To ask you to talk some sense into me re: MMR

[Temporaryname137]

Just booked DD's first MMR jabs and I can't help but be really nervous about it. I know it's far better than the alternatives, I know it's far better than risking spreading nasty diseases to people with compromised immune systems, I know Wakefield was hugely discredited. But I can't help feeling irrationally wobbly about it!

Please help me to see some common sense?

I'm pro vac and both of my children have had all of theirs, but yes, taking your child to be jabbed with something sharp when you spend every waking moment trying to stop them hurting themselves, seems counter intuitive . I guess focussing on the bigger picture is what you need to do (and are) so it's just a matter of getting through it. Calpol and a day of cuddles will hopefully see you both through it.

I was nervous too not really about autism or anything - I am rabidly pro-vax and still was very anxious! and it was horrible holding his little leg to get pricked and he really screamed. But you are protecting her. The jab that really gave my ds the reaction was the meningitis one, and my DH had meningitis years ago - he caught it from a friend and the friend died. It's not like you need horror stories to make you get the jabs but it did make it very real to me.

They told me with that one to get baby calpol into him immediately afterwards and I did....he was happy as larry all afternoon and then fell asleep, when he woke up and the 1st dose had worn off he screamed, inconsolably, for hours, was clearly uncomfortable and ill. Gave second dose, finally managed to get him on the boob and he fell asleep and was fine the next day.

Just to say, she will be fine and good luck.

This has made me realise 1 year ones are soon for DS.....

No side effects whatsoever after MMR for my DS. Don't worry. I believe Men B often gives them a temperature etc. but we didn't spot anything at all after the MMR.

Some anecdata for you:

I've been a practice nurse for nearly 17 years. I have immunised hundreds and hundreds of children (maybe thousands) (and many adults) with MMR and I am not aware of any serious side effects having resulted from those vaccines.

I have had reports of fever, irritability, rashes, headaches and sore arms, but nothing more serious. Given that we receive reports of any yellow card incidents and audit them I would have known of any significant reactions.

I hope that reassures you slightly.

I wasn't too bad with the 12 month jabs

They are little enough that a quick cuddle cures all

It was Dd's MMR and DTP booster the other week and I was bricking it badly.

Luckily I bigged up the super duper extra special treat she was going to have after them. We went and bought them first, and then went to the nurse

She had her flu nasal spray first which she laughed at. And then had her two boosters.

She cried for about 5 seconds but as soon as I whipped out the treats she had picked, it was over and done with. She hasn't mentioned it since and I thought she would hold it against me for hurting her. (She has form for this)

Oh and her treats? Two ice cream cones with the mallow ice cream. One chocolate, one rainbow sprinkles

There was no such thing as MMR when I was a child. I had all three diseases and it was horrible. I was sicker than I've ever been before or since.

My sister had a 'Rubella baby'. That in and of itself is reason to vaccinate.

DD1 was due her MMR at the time of the Wakefield saga. Between this and her being my PFB I was beside myself with worry and what ifs. My DM who is a nurse and has seen first hand how serious these diseases can be managed to talk some sense into me. She just said to imagine how guilty I would feel if DD1 became ill and ended up in hospital and possibly deaf of blind as a result of my failure to vaccinate. That was enough for me.

The consequences of not giving the MMR are too grave to risk.

Vaccinations save lives. I have had the MMR and I am (for whatever reason) still not immune to Rubella. Those diseases kill. Your HV and Dr's are there for you to talk to about side affects and will be on the end of the phone if you think ANYTHING is wrong. x