Measles outbreak, should I keep DS at home?

[Endofrelationship]

I live in greater Manchester, where there is a confirmed measles outbreak. DS is 3. He's had round 1 of his MMR but is too young for the second dose.

I also have DD, 2 weeks. DS attends nursery, but I'm wondering if I should just keep him home, since he doesn't need to be in nursery. Or is that an overreaction?

I think about 90% of children are protected with 1 dose and the second dose is given to cover that remaining 10%. Are there cases at the nursery?

One shot of MMR has a 93% effective rate against measles so I would be relaxed about his chances of getting it. However, if he doesn’t need to be in nursery (is he not old enough for preschool?) then I don’t see any harm in keeping him home if you feel better about it.

This is what happens when we allow people to opt out of vaccinations. Those poor kids.

They only give the 2nd jab as a small percentage of people don't gain immunity from the 1st jab and its cheaper/quicker/easier just to give a 2nd dose rather than test everyone for immunity first. Some children will not gain immunity even after the 2nd dose. So there is a very high chance that your DS will be protected now and if he isn't then he still might not be after the 2nd jab!

That's good to know about the second injection. I wasn't aware of that.

No outbreak at the nursery yet. It's a private nursery polarbear he won't be going to pre-school, though I'm not sure what difference it makes?

If there’s a high risk they give the second dose straight away. Here in London you get the second dose of MMR at 1 so he is plenty old enough if they thought it was necessary

Lampshadylady they've advised anyone who hasn't had the second dose to speak to their GP about it. I'm just waiting for a call back but it'll likely be next week.

Here in London you get the second dose of MMR at 1 so he is plenty old enough if they thought it was necessary

Not as a matter of routine they don't. My two got first dose at 1 and second at around 3 and 4 months (preschool booster)

loraline well it definitely is in south London - I just checked the vaccination schedule

Measles can kill. Roald Dahl’s daughter died of measles. If there was an outbreak I’d keep my DC at home despite being vaccinated.

Can you link that guidance and which PCTs, lampshade ?

Also a Londoner, and here it's deffo the usual 13 mo and pre-school, and that's the only schedule given on the NHS national page.

The typical incubation period for measles is 14 days (can go longer), so you'll need the start quarantine now and continue until a mimimum of about 19 days after the onset of the last case before going out and about again. Less that and you might as well not bother at all.

I'm in central London (southish) and it's not that here.

Loraline, vaccine schedule is the same whenever you are in the UK. MMR is at 1 year and then preschool.

Also South London - second MMR is offered from 18 mths here
www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200048/health/1706/immunisation

I'd keep him home personally for the sake of your 2week old daughter. Are you going to avoid play groups too though. Tough to avoid contact.

An accelerated programme to increase uptake? That area must have had a lot of anti-vaxers or people who simply weren't bothering with the 2nd does at 3 years. It's not standard. Might be an idea to roll it out if measles outbreaks keep happening!

I know @ChrisjenAvasarala . I'm not the one saying otherwise

The upshot is the OP's child can have a second dose now if she decides its necessary

well it definitely is in south London

Yup, it is in Lewisham (but not in neighbouring Greenwich) - it was the subject of an NCT WhatsApp confab this past week, and DD had the second jab at 16 months.

It's 18months in Greenwich.

I'd ask about the second dose rather than quarantine. He could catch measles from the supermarket or a visitor or something if he were to get it.

If he doesn't need to go, then I'd keep him home & arrange for the 2nd dose.

Wow. Interesting that they're doing this (having to do it) now. I stand corrected.

But yes, for the OP, an early booster might be a good plan!

Sizeofalentil that's where I'm at. We can't stay locked up in the house, but at the same time, he's more likely to catch it at nursery than elsewhere though. But he'll go stir crazy at home!

Does anyone know if DD is protected by my immunity re MMR?

From nhs:

TheMMR vaccine can sometimes be givento babiesfrom 6 months of age ifthey may havebeen exposed to the measles virus,orduring ameasles outbreak.

Babies under 6 months old are not routinely given the MMR vaccine.

This is because the antibodies to measles, mumps and rubella passed from mother to baby at the time of birth are retained and can work against the vaccine, meaning that the vaccine is not usually effective.

These maternal antibodies decline with age and are almost all gone by the time MMR is normally given – around the age of 1 year.

MMR vaccination is recommended for 6- to 9-month-old babies if they're at high risk of becoming infected in certain circumstances, such as during a measles outbreak.

But these children may not have enough protection from this early dose, so they'll still need the standard MMR doses at 12 to 13 months and 40 months of age.