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Parents' concerns about MMR
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Deciding whether to give my child DTaP/IPV/Hib, Men C and pneumococcal vaccinesDTaP/IPV/Hib, BCG vaccine
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Immunisation

People's stories

Youngest child's age 1-2 years

Interview 20

Interview 20

Background: At time of interview: married, three sons, aged 9 years, 7 years and 1 year. Parent's occupation: Both are full time carers for their 7-year-old son who is severely autistic. Ethnic background: White-British.

Brief outline:For DTaP/IPV/Hib: Followed recommendations of health professionals for two eldest boys. For MMR: They followed recommendations of health professionals for two eldest boys. Reactions that their second son had to MMR, an extensive review of research papers in medical journals, and using the Internet to read about both pro and anti immunisation arguments helped them to make their decisions for their youngest son.

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Believed GPs cannot give unbiased information about immunisations because they need to follow the Department of Health guidelines.
Print Mother: So there is information out there but it does mean trawling through the Net. Father: You wouldn't ask your doctor because… Mother: No. Father: As far as we're concerned your doctors are paid by the pharmaceutical companies and they cannot give you an unbiased opinion or an unpolitical answer to any of the questions that you might raise, towards the safety of vaccination. Mother: Yeah taking the decision not to vaccinate does require you to be very, very strong and I'd say to any parent who takes that decision, “You're not going to get an easy ride from the medical profession”. And I also am aware that there are some practices in some parts of the country that won't register unvaccinated children. So that's another… Father: And if you refuse, they strike them off their lists because it's bringing their vaccination levels down which affects their targets for money that's given to them by the pharmaceutical companies. Mother: That's sad to say, it's not paranoia. We've talked to too many people and… Father: It's documented. Mother: There's an awful lot of, and unearthed a lot of information that does suggest that a lot of this is related to finance. And I find that a sin, that our children's health is being sacrificed on the altar of hard cash. I think that's just terrible. So I think that it needs a good wake up call. But my husband is right you won't get this sort of information from… Father: Your doctor Mother: Or you are unlikely to. There are one of two full star doctors out there, if you're lucky enough to find one. We did have a superb GP. Sadly we don't have him anymore. But I think parents need to prioritise and look at it a bit more and question, question the medical profession. They're only going to listen if enough people question them and present them with reasonable questions and say, “Well, why can't we do this”, and “We're not happy about this”. I think as long as everyone just trots off with this doctor knows best attitude, at the moment, it's not a good, I don't think it's a good attitude to have.

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