I don’t want the MMR!

[Lemons1571]

Twice now at my GP surgery they’re said I need two doses as a catch up, and the diseases are nasty so I should do this. Apparently it’s because my generation weren’t vaccinated against MM and R “back then”. I’m 46, born in 1974.

I am pro vaccines but a bit confused. I had the measles vaccine back in 1970-something, as I remember my mother saying I had a reaction and was quite poorly. I have rubella antibodies (identified through routine antenatal testing). So I presume it’s only the mumps immunity that’s missing.

Even weirder, apparently once I’m 50 it’s no longer a recommendation, as you’re deemed to be ok / have enough immunity if you get to 50 without being ill from measles mumps or rubella. So in 3 and a half years I won’t need it any more?

Am totally confused. Am not really keen on vaccination to tick a box. Has anyone else gone ahead with this? Is it really necessary? I wfh so I don’t even come into contact with many people. GP says it’s important especially in “these times”

It will probably be for mumps then. I was born in 1973 and got the rubella injection at school. Havent had MMR or been offered it. My brother didn't get MMR even though he was eligible and he got mumps as a teenager and ended up permanently deaf in one ear

I's speak to your GP about it again

Can you not get a mumps vaccine separately?

I just missed out on MMR as a child and had it as a student when there was a huge mumps outbreak in my halls of residence. Is the age thing not likely to be more about how much of the virus was circulating when you were young? I.e. I was too old to have been vaccinated but too young to have been exposed to the virus in childhood. It’s an artificial cut off but that’s just where the line has been drawn.

Mumps can be really nasty so reducing the risk of that alone feels like a good enough reason for me.

The recommendation to not have it over 50 is more likely to be because the vaccination is less likely to produce immunity in the older group. Not that you would no longer need it at that point. You would still be at risk of mumps.

You might be able to go private to get a single jab against mumps alone, if that would suit you better.

I’m 49 so presume I didn’t have it. I caught mumps 4 years ago. I have no idea where I caught it but I have never been as ill in my life. I hardly ate or slept for 3 weeks and the pain was horrendous. I wish my doctor had recommended the mmr jab.

I had to have the MMR again when I had ds

The antibodies for rubella wasn’t present during a routine blood test so they wanted to give me another shot once I had had the baby.

It was no skin off my nose really. I was fully vaccinated as a child, but obviously this one didn’t stick, so it didn’t harm me to have it done again

Why do you think you'll get more expert advice on MN than from your GP?

You could get a mumps vaccine separately, but it's more expensive and harder to come by. There's a safe and cheap vaccine available, which is MMR. Take it even if it's only for the mumps part.

From nhs:

When older children and adults should have the MMR vaccine

Anyone who has not had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine should ask their GP surgery for a vaccination appointment.

It's important to check if you've had both doses if you:

• are about to start college or university
• are going to travel abroad
• are planning a pregnancy
• are a frontline health or social care worker
• were born between 1970 and 1979, as you may - have only been vaccinated against measles
• were born between 1980 and 1990, as you may not be protected against mumps

@SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness

Can you not get a mumps vaccine separately?

There isn't a separate mumps vaccine

Single mumps vaccine is no longer produced so you will not be able to source it

Good info thank you. I believe the single mumps vaccine is not available in the uk any more and hasn’t been for some time.

Not specifically looking for expert advice (though that is also welcome). Just an idea of people’s experience and view on this.

I've was invited to have one last year, I know I've definitely had measles and mumps as a child and I had the rubella vaccine at school so I decided against it, the nurse asked me and just ticked something on the computer to say I'd declined and said it was no problem to change my mind in the future, I haven't heard anymore about it.
It's people who are over 50 now who are not recommended to have it - i.e. people born before 1970 as they are likely to have had these illnesses as a child and have natural immunity, after the vaccines were introduced there was less wild virus around so less chance of catching them. It will still be people born before 1970 who don't need vaccinating by the time you reach 50, you will still be recommended to have it.

Parents need to be aware when considering single dose vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella that Merck and Co USA, the manufacturers of Mumpsvax (Jeryl Lynn strain) announced in January 2010 that it would no longer provide mumps vaccines as single doses.

The single dose rubella vaccine has also been halted. Single measles vaccines and a combined measles/rubella vaccine are still available.

You need the vaccine. You could get mumps and pass it so someone much more vulnerable than yourself, eg someone who can't be vaccinated like a very young baby. The reason they stop pushing it over 50 is you simply may not produce much immune response to it as you age.

It's a safe widely used vaccine. DD just had it, I didn't notice any side effects. You dont do it for yourself you do it for society.

I asked the GP about the bad reaction I had from the measles vaccine back in the 70’s. Apparently I was really ill with a high fever and vomiting for a couple of days. Am a bit worried the reaction might be worse now I’m ancient! GP just said ask your mother more about it, I said she’d passed away, so we agreed that’s kind of a dead end

Its not that when you turn 50 you won't need it - it's that current 50 year olds won't qualify for it. It will still be advised for the year group you were born in

I was born in 1975 so presumably didn't have it but it's never been mentioned by my GP. I presume I was vaccinated against measles and I know I had the rubella jab but I had mumps when I was young so I don't know if that makes a difference

I remember my sister having mumps one Christmas. I have no recollection of having it myself although its supposed to be quite contagious

What about people before that? I was born in 1968 and never been offered it!

According to the nhs info you wouldn't be offered it as you arent in the age groups mentioned.

I really would not repeat the measles vaccine as you had such a bad reaction.
Have you been tested for immunity to mumps ? I would do that , as you may have immunity.

Not been vaccinated against mumps... {have had measles itself, and rubella } but re mumps, DS had it as did my friend... I didn't catch it from either.... How actually catching is mumps?

Shingles..... have had it twice..Wish there was a vaccine for it, but it seems only to be offered to older people.

That is a disease worth vaccinating against...it is agony.
Lucky are those vaccinated against chicken pox...Presumably they will never develop Shingles?

Why exactly did they suggest this? You will have had all of these jabs/diseased by now?