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”

Our friends and neighbours caught mumps at the same time.

They were so unwell, him more than her.

We took food parcels (not that they ate much to begin with) and drinks for days and days.

She recovered in around 2.5 weeks, he was a lot longer, I think maybe 6?

I'd have the vaccination if I were you.

I had measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, chicken pox and scarlet fever as a child!! (1970s). Nothing wrong with me now chicken pox was the worst.

@nerdsville

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!

Honestly, mumps is utterly, utterly vile. I was about 6 when I had that. I still remember how ill I felt. Hideous, hideous, hideous. The only other thing came close in childhood was scarlet fever. It was awful. And I gave it to to my sibling and then my whole class.

If you can get a jab (and rates of mumps in some parts of the country are on the rise I think due to a variety of factors) then do it.

I'd get the vaccine. I had it myself a couple of years ago for similar reasons. It's very likely that your reaction was mostly a coincidence. Kids get ill all the time. The "reaction" you described doesn't sound like a reaction, just a normal illness.

My dh has recently had the MMR in his mid-40s for a job, as he needed to prove immunity or vaccination for M, M and R and it had to be two doses for measles, and he could only prove one measles vaccination and not having had the others. It was fine, no reaction etc.

These diseases are nasty in adults. Plus what NannyR said about the age thing. I'd at least consider it.

There's not much harm in having vaccines and it protects you from potentially deadly diseases. It's also doing your bit to prevent the circulation of these diseases so they don't kill/harm other people. It's a social duty really.

I'm intrigued how this advice came to OP. (long story how I found out that) my surgery has no record of me having any vaccine ever. They have zero interest in my vaccinations (age mid-50s).

I’m really surprised that they are pushing you to have it. I’m a few years younger and never heard of this being a thing.

I looked into single vaccinations when my DS was young because of all the (probable nonsense) about the MMR but it was impossible to get mumps vaccine separately. He did have the MMR as did my youngest.

You can immunity tested for mumps - readily available privately Eg doctors laboratory in Harley st area of London

Would anyone else in the family remember if you got mumps eg your aunt if you have one? I’m the same age as you and contracted it as a kid. People would he likes to remember it because it gave kids a sort of hamster face effect

@WhatifIfeellikeacat

MMR doesn't give good protection against mumps.

Surely better than no protection against mumps though?

It seems more GP surgeries are checking these things. This year was the first time someone asked me why I don't have MMR (or any other vaccines) on my records. I explained it's because I immigrated here at 17 and none of my previous medical records followed, but I do recall having all of them as well as boosters in the months before I arrived (because many US colleges require evidence of jabs, and the parent who had them wouldn't hand them over so I had to go through a booster course to comply).

I was told I should double check that and call for an appointment if it turns out I haven't. Oddly, I've spent over a year trying to get the teen jabs for my son (now 16) that he missed in Y9 and am having no luck, GP surgery says they don't do those anymore and I keep getting fobbed off by the local school immunisation team that there will be a catch-up session at some point (but his college says they don't do them there).

I had rubella when I was a teen. And by all accounts, mumps is a misery.

Have the MMR. Be grateful we have these vaccinations.

I keep getting text messages from my GP about this - but I had the MMR as a child in the 1980s. Apparently I need a second dose of it, which I'm fairly sure wasn't the case back then. I think I had all the recommended vaccinations, my parents weren't haphazard about it. It seems a bit odd.

I'm not going to a GP for anything non-urgent while Covid's still a worry, though.

I had mumps when I was a child. I still remember the pain now.

I had mumps as a child. The only thing I really remember is being gutted that was better after a week and I couldn't have a second week off school. The mumps itself wasn't that bad for me.

@dementedpixie

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

I saw this and am confused as to whether I have been vaccinated or not - was born mid 79?

I'm 49, had the rubella vac at school. I also had mumps and measles as a young child - my parents laughed a lot when I had mumps because my face looked like a balloon. I've never forgiven them!

The reason it will not be recommended over 50 will be because the vaccine will not have been tested on people over the age of 50, so it is not licensed for use in over 50s. This is why you can only get HPV (which you would have to pay for yourself as a female adult) up to the age of 45.

I would happily have MMR for the Mumps protection, as I have not had that, but I am not allowed. The M&R elements will just top up any immunity you may already have (which may not last a lifetime anyway, since we do not regularly come into contact with these diseases any more).

"I am pro vaccines" and "I don't want to have a medically recommended vaccine because I think I know best" don't go together.

@WhatifIfeellikeacat

MMR doesn't give good protection against mumps.

The NHS website says after two doses of MMR 99% of people are protected against measles and rubella and 88% are protected against mumps.

It also says if you do get mumps after vaccination then you're less likely to have serious complications or be admitted to hospital.

Good enough odds for me!

I've never been offered this (am 45), is it something most GPs recommend?

@ThatDamnScientist you may not have protection against mumps or not protected against mumps and rubella. Do you remember getting a rubella vaccine at school?

I was born in 1972. I was immunised against Measles. I had mumps when I was about 8. I also registered as having immunity to rubella when I was tested as a teenager.

Are they testing for antibodies? Is mumps something you can get twice?

You're being offered a free vaccine to protect you against some awful diseases. Why would you not take it? Instead you want to waste NHS money getting tested for antibodies... but only if you don't have to pay. Awful attitude.

I would do it. I'm a few years older than you and wasn't offered a measles vaccination back in the day. I had wild mumps in primary school and then a rubella vaccination at school in my teens. I was offered, and had, the MMR when my children had it and was in my late 30s by then. The vaccine you have now is much refined compared with whatever was being given to kids in the 1970s and I would say there's much less risk of a bad reaction. There's a real problem with wild measles in the UK because of the antivaxxer brigade so it's possible you might come in contact with it, and if you catch it now you'll really know about it. Wild mumps can also cause bad complications in adults, especially men, as they often get testicular problems. By having it, you're also adding to the general herd immunity that protects people who genuinely can't be vaccinated for whatever reason.