Will you let your child get ill?

>>  Sunday, April 14, 2013

In June 2011 I wrote this post about the measles rates increasing in Europe, how the link to Autism and Crohn's disease had been discredited and that it was time to get children vaccinated.

I'm a bit bemused that all the people of Swansea did not immediately heed my wise words and now the epidemic has moved into the UK.

There is now blame being pointed all over: the report writer, the supporters, the parents, the dog.   The mail are printing idiot statements like 'it's poor nutrition and housing that caused children to die from it, now they will be nursed and they will be fine, stop panicking.'  By that logic we may as well stop our children having any vaccines at all - hey, let them suffer, they'll get over it.  Bloody idiots.

Each of these virus reduces the immune system and increases the risk of contracting viral meningitis - but again hey, people get better these days.

I've even read comments and quotes from people saying "I had measles in the 1950s and it did us no harm".  Hmmmmm, not sure it enhanced their cognitive intelligence gene.

Vaccination isn't just about you and your healthy 'they'll no doubt get over a good bout of measles' child.  What about the child with cancer that can't have vaccine or the child with aids.  Vaccination is about herd immunisation.   Some children can't have the vaccine for medical reasons but the protection for these children comes from the herd control of the overwhelming majority of children having been vaccinated, preventing mass outbreak and lowering the likely hood that they will come into contact with the virus. 

I had measles as a child and despite being very young I have never forgotten how dreadful it was. 
Through out her life I  have made sure that COG has had her vaccinations.  I was always completely bemused by the mothers who proudly and loudly announced in the playground that Darling Dilis had not had her jabs because Mummy cared so much about her.  My attitude was the complete opposite, I just didn't want COG to suffer from the illnesses.

WHO says "Measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available."
 
Measles is a horrid disease and the infection rates are still rising in Europe and in the UK. We seem to have all forgotten how dreadful the disease is, the devastating affects it can have.

You are never too old to be vaccinated. This is from the NHS website:

The vaccine can also be given on the NHS to certain adults who may need it including:

  • women planning pregnancy
  • people born between 1970 and 1979 and between 1980 and 1990

If you are a woman thinking about getting pregnant you may need to be vaccinated if you have low levels of rubella antibodies or you haven't had a rubella or MMR vaccination before.

People born between 1970 and 1979 who may have only been vaccinated against measles also need the MMR vaccine, as well as those born between 1980 and 1990 who may not be protected against mumps.

Check with your GP if you're not sure whether you've had rubella or MMR.

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