Are Vaxed kids a risk to un vaxed kids?

[FreeLikeABird]

I belong to a "natural mothering" group and some children are vaccinated and some are not. I was wondering what risk the vaccinated children can pose on the non vaccinated children? My daughter is not vaccinated but I know of a mother who is going to be vaccinating her child the week of a scheduled playdate. Do I have a reason to be concerned or am I just being over protective? Should we not attend the playdate? My daughter is 2 and is in awesome health, however I am pregnant and was not too sure?

[mkmoro311]

The shedding is something to watch out for! Find out what shots they got!

[peainthepod]

I guess it depends on your own comfort level. I wouldn't cancel but I would be extra vigilant about washing hands while there and for a few days afterwards. You can't shelter your LO from all vaxed kids who might be shedding, IMO, and if you've chosen not to vaccinate you've also chosen to risk that they might catch a vaccine-available disease.

The only pregnancy concern I can think of would be rubella (the R portion of the MMR); have you had your titers checked for immunity? And if you're out of the first trimester I don't think it's a worry anyway.

[cutekid]

I skipped playdates when I found out the Varicella Vaccine was live, and was able to spread. Since I was in a natural parenting group, everyone was pretty open about. I told parents ahead of time that we weren't going to get the Chicken Pox vaccine and please tell me when they planned on getting for their childern.
Denise

[melissabb]

I personally wouldn't. I am not naive enough to think that my non-vaxed kids will never get sick from a VAD. I would rather them get ill while young as they are better able to fight it. But, then again my kids are now 8 and 5. If they were under two I might not be so keen.

BTW, I contracted rubella when I was a kid. I was 2.5 yrs old and obviously I lived through it.

[just_lily]

I have decided not to vax based on the fact that the diseases are either exceeding rare, or not that serious.

All of the diseases that have live virus vaccines fall into the "not that serious" category. So no, I don't freak out about recently vaccinated children.

I would practice good hand washing hygeine, but I would do that anyways as I believe it is an important part of staying healthy.

[grandmaofthree]

Originally Posted by FreeLikeABird

I belong to a "natural mothering" group and some children are vaccinated and some are not. I was wondering what risk the vaccinated children can pose on the non vaccinated children? My daughter is not vaccinated but I know of a mother who is going to be vaccinating her child the week of a scheduled playdate. Do I have a reason to be concerned or am I just being over protective? Should we not attend the playdate? My daughter is 2 and is in awesome health, however I am pregnant and was not too sure?

Interesting question. I can not find any credible source that suggests your daughter, you or your fetus would be at risk. If the recently vaccinated child has open wounds around the site of the infection, obviously you shouldn't touch the open wounds and then rub your hands all over yourself. Other than that, enjoy your playdate.

Just out of curiosity, what vaccine(s) is the child receiving?

[Kiddoson]

if the vaccine is live then you are vaccinating your child "so to speak" by having your child around said vaccinated child. For all the vaccines that are "killed' i.e. not live, there is no risk.

[applejuice]

I agree with all of the previous posters.

I never worried about it since I grew up unvaxed and my mom took care of children in our home, babies that would be sick from vax reactions and all, and we never got anything.

But just the same, I would be careful. Observe good hygiene, wash hands, take your vitamins, get fresh air, stay warm, and if you are still worried, stay away.

[FreeLikeABird]

Great! Thank you all so much for your help! She is my first child so I am still a little new with all of this. I don't shelter her at all from anything, especially our group, as we are a minority. And while I have full confidence in my decision not to vaccinate her or any other children, I still have questions. I was just a little unsure since I am pregnant now and didn't know if there was a risk.

The child is getting his 2 year shots, so no MMR and when my midwife had me go for a blood test I came up immune to rubella.

Thank you again!