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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse this Rubella vaccine?

39 replies

babybearsmummy · 07/05/2014 16:32

I've had a call from my GP surgery "reminding" me that now dd is born and no longer bf, I should go in for a rubella vaccine as I'm not immune to rubella.

WIBU to refuse it as I've had the MMR vaccines at school, had a case of rubella when I was younger and have had the rubella vaccine redone 3 times in the last 5 years (for course/ career related reasons) and every time I have my blood tested for immunity to it, the results come back negative.

WWYD??!!

OP posts:
stargirl1701 · 07/05/2014 16:33

Ask for a referral to immunologist to discuss why.

Gileswithachainsaw · 07/05/2014 16:35

If it's shown that you have no immunity to it then I'd take the vaccine. Especially if you plan to have another baby at some point.

alcibiades · 07/05/2014 17:00

For some people, neither the vaccine nor getting the disease itself, provides immunity. I'm one, as well. After the last vaccination, my doctor said the only chance I'd get of becoming immune was to have multiple vaccinations over time, in the hope it would eventually work, but that it probably wouldn't.

The NHS page on rubella might be of help: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rubella/Pages/Introduction.aspx, in terms of the risks of catching rubella.

ohldoneedtogetagrip · 07/05/2014 17:07

DD1 has had several MMR's and was advised to get re vaccinated after DGD was born. She also caught mumps at university.
To be honest l think she has given up all hope of developing immunity but may consider another before trying for DC2

WooWooOwl · 07/05/2014 17:39

If you're not planning on having another baby, then it's entirely your choice.

Personally, I wouldn't bother. My ds doesn't have immunity to rubella, but as it's a mild disease anyway, I'm fine with that.

DinoSnores · 07/05/2014 17:45

Well, yes, rubella is "a mild disease" unless you catch in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, when it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, hearing problems, brain damage, cardiac abnormalities, and cataracts.

frogslegs35 · 07/05/2014 18:04

It's usually mild -yes, but can cause bleeding disorders and encephalitis in a worst case scenario.
Like chicken pox is safe for the majority of children there's some that it's severely affected.

Imo if there's a vaccine I personally don't see a reason to risk my childs health nor the health of others around.

We don't have huge outbreaks due to mass vaccination which is very good but if enough people stop vaccinating their dc it will come back.
Measles outbreak in Wales is proof of that.

alcibiades · 07/05/2014 18:29

It's true that the low incidence of rubella in the UK is because of the vaccination programmes, but this isn't a case of someone refusing to be vaccinated, it's someone who can't make the antibodies.

It's a difficult situation to be in.

Sigyn · 07/05/2014 18:35

I don't know enough about this. My understanding is that you are best off just having the vaccine again and again and hoping it "takes". But I do think this is rather different to someone refusing to vaccinate-three vaccines in the last 3 years is a lot.

FWIW I have the same with chickenpox. I haven't had it, I don't seem to have antibodies to it (checked each pregnancy) BUT I've been around plenty of people with it in my time including my brother as a kid and my own kids, etc, and yet I've never caught it. I don't think its vaccinated for in the UK but I have routine occupational health vaccinations so if there is, I've been jabbed for it. It is weird.

Is there any chance that the problem could be with the test? I don't know enough about this-I wonder if its worth posting on the health thread?

ICanSeeTheSun · 07/05/2014 18:42

This is why herd immunity is vital.

It seems like even if you do have another vaccination it is unlikely to work.

frogslegs35 · 07/05/2014 18:43

Sorry should have been more clear - my post was in reply to a pp

OP - I'd want to know why I wasn't immune after having the vaccine numerous times. Will you eventually become immune after X amounts/doses of vaccine and is it safe to do that etc...

TeacupDrama · 07/05/2014 19:07

some people does do not get immune after vaccination OP relies on herd immunity as for some reason she can not develop antibodies, once could be regarded as unlucky but after 3 vaccinations she is probably wasting her time being re-done again but you should get advice OP proper advice not just "oh well no harm just having another" type

most people develop enough immunity after a course of Hep b ( now, in a month and in 6 months) with a booster at 5 years and occ 10 years, I have been told immunity tends not to fade if satisfactory after 10 years some need 5 year boosters but if after course and 2 boosters no antibodies you are not going to develop them and if necessary will just need testing for hep B

alcibiades · 07/05/2014 19:32

Apologies, frogslegs, if I seemed to be a bit snippy in my previous post. This is a rather emotive topic for me. My second child could have been a "rubella baby" because I assumed I was immune having had the jab after my first was born.

Joysmum · 07/05/2014 19:48

My mum still hurts as she had miscarried her baby before me so it's not something I'd take lightly if planning to conceive in the future.

Sigyn · 07/05/2014 19:51

And, as others have said, THIS is why we need herd immunity. Well one of the reasons.

alcibiades · 07/05/2014 20:07

You're right, Sigyn. I don't know when routine rubella vaccination came in, my DC were born in the 1970s, and I can't recall what vaccinations I was given as a child. But, ultimately, it was herd immunity that protected my children - as it turned out, I couldn't.

stargirl1701 · 07/05/2014 20:09

I was born in the 70s and we had the Rubella vaccination in Primary 7 at school. Just the girls, I think.

Thattimeofyearagain · 07/05/2014 20:11

Yes, YABU. & totally irresponsible.

gotnotimeforthat · 07/05/2014 22:02

I'm exactly the same, I found out during pregnancy that I have no immunity to it even though I have had all prior vaccinations. I had two booster shots following birth and yet I'm still not immune.

DS still got the vaccination though. If anything I saw it as all the more reason for him to be vaccinated.

bonzo77 · 07/05/2014 22:13

Wow. I didn't know about this, and I usually know about stuff. We are ttc. I had my rubella jab at school when I was about 12, so in 1989. There was no mmr when I was a toddler. Should I get the jab?

bonzo77 · 07/05/2014 22:13

I mean both my sons have had their mmr.

MrsMaturin · 07/05/2014 22:16

Bonzo if you've had children recently then you're immunity was probably tested during pregnancy. Check with your GP and if they cannot confirm you are immune then get the MMR before continuing ttc.

WooWooOwl · 07/05/2014 22:16

It's worth asking about Bonzo.

Pregnant women and their babies are going to be much better protected from rubella if we routinely vaccinate pregnant women. I don't understand why the NHS don't promote the vaccine for pregnant women in the same way that they advise taking folic acid for those TTC.

gotnotimeforthat · 07/05/2014 22:26

woowoo

You cannot give a pregnant woman an MMR vaccine. You have to wait until after the baby is born and then have a booster jab.

WooWooOwl · 07/05/2014 22:33

I didn't make myself very clear then, sorry! I meant that it should, be promoted as something that women should do while they are TTC. I know that wouldn't help those of us that had surprise pregnancies though.