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”

I may be imagining it but when I was pregnant I mentioned I had never had chikenpox and I think they tested me and told me I was already immune

Could that be an option for mumps ie if you can find out if you are already immune you could avoid the injection?

Before I got pregnant I asked to be checked if I was immune to rubella as I’d never had it and mum said that she thought I hadn’t had the jab. I was immune.

@Lemons1571

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

It could have been a coincidental bug, rather than the measles vaccine?

Some Norovirus attacks gives a high temp and vomiting?

Very difficult to know.

My husband and I were both born between 1970-79 but neither of us have never been asked about the vaccine. I definitely had mumps as a child though.

I’m not a vaccinated but have had measles, mumps and rubella as a child (and whooping cough, chicken pox etc..). When I was a child there was thought to be a link to vaccines and epilepsy so I didn’t have them due to family history. Don’t think I had any vaccinations uncle the BCG at high school.

Oh do think about the mumps jab, mumps was the most excrutiating pain I've ever felt (and I've had a forceps delivery of a 10lb baby without any pain relief) I've had shingles as well and it is horrible but if you get a bad case of mumps it is truly awful.

Two of my kids caught mumps although they had the triple vaccine as babies, it ran through their school. They had very mild mumps which I assumed was down to being vaccinated.

How actually catching is mumps?

extremely. Not forgetting that as you walk around with the mumps before you get the symptoms you can pass it on and cause sterility in some men who catch it.

I am around the same age and had mumps in my twenties. It was unpleasant, but I'm not sure I'd bother vaccinating now, even for the pragmatic reason that most people have had the MMR and so you are unlikely to get mumps. Esp if by 50 you are advised not to get it.

@SerenityNowwwww it’s a standard recommendation by whoever the health authority is that does these things! Based on date of birth it seems. I don’t have any pre existing conditions that would trigger the recommendation.

They’ve only recommended it as an add on when I’ve been at the gp for something else. They’ve never written or phoned to say it’s important.

Would a mumps immunity test be on the nhs? Will have to ask them.

This attitude is infuriating. It isn’t vaccination for the sake of ticking a box, it’s vaccinating TO PROTECT YOU AND OTHERS AGAINST 3 BLOODY HORRIBLE DISEASES.

With everything that is going on with Covid at the moment where we have no effective vaccine, why on earth would you turn your nose up at something where there is a proven vaccine?

Just have it.

I’ve have rubella: vile
I’ve had mumps: UTTERLY vile

If I was told that I needed top up jabs for mmr due to my age (I’m in the same age bracket as you) I’d roll my sleeve up there and then.

I had the MMR when I went back to university (Health related subject). Born in the seventies. I had whichever vaccines were available then, but decided to have the vaccination anyway. I know I have not had mupms and I did not want it.

I am same age and as I’d only had measles Jab as a baby, I had to have an mmr (as an adult) for an overseas residential visa. This was despite having had mumps and rubella (the illnesses I mean) and both being recorded on my medical record. It was fine, no side effects at all. Just get the jab, at least you know you’re covered then.

I was vaccinated against measles and rubella. I had mumps as a child. I don't remember it being that bad, maybe it feels worse as an adult or something. If the advice is not to have mumps vaccine after 50 then it makes no sense to have it.

I'm older than you: I had measles vaccine, I was offered but missed Rubella at school - but a blood tests have shown I have the anti-bodies, and I had Mumps as a child.

I thought even then Measles was two injections, did you have both? Didn't you have Rubella at school about 13/14?

I remember there was a thread here on MN like a year ago or so where one lady mentioned about health problems her DH started having after having MMR vaccine.
You should do what you think is good for you and don't get bullied into it.

If you are in a household with any younger women, or any men at all, please do so. Rubella in pregnant women and the impacts are known about, and mumps in adult men is no joke. Before the vaccine was available, my mum and dad had agreed that if she caught mumps, my dad would quarantine somewhere else (probably at my grandmother).

MMR doesn't give good protection against mumps.

I had the separate jabs when I was younger only I missed out on the mumps because I was poorly.
I enquired about having the mumps jab and was informed that I had to have the whole MMR jab. I had the first one and then we went into lockdown! Hoping to sort the second jab out soon!

If you are in a household with any younger women, or any men at all, please do so.

Why? She has antibodies?

Ive just had this issue as I was required to have it for occupational health clearance at work. Apparently although I was vaccinated with the single vaccines the MMR was needed to allow me clearance. So I had the vaccine- no side effects or anything and easy to do. I’m was also planning on getting pregnant a few months later so the extra coverage against rubella was reassuring.

When I was travelling to and around India a few years ago I was unexpectedly offered mmr along with the other innoculations I was advised to have. I was so surprised I said yes and it was done before I even thought about it. Like many people my age I had measles, luckily fairly mildly, and rubella as a child but have never had mumps.

It seems strange to write that, I must be among the last cohort of the population who had illnesses that were then seen almost as part and parcel of childhood experience but now thankfully for the majority of children are completely unknown.

I'm 42bsobalso not had the MMR. Have had measles though and been vaccinated against rubella obviously. Never really thought about it!

Thanks for this thread OP (and everyone who commented). I didn't have MMR as a child as it turns out my mum was going through some weird anti-vax phase which is most unlike her normal self.

I've never really considered getting it as an adult as I had rubella as a baby (so assume I have antibodies) and had the measles jab at school, but actually this thread has made me realise I don't want to risk becoming a mumps-spreading leper so I'm going to try and get vaccinated now!

Just have the vaccine, why wouldn't you. Children die in poorer parts of the world because they can't access vaccinations and you are being offered it for free.

The single vaccinations are no longer licensed in Europe and the MMR gives better immunity. It will do you no harm to have a booster for the vaccinations you already have had.

@SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness

Can you not get a mumps vaccine separately?

Single vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella are not available on the NHS and are not recommended. You can get single vaccines at private clinics but the vaccines are not licensed in the UK.