If you are a grandparent that truly love and care about your grandchildren, you would get vaccinated! I am sorry but it is as simple as that. I am shocked to see the posts supporting such a selfish attitude!!! I am an MD and completely understand your DIL concerns (the only thing I don't understand is why not letting you close to the children if you received your vaccines.., for your wife it is a different issue...), and honestly, I would not let my parents close to my newborn children if they didn't get pertussis and flu vaccines, as much as I love them. But my parents also love my kids and their grandchildrens health is their priority too, thus I have never had to negotiate such a thing that should be a no brainer! I don't know what allergies your wife is reffering to, but there are different vaccin preparations and as an MD I am quite sure there is a safe one for her as well! I don't know if you really realize that newborns are extremely fragile and can die or have lifetime complications because of those diseases. Adults often simply sperad germs without even knowing they are sick, hence the need to vaccinate yourself to protect newborns who are too small to get a shot themselves! What is more important to you, avoiding a little side effect of vaccination or protecting your grandchild from death? Geez!!!View Thread