Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 3

AIBU?

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:

Report

AllTheFunAndGames · 04/04/2019 19:26

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

Op said she is protected against Measles and Mumps. She only needs Rubella vaccine. The website said the NHS do not cover single vaccinations, only the complete MMR. Presumably, that is
why they said she would have to pay privately.

bsc · 04/04/2019 19:43

Chouetted- maybe it's by area then? My eldest is younger than 15, but I wasn't tested for any immunity in pregnancy. I had a rubella immunisation as a teenager, around 13 I think, but that's all. (This is moot now, anyway, as I don't want any more children!)

AbsentmindedWoman · 04/04/2019 20:22

@AllTheFunAndGames I didn't say I am protected against measles or mumps, I have no idea if that's the case I just said that I was screened to check rubella status as part of pre conception bloodwork.

I did not ask my Gp for a single vaccine - I asked for the MMR.

So no, that is not what they meant.

OP posts:

Redken24 · 04/04/2019 20:26

Hi I don't have a rubella immunity either and am pregnant with my second child. I think there was talk of getting jab after first but I didn't really think of it until my booking in. Where they don't seem to do it anymore. Check with midwives and see - even if you aren't pregnant yet just to put mind at rest

mindutopia · 04/04/2019 20:29

I think you need to make an appointment and speak to your GP. The receptionist is not a clinician and she can’t advise you on this.

SummerInSun · 04/04/2019 20:45

On a slightly separate note, if you aren't happy with you GP practice now, definitely change practices before you have the baby. Once you have the baby you will want a great practice that will fit the baby in at short notice if you are worried, get a GP to ring you if you have concerns, make referrals if you need them, administer the baby's vaccines well and have convenient appointment times, be sensitive to you if you have any post natal depression, give you good helpful support with contraception, etc. I have been more to the GP (for the kids) since having my two DC than I had been in my entire adult life before.

Sidge · 04/04/2019 20:47

I would suggest you see the practice nurse rather than the GP - immunisations are their remit rather than the GPs.

WhoWants2Know · 04/04/2019 20:57

I'm not immune to Rubella either, and I've had quite a few vaccines. It sounds from this thread like it just doesn't work for some people.

dolorsit · 04/04/2019 21:04

I don't what the hell that nurse looked up to say there had been no cases of measles in the last three years in the UK.

There were at least 913 cases last year. In November there was a warning to ensure people had the second dose as the number had tripled from the previous year.

The risk is still very low of catching measles but I am horrified that the nurse gave out such incorrect information.

DonPablo · 04/04/2019 21:10

I had my MMR last September. I'm almost 40. Free, given by my nurse at my gp surgery, so baesd on that experience, I dont think that can be right.

TicketyBoo83 · 04/04/2019 21:15

I had mine on Monday so she’s talking nonsense. I still need a booster in 4 weeks and then need to wait a month after that to ttc because it’s a live vaccine.

Schuyler · 04/04/2019 21:16

Before you have the vaccination, are you on any immunosuppressive medications?

TroysMammy · 04/04/2019 21:21

The GP would direct you to the Practice Nurse. Speak to the Practice Nurse who can then make enquiries with the local health board's immunisation department and she can then advise you accordingly.

KoraBora · 04/04/2019 21:27

@seven201 no idea what your nurse was looking at but I had my 2nd MMR last year and they were giving all the surgery staff boosters due to the outbreaks. They didn't even question me. I asked the nurse at my babies 1st jabs if I could book it and they offered to do mine then and there. The local NHS hospital has had a drive making sure all staff are up to date even in non patient facing.

dragoning · 04/04/2019 21:27

Why on earth won't they give you MMR on the NHS?! How strange. I was given MMR with no hassle whatsoever (never had measles).

TroysMammy · 04/04/2019 21:30

The NHS website says adults can have the MMR vaccination free.

grumpypug · 04/04/2019 21:31

I've had loads - always on the NHS. I don't hold the immunity apparently. I've had double vaccinations and been tested after 3 months and not been immune. I gave up in the end.

AlocAcoc · 04/04/2019 21:35

It may be that you need to ask your midwife rather than the GP.

Figmentofimagination · 04/04/2019 21:40

I went for a routine checkup for the mini pill with the nurse about 18 months after having my DS. She told me I hadn't had my follow up mmr, and did I want to have it done there and then. No issues, no having to go private. I didn't even know I was due a 2nd one.

seven201 · 04/04/2019 21:40

Oh sorry, I think I confused measles and rubella! They only checked me for rubella I think (as part of a fertility referral) so I guess it must be rubella that's not had any cases in the last few year. Apologies for sidetracking the thread with my stupidity.

I'd had the rubella (or maybe mmr, I don't know!) vaccination two years ago, the day after my dd was born so it wore off pretty quickly. I've had the vaccination lots of times but just doesn't seem to work on me for some reason!

BlitheringIdiots · 04/04/2019 21:41

I had the MMR injection when I was 20. For free. But that was 25 years ago

EdithWeston · 04/04/2019 21:48

It always was the case that if you were found not to be immune to rubella, the NHS gave the jab again before you TTC your next.

Also if born after 1970 and not sure of immune status, you can get it on request.

So I think the receptionist was wrong.

But depending on what autoimmune condition you have, you may need to check with your specialist team whether live jabs are OK

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Snowflakes1122 · 04/04/2019 21:51

Certainly not the case for me.

I was told I’d need the mmr before I ttc the next baby, as I wasn’t immune to rubella.

I forgot, but they wouldn’t let me leave the hospital without having the jab when I had the second baby.

MollysLips · 04/04/2019 22:03

I was born in 1971. My medical record says I had the Rubella jab when I was in my teens, but there's no mention of Measles or Mumps.

Can I go and get an MNR? Is there a danger of having it if you've already had it in the past but your medical record is wrong?

I asked mum if I'd had it and she hadn't got a clue 😆

MollysLips · 04/04/2019 22:03

*MMR

Flip

1 2 3

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.