I love this, and being the opinionated ***** I am, this could not pass w/o comment. You spoke of the "idiot parent" who had failed to vacinate. If the vaccine YOU used is safe and effective what possible concern is that of yours. Many people would consider you an idiot for sending your child to a public school, but no one makes that assumption here. Two close friends of mine have recently died after receiving, "the correct treatment and advice". You were lucky and if your child was one of the growing number who is seriously damaged by, "the correct treatment and advice", I am pretty sure you would be singing a different tune.

If by "public school" you mean the local catholic school in Salford. You are spot on, and yes I have a strong opinion about this! I think not getting your child vaccinated is bad parenting! -> for heard immunity you should ideally all be vaccinated! in the USA you can not attend a state school without your vacinations!

"No federal vaccination laws exist, but all 50 states require certain vaccinations for children entering public schools. Depending on the state, children must be vaccinated against some or all of the following diseases: mumps, measles, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and polio."

If I were to drive my car down a residential road at say 60mph /100 kph and children were playing out, parents would be upset with me for taking unnecessary risks with their child's safety...

well isn't not getting your child vaccinated the same... roll the dice and see if you can infect someone......

some of these diseases are life changing for the rest of your life, some kill too!

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Back on the original subject... re-hydration salts / tabs are essential packing too.

I've been a nurse for 25 years, both my children are vaccinated. No hesitation, no debate. I know of no medical professional whose children aren't vaccinated.

There is no credible evidence vaccination is damaging (and I mean proper, medical evidence, not internet hubris) and any notional risk you may wish to come up with is vastly outweighed by the dangers of the illness they guard against.

There is considerable evidence as to the risks of catching the diseases vaccinations guard against. Be under no illusions, they kill and they maim, and in sizeable proportions.

There is also considerable evidence that the incidence of these diseases is increasing in the UK now because we have fallen below the critical levels of vaccination, so not only do these idiot negligent parents put their children at risk, they also put others at risk.

failing to vaccinate your children is negligent, irresponsible and downright dangerous if you intend to never travel beyond our shores. To travel without doing so is beyond description or comprehension.

Those who fail in their parental responsibility in this way should spend less time reading the daily mail and more time looking at their responsibilities as a parent.

As adults we can make our own choices. Children ... well the parents make their choices for the family. A family trip that would expand the child's understanding. Great! Morocco, Greece, Turkey? Small steps first?

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There is recognized documented risk with vaccination. It is a VERY low probability for most individuals.

Having been made blind probably by a vaccination as a child for a few days you might think I'd not do vaccinations again. Wrong.. I do take the majority of vaccinations offered. A work college has had there hearing effected by a flu vaccine (deaf for a day - 2 hours after the vaccine, no other unusual activities; on going problems with hearing and balance). A flu vaccine used in OZ was with drawn due to the reactions of children to it.

The conundrum .. the statistics ..

A community is safer where everyone is vaccinated. An individual existing in a vaccinated community is safer not being vaccinated.

As soon as you get even a small part of the population nonvaccinated the risks rise lots.

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Vaccination risks are very low, not notional. I think the evaluation of that risk by 'health professionals' and the drug industry is very poor. And while that continues some will place themselves and their community at risk. And the fault for that lies with the drug companies. /end rant

I wasn't talking about things like flu vaccine which I consider an unnecessary vaccine except for those in particular risk groups. I could have it at work, but I don't. If I was a severe asthmatic or had a chronic respiratory problem I might. Nor was I talking about the more obscure vaccines but the standard childhood preventative ones. I mean things like measles, mumps, rubella, polio. Diseases that have very severe consequences. I see you are from Australia so you may not have come across the hysteria that surrounded the MMR vaccine in the UK. The subsequent fall out from this has led to a number of children developing serious illnesses, from which they may die or suffer permanent long term effects which could have been prevented by vaccination.

When I say damaging, I don't mean the kind of short term side effects you may get with any kind of medication, such as anaphalaxis or other allergic reactions, systemic or localised. I was thinking of the kind of hysteria which surrounded the MMR vaccine in the UK. ill judged, poorly reported and based on such poor science that it lead to the doctor responsible being struck off.

if you really want some balanced information on vaccines and their side effects, including some of the more obscure or unusual ones, you could do worse than look here

Vaccines: Vac-Gen/Side Effects

The fault for not getting vaccinated lies with the individuals not getting vaccinated or those responsible for them in the case of children. You can't blame the drug companies or the medical profession because someone chooses to be irresponsible about their health after reading an article in the daily mirror. Medical practitioners are under an obligation to report adverse drug reactions and the evidence out there is considerable, accessible and available. You just have to go and look for it. I would dispute that an unvaccinated individual in a vaccinated community is safer not being vaccinated. I would like to see your evidence.They can still come into contact with carriers of the disease and the statistical evidence is overwhelmingly in favour of vaccination except in certain very specific individuals for certain specific vaccinations.