Question about boosters for those who chose single vaccinations for MMR

[TinyGang]

Ds and dd had separate vaccinations for MMR instead of the combined injection. They are now 3yrs 10 mths so I guess if they'd had the combined MMR jab originally they'd be due a booster sometime over the coming year.

For those that have chosen the separate injections route initially, when it came to the boosters did you pay(?) to have a blood test and do them all over again? Or did you do something else? I'm just trying to get some ideas on which way to go with this next.

I know about concerns attached to the combined MMR in babies, which is why we chose separate jabs instead; but I have not heard whether or not the worries also apply to the combined MMR injection in older children too. Has anyone done separate jabs first but used the combined injection as the booster later when the child is older? (not even sure if that's an option actually!)

Perhaps this is a question for JimJams if she can bear yet another vaccine question to come her way! TIA to everyone with any advice or experience they could share.

[sandyballs]

I've been wondering the same thing TinyGang. My DDs are 4.4 now and are due to have the booster for the MMR - they had single ones first time round. A friend of mine who has done a lot of research into this believes any booster, whether single or triple, is not necessary until the age of 6 or 7.

Also, are children who are just about to start school supposed to have another round of tetatnus, whooping cough etc jabs beforehand? I haven't heard anything from my GP about this.

[TinyGang]

Bump!

[Chandra]

I was thinking of going for the normal MMR booster once DS is 5. Though I may change my mind if other controversy starts in the mean time.

[binkie]

I did separate jabs for ds and dd, then blood tests, then re-did dd's mumps (again singly) as per the blood test it seemed not to have taken.

Subsequently our gp, who really I can't fault as to knowing his stuff, has persuaded me the blood tests are truly not reliable - and recommends ds and dd have a full combined MMR as a booster (exactly as you're asking, TinyGang). They're now 6 and 4.5, and I'll do it over the summer. My concern was always ds's development, and now he's six I'm no longer so concerned about regression.

PS for sandyballs: they are supposed to have a booster of the tetanus, whooping cough, meningitis C etc. jab pre-school. Again, my two have only just had that - but they have had it. They're old enough now to be told about the horribleness of whooping cough, and while dd was having hers ds was DEEP in a leaflet about meningitis.

[Furball]

I too have been pondering the same. As originally the clinic we had the singles at (Desumo) said, no, no need for a booster, then about amonth ago we had a form through asking if we want a measles booster? Do we? What about the other jabs? I've been putting it off thinking I must sort it, so will watch this thread carefully. Ds is 3years 10 months.

[Jimjams]

Hi TinyGang

The vaccine strains used are the same as the MMR so the same applies. 95% should have immunity. To be sure a blood test may be needed. If I was vaccinating I'd probably give a booster in the teenage years or just pre-puberty - M M and R are more serious in teens and adults.

Some children are reported to have regressed following the booster- but the numbers are far smaller than following the primary course (and those numbers are small as well).

[TinyGang]

Many, many thanks JimJams. I had not considered boosters for teens - that's food for thought and makes a lot of sense.

It seems that I and others on this thread are sort of the 'first generation' to mature from primary single vaccines to boosters. Many of us appear to be scratching heads for the next step in all this. Intially I was only concerened with finding out about how MMR could possibly affect my babies and where to find a reputable place for single vaccines. The debate has moved on a little it seems, now that the boosters are imminent. Thanks so much for everyone's input. Any others to add?