, you share the same goal: keeping your kids safe.
Have a question? Email parentaladvisory@babble.com.au
Maternal immunity against measles does not last a year.
These “dummy mummies” that choose not to vaccinate are idiots who put us all at risk – especially those of us with newborns who have not yet been vaccinated due to their young age and are therefore most at risk. The original study that linked autism and the MMR vaccine has been utterly, completely discredited and the doctor who lead it is shortly to be de-registered in the UK because it is now known he faked the original results. The results of the original, flawed and faked study have NEVER been replicated, but because some celebrities have picked up this cause it is given weight (and continues to be so). In Mosman and Byron Bay in Australia there is a massive resurgence in whooping cough and other preventable diseases because group immunity levels have dropped to dangerously low levels. People who continue to believe the b*llshit that comes from the anti-immunity camp should come with a “Beware – trendy idiot, endangering my community” warning. The fact that they can say “It’s my choice” is indicative of how uneducated, short-sited and stupid these people truly are.
The only person most putting your children at risk is yourself. Having a child vaccinated does not mean that it is immune from all diseases even from the one you vaccinated against. You can still get the diseases even if you are vaccinated. Read up in the side effects of theses things and you would understand why some of us choose not to vaccinate. Any way the no-vax child is no more of a risk than a adult -have you had your boosters lately? how about all of those around you?