International Travel w/o Immunization

[mamaluv2]

Hi,
I've been reading through a lot of the discussion on vaccinations and it has helped me revisit why we decided not to vaccinate our son (now 8 yo). Based on our choice with him, when our daughter was born in 8/06 we just didn't vaccinate her either, but I was less current with the issue. Thank you to all for reminding me that we had very valid reasons for our choice!
We will be taking our children on an extended international adventure through Europe, NZ and Japan. Is there anyone out there who has had experience with traveling with non-vaccinated children abroad? I was beginning to feel like maybe we should get a select few vaccines but now I'm feeling like fear was trying to take over.
Thanks!

[missbuns]

the vaccinations/diseases/medical care are the same or better in all of the countries you are travelling to so i don't see a difference at all. i would rather be stuck in a strange emergency room in europe rather than america any day, that's for sure!!

[treemom2]

Well, we live in Japan and our kids aren't vaxed. We have no worries!

[veganf]

No troubles here. Though they've only been to developed countries. I'm sure if we were going to rural Africa or S. America, etc. I'd be a little more wary.

[MommaShark]

My mom went to England as a teen from the Netherlands and got Typhoid (in the 1960s) - which caused permanent hearing loss...that said we took my DS to the Netherlands and Belgium unvaccinated and while he caught a nasty stomach bug (in airport I'll bet) we had no problems. He was 11 months.

[Fyrestorm]

We have taken DD to Egypt she was about 6 months at the time. (some pretty undeveloped areas at that) and had no problems. I discovered that the things to worry about the most are things you can't vax against anyway - like water born parasites.

[mamaluv2]

International No Vac

Thank you to all who have responded to me so far about their experience with travels with NV kiddos. I really appreciate your input.

[newyorkone]

You should try to visit Hilary and Peter Butler in NZ

[nalo]

I would not choose to vax if travelling with DD to the countries you list.

[prairiesprite]

Yeah, I agree in general but what about chicken pox? My understanding is that the CP vaccine is not yet required in Europe, and thus far I have not found any pox parties where we live. I don't mind the kids getting CP (in fact would like them to) - just not on VACATION, of all times, when we usually go to Europe to see the in-laws. Any thoughts on this? We are selective / delayed vax.

[pantufla]

Generally parents in Europe are like parents here -- if their kids are sick and miserable, they keep them at home. I have only once seen an actual case of chicken pox while travelling abroad, and that was in the urgent care in Spain, on a weekend (DS #1 had a nasty ear infection that wasn't getting better).