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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Gp receptionist says I am not entitled to MMR vaccine, is this correct?

70 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 04/04/2019 17:24

Pre conception blood tests (before I moved practice) showed that I have no immunity to rubella, despite having MMR in my teens. I also have an autoimmune condition so it would be pretty bad news to get measles.

I've just called to ask to book a jab with the nurse. They say no, I have to pay privately, as they only give the MMR to teenagers and I'm rather older!

Is this correct? My new practice are generally all round shit, so just checking here. The NHS website says MMR is available on the NHS, but makes no mention of it being at the discretion of the practice?

OP posts:
havingtochangeusernameagain · 04/04/2019 17:29

This would appear to indicate your practice is wrong: www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine/#mmr-for-women-planning-pregnancy

greenelephantscarf · 04/04/2019 17:31

it might be that the nurse can only do the vaccinations as per the official vaccination schedule. anything outside that needs to be 'prescribed' by the gp.

Chouetted · 04/04/2019 17:31

I believe it's actually to do with how many doses you'd had.

Does this apply to you?

"Anyone born between 1980 and 1990 may not have received a mumps vaccine, and anyone born between 1970 and 1979 may have only had a measles vaccine. "

If so, you're probably entitled.

Original poster
AbsentmindedWoman · 04/04/2019 17:33

Yes, that's the page I viewed earlier. But my practice seem to think it's up to them?

OP posts:
Original poster
AbsentmindedWoman · 04/04/2019 17:34

No, I had one in school, but a blood test showed I have no immunity to rubella. So it didn't work, or wore off.

OP posts:
Sidge · 04/04/2019 17:35

No that’s wrong.

It’s not necessary for those born before 1970, as they will have been exposed to wild measles. However anyone born after that should be offered immunisation.

Info from our Green Book (immunisation bible) is below.

Gp receptionist says I am not entitled to MMR vaccine, is this correct?
Gp receptionist says I am not entitled to MMR vaccine, is this correct?
Sidge · 04/04/2019 17:35

Balls it didn’t attach. Try again.

Gp receptionist says I am not entitled to MMR vaccine, is this correct?
Gp receptionist says I am not entitled to MMR vaccine, is this correct?
Chouetted · 04/04/2019 17:36

You're definately allowed two on the NHS, so if you've only had one, or can't prove you've had two, it's an easy shoe-in.

If you've had two, but are not immune, I'd suggest discussing it with the doctor rather than the receptionist.

AllTheFunAndGames · 04/04/2019 17:40

You can't get individual vaccines on NHS but you can get MMR (all in 1). Is that a possibility?

Awrite · 04/04/2019 17:40

I asked a GP about MMR for myself and he said absolutely. Not if I was TTC though, which I was.

I was about 33.

Awrite · 04/04/2019 17:42

Allthefunandgames - both the thread title and op talk about MMR. Why do you think she's after a single vaccination?

Ocies · 04/04/2019 17:45

OP I think you should speak to either your GP or a practice nurse. Your circumstances are not ‘standard’ and I wouldn’t expect s receptionist to make that decision. (Im a practice manager)

Original poster
AbsentmindedWoman · 04/04/2019 17:46

Thank you for your replies. Hmm. This practice frustrate me so much, they make everything so hard!

OP posts:
TheVanguardSix · 04/04/2019 17:50

I was found to longer have immunity during my pregnancy with DD2. I was given the MMR after she was born. No problem . No questions asked.
You need to ask to speak with a nurse. It may depend on what's on offer in your area.

Ellapaella · 04/04/2019 18:02

I wonder if they'd be prepared to accept responsibility if by refusing to vaccinate you you caught measles or rubella during pregnancy and worse case scenario happened? It wouldn't look good for them would it?
Can you speak to your midwife as I'd imagine they may be able to sort this out for you by speaking to the practice. Also I'd be speaking to the practice manager about this as well.

Sidge · 04/04/2019 18:23

@Awrite you just have to wait a month after receiving MMR to try and conceive. It’s not a complete contraindication.

NoHolidaysforyou · 04/04/2019 18:25

Some GP practices are on the app MyGP, could you ask the receptionist to give you the code to register for that? Then you can just make an appointment with a GP to discuss it.

NotSoThinLizzy · 04/04/2019 18:27

I didn't have immunity when I was pregnant with my 1st when baby was born i got it after that didn't pay for it though. I'm in Scotland if that's any different

bsc · 04/04/2019 18:28

So they are mop-up vaccinating those born before MMR came in? They didn't mention this at all when I was pregnant (and I had no childhood illnesses other than mumps). My youngest DC is 10 now though.
How long has this been happening?

werideatdawn · 04/04/2019 18:33

I was given the MMR after I had my first because it showed up that I wasn't immune to Rubella. I would go back to the surgery, sounds like that got it wrong.

Trooperslaneagain · 04/04/2019 18:38

I’ve had 3 rubella vaccinations and am still not immune. M and R is fine.

cptartapp · 04/04/2019 18:50

If you're not immune you can have another, even if you've had the recommended two doses as a child. Just don't get pregnant within a month as it's a live vaccine.
Ask to speak to the nurse and refer to the Green Book guidelines above.

Chouetted · 04/04/2019 18:54

@bsc Since at least 15 years ago - it first came to my attention at 18, when someone in my school caught mumps and as a result we all got the MMR. It was news to all of us that we hadn't been vaccinated for mumps, not least the casualty in question!

When I went to university the next year, there were posters everywhere about the need for catch-up MMRs in our age group.

I thought at the time I'd had both (measles outbreak in my school at 7), but have since found out that was actually a single measles vaccine, so I probably still have one to go.

iolaus · 04/04/2019 18:54

They no longer screen for suspecibility to rubella during pregnancy though

That said I've had the stupid jab 13 times and I suspect I'm not immune (I wasn't after the first 12)

seven201 · 04/04/2019 19:08

I also was tested and shown to be non immune. They more or less insisted I have the vaccination. Turned to the appt and was told I could try for a baby for a month if I have the vaccine. The nurse looked up the stats and discovered there'd be no measles cases in the last 3 years in the uk! So I didn't have it done. This was end of last year.