Aibu to ask for opinions about the MMR jab

[shatteredmama]

I'm by no means an anti vaxxer, dc has had all of the standard jabs so far, just turned 12 months old so it's time for the MMR, have an appointment booked for it next week, just can't stop feeling twitchy about it.

Would really love to hear opinions on it, or of any up to date reports on its effects, I've scoured the web but can't find anything other than the standard NHS type advice.

What are your concerns?!..

All the links to autism and bowel disease were discredited as far as I can remember. I personally feel it's irresponsible not to have it and 18 years ago when the controversy about it was at its height several parents at my DD nursery were adamant they weren't getting their dc vaccinated which made me furious they were risking a measles epidemic. And the mumps made my brother sterile so I believe strongly in the vaccination.

Well my opinion is that you should get your kids vaccinated. Both my kids have had the MMR, it is a much smaller risk than complications from measles etc imo.

You'll be feeling a hell of a lot more "twitchy" if your child comes down with measles!

What are your concerns?

The typical NHS advice is correct. If there were more to be said the advice would be changed. Could you make an appointment to discuss your worries with your GP?

the scare by Wakefield has been discredited and he was I think struck off as a result. NO connection between MMR and autism has ever been found. Have them vacinated

catlover the autism controversy, and captaincrunch, thank you, this is the sort of the kick up the bum I need.

Wow, lots more replies since last post, thanks wise mumsnetters, it's what I wanted to hear.

The person almost entirely responsible for the lies, hysteria and parental fear has been totally discredited. He fabricated test results, and the kids he used in his experiments were generally his friends' children. He was, at the time of his 'findings' being paid to develop single vaccines.

That's more or less all you need to know.

People still believe him because they want to find something to blame for their child's condition.

Your very welcome

Look at the data for Japan. They stopped using the MMR and autism diagnoses continued to rise, just as they have in places where they use the MMR. That's because the two things are unrelated.

www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/vaccines/nommr.html

As Ben Goldacre memorably once wrote "Andrew Wakefield, or to give him his full medical title, Andrew Wakefield".

No connection

Ben Goldacre wrote about him at length in Bad Science, it was very interesting.

My dc2 can't have the vaccine due to a reaction and the contraindications (this is being monitored by doctors at the hospital etc if we could we would but I can't risk it) so we rely on heard immiumty scares the living day lights into me.

It's my biggest fear.

Dc1 is fully vaccinated.

The only experience I can offer...

Both my dcs have had it. They are fine. And hopefully protected against measles, mumps and German measles.

I had mumps as a kid. Woke up Christmas day with it.
Also had German measles...
My sister had measles.

I think my mum was anti vax.

Print, laminate, keep for future reference. ..

the best cartoon ever

Unfortunately, Pat, the man in the street finds anecdotes of individuals more convincing than large meta-studies, when reality completely inverts that.

Adding to a pp about his appalling methodology, I think he paid money for samples collected at his own child's bday party.

Here's an altruistic argument. If you don't vaccinate, then there won't be the same level of herd immunity that protects those who really can't have the MMR.

You are twitchy because of the flawed 'research' that I foubd dodgy way back when I was a student. As with most theories, it grew legs.

Have it.

We opted to go private for single vaccinations 11 years ago when DD was due for various reasons.

It was quite straightforward at the time as a lot more people were a lot more dubious about the MMR. I think it's harder now and am not sure it's even possible to get a single mumps one.

I would be more inclined to go for MMR these days and would certainly have it rather than go without if singles weren't available.

My mum refused the whooping cough jab for me as a baby. I caught it aged 6 - was ill for 2 months and one of my lungs collapsed which required physiotherapy. I was diagnosed with asthma the following year and at 40 rarely catch a cold without it going to my chest.

It beats the pants off measles or mumps or rubella. If your child became ill with one of the diseases the MMR protects against they may need multiple needles and blood tests / be permanently damaged/ not survive, at the very least they will be miserable for a few days. Go for the jab.

That cartoon was very interesting.

However, i'd be interesting in hear why there were 1600 families wanting to bring a case against MMR manufacturers in the first place - regardless of whether Wakefield was getting paid for finding evidence iyswim.