Vaccinations against preventable diseases are an issue which polarise many parents and some medical professionals the world over – and have done since their invention. Whilst many believe in ‘herd immunity’ so that children who can’t get vaccinated are protected by those around them, due to certain allergies or age, for example, not all kids can get vaccinated.

And then of course there are the kids whose parents don’t believe in giving their kids vaccinations; known as “anti-vaxxers”.

Now, we’re not sure if the child in this vaccination story falls into either of these categories…but her mother certainly raised an interesting question when she posted in the Facebook group Natural Health Anti-Vaxx Community, asking:

“My three-year-old is not vaccinated and there is currently a measles outbreak in my state. Any suggestions for precautions I can take to protected her would be very much appreciated.”

It was a question which many people believed there was a simple answer to – in the absence of any reason given as to why the readily available measles vaccination wasn’t an option.

For this reason, the question was picked up by the Richard Dawkins Foundation, a group about “promoting scientific literacy and a secular worldview” – and of course, they tweeted it, with their own question: “Can anyone guess how this person could protect their child from the measles?”

Can anyone guess how this person could protect their child from the measles? pic.twitter.com/l07KClnUWv

— Richard Dawkins Foundation ????????????‍????????????⚖️????️‍???? ⚧ (@rdfrs) January 29, 2019

Naturally, Twitter had some excellent advice for the mum:

If only there existed some kind of medicine to protect children from getting such illnesses. A vaccination if you will…

— Robert Hastings (@robhastingsCPP) January 29, 2019

Thoughts and prayers?

— G.I. Joe 6-Pack (@gijoe6pack) January 29, 2019

Give the child up to some better parents.

— raiseman1 (@friscoday) January 30, 2019

At first glance I had thought this was a post by the parent of an immuno-compromised child deploring the decline of herd immunity because of anti-vaxxers. I guess my brain rejected the existence of such irresponsibility. Smh.

— T’Rox ????️‍???? (@tehrox) January 29, 2019

Build a wall?

— notjoestrummer (@notjoestrummer) January 29, 2019

Shoot the child.

With a vaccine.

— William F Parrish (@ptychodus) January 29, 2019

It’s important to note that America is currently in the midst of a widespread measles outbreak in New York, Washington and California, which is why this father tweeted a “sincere f**k you” to parents who can vaccinate their kids but choose not to:

As the father of a three year old, I’d like to offer up a hearty and sincer fuck you to the irresponsible, selfish, and incredibly stupid parents that have caused this measles outbreak.

— An Angry Librarian (@HalpernAlex) January 29, 2019

What do you think of this mum’s question? Tell us in the comments below.

If you’d like to hear more from Nama Winston, see her stories here, and subscribe to her weekly Mamamia Parents newsletter here.