To the non-vaxing moms

[Veronika01]

Would you vax your children if you lived in a third world country like South Africa?

[Twinklefae]

I don't know, it would depend on a lot of factors. I definitly wouldn't do MMR, as I'm not worried about DS catching any of those diseases. (In fact, I want him to, preferably before puberty)

I might do Diptheria, if it's common/known in S.A. (I don't think it is, but I don't know) I might do Hep B as a preteen. (Again, but I doubt it) Those are the only two I would even consider. The rest don't work/don't worry me. It would also depend on where in S.A. I was living, what my access to clean water was like, and a few other factors. But in general, no, no I wouldn't.

[PassionateWriter]

no

[Gitti]

I don't see where injecting neurotoxins would ever be beneficial, so NO.

[justice'smom]

Nope

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by Gitti

I don't see where injecting neurotoxins would ever be beneficial, so NO.

ITA...no way!

[lachingona1]

nope

[Tofu the Geek]

Okay, am I myself as I am now and I just moved to SA or was I born there?
am I poor or do I have money?
am I educated or not?
do I have access to clean drinking water or a way to filter it myself?
is there good sanitation in my area?

It's kind of a hard question to answer without more context. Assuming that I am me, in my current state, and I move there, then no, I wouldn't. Mainly because vaccines haven't been proven to be safe and aren't always effective, so I'd take my chance with the diseases. But, I would also ensure that I had good filtration and sanitation, importing things from North America if necessary and I'd likely have an arsenal of herbs and homeopathic remedies on hand.

[nicoliani]

I have read of skyrocking SIDS of vaccinated babys in the third world. Just image that the baby's already are weak to poor nutritions and think about the mildest side-effect a vaccines give for exampel high fever.

[nwmamas]

I'd have to re-do my research, and I might consider a couple of them, but truth be told, I reallllly don't think I'd do any of them.

[greencat]

I will never go to Africa for that reason.

[Mirzam]

Absolutely not.

[Deborah]

My grandparents on my father's side quit vaccinating their kids in the early 1900s. Conditions in the U.S. then were a lot more like conditions in the developing world, now. Of course the only vaccine commonly available was for smallpox. The family continued to be mostly anti-vax through to the present, at least my branch thereof. My grandkids are the 5th generation either unvaxed or minimally vaxed.

So, generally, no. I don't see vaccination as a good solution to infectious disease.

[peainthepod]

Probably not. Maybe rabies but only if he were bitten by a wild animal or otherwise exposed.

[theretohere]

No. We signed up to be missionaries to Africa without vaxxing (didn't go for other reasons).

[Veronika01]

Originally Posted by greencat

I will never go to Africa for that reason.

Not really an option if you were born and raised here, is it?

We were all born and raised here, live a western lifestyle in a western type home, filter our own water, have a normal (western) flushing toilet sanitation system and we homeschool. I'm glad to hear that so many of you would still decline vax'ing because that's what we did with our third child. You know, when we actually took the time to research vaccination. I've read a couple of posts where people mentioned that they would vax if they didn't live in the US, so I was wondering what the overall concensus would be.

[ema-adama]

I grew up in South Africa unvaccinated and had all the VPD's (my parents actively sought out to have me exposed). I think I was vaxed against tetanus when I stood on a rusty nail (growing up on a farm).

The question would have A LOT to do with where in South Africa you would be living/visiting. Urban South Africa (or more like suburban) really would not be that different to anything you would be familiar with (other than MANY more dark faces around you) Also access to medical services in urban areas is very good and medicine in South Africa is of a high standard.

Rural is another whole ballgame. I worked in a rural hospital and my heart goes out to the rural populations. There you have freshly qualified doctors doing amputations and C-Sections. Quite awful.

So, to cut a long story short. I am off to visit my parents in Cape Town and I have no intention of vaxing my son for the trip. So, no, I would not vax.

Okay, am I myself as I am now and I just moved to SA or was I born there?
am I poor or do I have money?
am I educated or not?
do I have access to clean drinking water or a way to filter it myself?
is there good sanitation in my area?

Good questions to be asking. Add to that source of food....

[loveyourohana]

There you have freshly qualified doctors doing amputations and C-Sections. Quite awful.

This comment made me arghhhhh!!!!

Are they doctors that are FROM Africa? or are they mostly Dr.s from other countries comming in to Africa?

I am wondering this, because I really get angry when other countries come into a country and experiment, or wont consider the wants and needs of the people they are helping.

As for vaccinating my children if we were moving to Africa... All those things listed above... clean drinking water, food sources, etc. but I would be the same there as here. Make sure that you have the immune boosting products. Vit. C. CS, GSE. and Oregano Oil, cayenne pepper, are always in my backpack, home, office, I always have a small bottle of those things readily available.

So No, prob. not. Doesn't mean I wouldn't consider a couple of them depending on the sources available.

[ema-adama]

Originally Posted by loveyourohana

There you have freshly qualified doctors doing amputations and C-Sections. Quite awful.

This comment made me arghhhhh!!!!

Are they doctors that are FROM Africa? or are they mostly Dr.s from other countries comming in to Africa?

I am wondering this, because I really get angry when other countries come into a country and experiment, or wont consider the wants and needs of the people they are helping.

Not related to the OP question, but I want to reply.

Nope, they are South African doctors who have finished their studies, done their year of internship and then are required by law to do a further year of community service in rural hospitals. This is the only way to get doctors into rural hospitals. (I'm talking about villages hour and hours away from the cities where specialists are flown in by helicopter. I had the opportunity to work in such a hospital when it became mandatory for OT, PT and Speech and Language Therapists to also do a year of community service.)

If these newly qualified doctors were not there, there would be no doctor and people would be dying where a c-section or amputation could save a life. This does not make it right, but it was the reality. There were also Cuban doctors there in the capacity of anesthetists and physicians.... And in the villages there are also doctors driving in from the cities to make their fortunes by charging for drugs that are questionable.... oh I could write a very very long rant about just how horrific the situation is there, about me being threatened for trying to change the status quo... but this is not the place to do that.

Also, this was in the heart of Zulu land, not somewhere most people in South Africa have ever been, let alone visitors/tourists. And in no way reflects the dynamics or level of care that are available in the cities.

[mamadelbosque]

Probably not. I might reconsider a DT shot though, but cant see as how any of the others might be helpful.