|
I wouldn't worry about a 3-month-old because, as you said, he is unlikely to have been exposed to anything and 3-month-olds haven't been vaccinated against much yet anyway. And if E is going to expose the baby to anything, it is much more likely to be a cold than anything we vaccinate for. If he isn't symptomatic, I wouldn't worry. Although a thorough hand washing before touching a baby that young never hurts.
But you raise a valid concern. Vaccinations have made childhood so much safer. All you have to do is read about the ravages of polio or measles in other countries to realize how fortunate we are to have a population that is well vaccinated. People who do not vaccinate their children are only safe because other people do. So those diseases remain relatively rare. Unless a child has a health issue that makes vaccination dangerous or there is a religious objection, I personally think it is irresponsible not to vaccinate one's children. The societal cost of a large number of unvaccinated children is unacceptably high.
So do you let E play with him when he's older? It's a judgement call, I guess. The risk is very slight, particularly because E is vaccinated. But if there were an outbreak of an illness like measles, I would keep E away as a precaution.
|