Why do some people choose not to vaccinate their children?

Answer 1

It does not have to do anything with parenting skills. Most of us are trying to do the best for the children, and some people do research before they make up their mind. There are a lot of side effects in vaccines, some of the very serious (but more rear), and the whole truth is rarely told. For example, the government had made the amount of mercury in vaccines look very small, but when compared to the weight of a newborn baby, the amount of mercury in some vaccines that were given to kids (who's nervous system is still developing), was WAY over safety levels for adults. I'm personally very curious to see if autism rates are going down after mercury was taken out of vaccines. But everyone getting shots for their kids should still make sure that they are getting mercury free vaccines, since there are still some vaccines containing trace amounts of mercury. If you have a choise, why not to use it?

It is truth that vaccines should be given to control diseases, but sometimes common sense should be used. For example, the vaccine schedule in the United States tells us to give Hepatitis B vaccine for a newborn baby, right after they are born. But many of the parents don't even think that this disease spreads through unprotected sex, shared needles, and blood. It does not have to do anything with babies. So wouldn't it be good to just wait even few years, when the child's body can handle it better, before giving this vaccine?

So vaccines should be given, I believe, but if there is a way to give some of them when kids are older, it would be safer.

Answer 2

Because like with everything in life, there is risk associated with it. The risk is low, but it is present. Until recently, some vaccines had mercury as an additive that was believed to cause autism. Some people think too many vaccines cause autism, some people do not. I have no idea.
The government used to allow an active, alive version of the polio virus that wound up giving people polio. They've now stopped that. Also, the Rotovirus vaccine wound up killing a lot of children back in the 90's and it was pulled off the shelf.
So it is true, some vaccines can kill your children.
But my kids did receive all but one because I just think the benefits of vaccinating outweigh the risks.
Plus for some, it's a matter of religion. I don't think people who chose not to vaccinate are bad parents or ignorant, it's just not a chance I'm willing to take with my own children.
We did space the vaccines out, though. I don't understand giving 3 or 4 vaccines to an infant. If they have a reaction, how will you know which one it was from??? So it took my kids a little while longer to get all caught up but now they are.
My kids & I also get the optional flu shot, too.

Answer 3

Well the same reason everyone chooses a different religion. A lot of the personal choices we make in life have to do with the facts that we were all brought up differently! Some people choose not to vaccinate their child because the see the side effects and weight the risk of their child getting the illness to those and decided it's not worth it! Some people my do it out of religious beliefs, seeking God to care for their children. I personally being a medical professional see this as a complete lack of parent education on our part in the medical community. However just like any other medical treatment, they can refuse or go against medical advice if they so choose! We can't control the decisions everyone makes. However, please be advised that if you choose not to meet the safety and social standards of vaccinating your child, your child will be excluded from group/school activities for the safety of the others.

Answer 4

Some people chose not to vaccinate because they hear stories of kids dying after a shot or it causing Autism.... Yes its has happened to some kids but if you were to actually make a graph of the kids that died or got autism and then the kids that had no side effects I am sure the ones without incident would win hands down.

People don't want anything bad to happen to their kids but if you live life like that then you might as well not let them out of the house because they might get hit by a car, but then again better not leave them in the house because some runaway car might crash into your house...

Do whats best for your child but I believe vaccines are great, my son hasn't had any side effects and even slept through a few needles when he was a baby.

I just wonder if those same people that wont vaccinate their children were vaccinated themselves and what if they were to go traveling to some country that you needed to get vaccinated against malaria etc.. would they do it or would they be against protecting themselves??

hmmmm might ask that question myself. hahah.

Answer 5

There are several factors behind some peoples reason not to vaccinate their children.
1=many of them (like Jehovah's witnesses don't believe in medicare .and depend on other treatments such as prayer or herbal home cures.
2-Many people don't trust the government to know what is best for them.
3- many people (even more so than ever) are aware that the more Penicillin and other antibiotics you pump into your children the less will be their body's natural defense in later years. The body's immune system is not as good in later years due to viruses and bacteria becoming immune to treatment such as Penicillin and other antibiotics.
4-Drug companies are coming up with so many new vaccinations for children just to sell drugs that in itself is enough to make parents second guess doctors.

5-environmental damage in human bodies(water and air are Causing humans to developed more allegories of which vaccinations have little or no effect, and immigration is bring in so many new viruses, and illnesses that viruses are jumping across strains to create new defenses against Penicillin and other antibiotics that people think leaving well enough is best .

Answer 6

Some people don't vaccinate their children because of religious reasons. This is the normal reason. Other then that about 99% of people do vaccinate their children. The risks out way the consequences.

Answer 7

There are some vaccines that after looking at all the pro's and con's of getting it, there are more con's than pro's for some people. I've heard of doctors that wouldn't vaccinate there children because they found out that the vaccine wasn't safe.

Answer 8

Not all parents have bad parenting skills. Sometimes this has nothing to do with the skills. People chose not to because of religion, autisum, death, mercury and many other things. I have done some research in this area and have found many reasons not to vaccinate their children. As with anything there are always the pros and cons. It is an individual choice.

Answer 9

Vaccinations sometimes make your child sick (instead of preventing illness), some vaccinations used in the past (and many still today) have bad side affects, some kids are allergic to certain vaccines, and many people believe more in natural medicine. Like the chicken pox vaccine doesn't prevent you from getting the chicken pox, so many people let nature take it's course. Many people who practice medicine themselves take this approach, so I wouldn't call it ignorant. I would call it another way of looking at things.

Answer 10

Although I think it's a decent idea to get children vaccinated, it can also be harmful and you may not know it.
When I was little, my mom took me to get all my shots but I got pretty sick from some of them. When I got the flu shot, I would end up getting a bad flu, sometimes twice.
I havent gotten a flu shot since I was about 7 years old and I havent gotten the flu since.