DS 14 borderline ASD - MMR or not?

[Merguez]

DS is 14. he was diagnosed as borderline ASD when he was 3. he is in mainstream school and doing fine, but has some traits you would associate with ASD/Aspergers (not many friends, some obsessive interests).
He had the single separate vaccines when he was 3 (height of Wakefield). I am now wondering if he should have the MMR as well. There has been a case of measles in the town near where he goes to school (although not the town where we live and not in his school).
In my mind it's a question of probabilities - the probability that the MMR vaccine could do something to his brain because he is already on the Autistic Spectrum, vs the probability that he could catch measles and be damaged by it after having had a single vaccine against it.
(Not really interested in the 'herd' argument, sorry.)
Just grateful if anyone has any insight or relevant experience to share.
Thanks

[beautifulgirls]

Is he the sort of DS you could have a reasoned conversation with at his age? If so then I think it would be good to involve him in the discussion letting him know the pros and cons as you see them. It would be worth throwing into the mix the possibility of a blood test to check his immunity to measles - though check with your GP if this is an option first perhaps?

[bigbluebus]

Why do you think he is not protected if he has had the single jabs?

DS (16 and HF ASD) had his 1st MMR jab last week but he had not previously had any measles vaccines. I too wondered about the risks to people pre-disposed to ASD but never went with the theory that it actually caused ASD in general.

We are now day 9 after his jab, and apart from the fact that he fainted in a stuffy classroom yesterday and had a type of seizure (hypoxic) linked with fainting, (which may be connected with the jab or just coincidence) he appears fine so far. He has not regressed nor developed a bowel disorder.

[Merguez]

I am confused - I thought the single jab only offered 90% immunity and you needed two doses to get close to 100%. but maybe I have got that wrong?

[Ineedmorepatience]

Mergues, did he not have a measles booster?

When Dd3 had single vaccines she had the measles one first, then after 6 months the Rubella and then a couple of years later before she went to school she had a measles booster.

She hasnt had mumps vax as it is not available at the moment.

[Merguez]

No - he did not have a booster.

I had not thought about getting his immunity tested. Have googled and it's quite easy to get done privately, maybe that is the way to go.

I don't think discussing the options with him will work, he just doesn't know enough about autism and the potential impact on him.

[bigbluebus]

merguez Not everyone gets immunity from the 1st MMR, but about 90% do. The reason they do the 2nd MMR is to try and give immunity to some of those who didn't get it the 1st time - but still some people will not get immunity even after 2 jabs. They do it this way as it is cheaper and easier to just jab everyone twice.

Therefore, even if you gave your DS the MMR, he may not become immune, and as he has had a single measles jab, he may already be immune. So I think the best option is to have his immunity checked, if that is available, as that is the only way you will know for definite, and avoid unecessarily injecting him with things he doesn't need.