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.