Views on latest Oh Baby e-mail

I'm definitely not a fan of this email. I think parents need to be given balanced information so they can make informed decisions around the health of their children.

I think some of the information in the email was incorrect too ("most children can be immunised even if they have a mild illness like a cough or cold"). I was always told not to vax when my child is unwell.

And another thing, weren't most of the kids who got whooping cough and measles vaccinated anyway?

I don't think OhBaby should be telling parents what to do just because they get paid by an advertiser to do so. They are allowed to say no to advertisers if they want to. I don't think money should be more important than giving parents balanced, well researched information.

Edited by kirstyren

I actually didnt find the email offensive. They say that immunisation is something you can do to protect them, which is a true statement.

They never said that if your child is immunised that they wont get the disease.

They also put a disclaimer in after the part about if your child is unwell, to see your health professional.

They never said that you must immunise your child and you are a bad parent if you dont.

I guess my take on it is that was national immunisation week therefore they gave information (which i thought was quite impartial) about immunisation. They also gave links for more information. I think that you could compare it to breastfeeding ads - do they go on to say about formula feeding??

Nope didn't have a problem with the email, didn't feel it was pushing the point but rather stating the facts that 1. immunisation can help protect your kids from diseases that can make them sick.
2. By having a high immunisation rate disease outbreaks are less common.


It's up to you whether you choose to do it or not but i think the email wasn't too pushy.

I have no problem with that.......if i didnt want to immunise and had done my own research to support my decision (as I did so for my choice to immunise hence why starting late with immunisations) a simple straight forward letter wouldnt be offensive. But then again if the same letter told parents NOT to immunise with its reasons then I would probably find that upsetting.......

I suppose those who dont immunise might find it inappropriate, and those who do immunise will probably find it appropriate

Edited by Chickielou

Kicker wrote: I actually didnt find the email offensive. They say that immunisation is something you can do to protect them, which is a true statement. They never said that if your child is immunised that they wont get the disease. They also put a disclaimer in after the part about if your child is unwell, to see your health professional. They never said that you must immunise your child and you are a bad parent if you dont. I guess my take on it is that was national immunisation week therefore they gave information (which i thought was quite impartial) about immunisation. They also gave links for more information. I think that you could compare it to breastfeeding ads - do they go on to say about formula feeding??

Couldn't have said it better myself

It doesn't bother me, its just informing people, much like breastfeeding etc

Seems the same as all the pamphlets posters etc you see in every plunket and drs office. Just coming at you from a new angle. Some of the wording was a bit out (so i can see why it might upset people) but perhaps more due to poor phrasing then real intent.

Meh, it's just advertising. If you don't like it, just push delete.

Publications take editorial positions to support (or not support) particular issues or causes all the time, that's their perogative. I personally don't find the info offensive but if objectivity is a concern then I guess what is missing is that the piece isn't labelled as either opinion or an advertisment.

Febgirl wrote: I think OB is taking the responsible approach to highlight the frankly rather appalling non-immunisation rates that we currently have in New Zealand.

Absolutely!!