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’ve have rubella: vile"

We were told that we weren't being given rubella because it was 'vile' but because it was dangerous for unborn babies, which is why it wasn't given to boys. Does OP expect to have another baby at her age and is it worth for the small risk of that happening?

I'm surprised - I asked for MMR and they insisted on checking my anti-bodies and making a big fuss about the whole thing before they'd give it.

I'd have it, but I can see why you'd not be keen if you've already had 2 of them! Don't suppose they could give you a single jab for mumps by itself?

"I was born in 1979, I assume I've had measles and rubella vaccinations"

Maybe check because I was born in 77 and din't have the measles vaccination as it wasn't done in the area my parents moved to when I was 1 (was done in the area I was born). I looked into it when there was a measles outbreak a few years ago.

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.

This. It's a money thing rather than a 'don't need it' thing.

Thanks for the thread, OP. I've just realised I need to check too. If I need it I'll certainly be getting it.

Ignore everything that strangers are telling you on the internet and go and speak to your GP about this. Ask them the questions you are asking here.

"If you have a DS or work with boys or young men get it to protect them."

Why don't they get the vaccine? In fact, they should already have had it.

I was born in 1977 I’ve had rubella and I’ve had mumps - both as a child. I remember vividly getting a measles vaccine after we moved house when I was about 7/8 so I think I’m covered? Certainly have never been offered more vaccines!

@TitsOutForHarambe

Ignore everything that strangers are telling you on the internet and go and speak to your GP about this. Ask them the questions you are asking here.

But different GPs may have different views. OP's surgery seems particularly keen on vaccinations. I've never heard of anyone else being told spontaneously to get a vaccine like that.

You dont 'catch' shingles. It is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus so you cant get shingles unless you've had chicken pox

Thanks for this correction. I went away and Googled it (ugh, half-wish I hadn't!), and seen that the Shingles jab at least offers long-standing protection. Fairly certain the chicken pox one doesn't, though.

I was trying to organise myself an mmr when lockdown happened. My GP practice won't do it (Scotland). I was born in 1977, had febrile convulsions as an infant/baby so mum was told not to vaccinate me. Caught Rubella as a 10/11 year old which I had really mildly. Youngest child is 2 and I still had rubella antibodies so it's really mumps and measles I'm concerned about.

I would get it OP.

I had the MMR about a year ago for the same reasons you’re being offered it. I don’t have anything interesting to report: not painful, no side effects and I’m now protected against mumps which can be really painful as an adult 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thanks for this correction. I went away and Googled it (ugh, half-wish I hadn't!), and seen that the Shingles jab at least offers long-standing protection. Fairly certain the chicken pox one doesn't, though.

I've heard that if you've been vaccinated against chicken pox you won't develop shingles. We don't vaccinate against chickenpox in this country because being exposed to the virus helps adults who gained their immunity via contracting chickenpox to not develop shingles. If we vaccinated all the kids, the adults wouldn't often be exposed to the virus and there'd be more cases of shingles.

I'm 34 and had mine last year, the way they explained was that the younger generation have had the vaccine so are immune and the older generation had natural immunity due to the viruses being in the general population so I fell into the gap generation of not being either. Sounds like you're in the "gap" generation as well.

@WhatifIfeellikeacat

MMR doesn't give good protection against mumps.

Isnt it measles mumps rubella???

You don't have to have it.
GP surgeries have targets these days, they get money for meeting targets and can lose out if they have patients who identify as not having had such-and-such a vaccine.
It's a tick box exercise, have it if you feel it would be useful or not if you don't want to.

I am slightly worried reading this thread, being totally non-medical. I am an older parent with a teenage boy and work in the vicinity of young people. I was born in the 60's and had mumps and chicken pox but not measles. I had the jabs offered through school (perhaps Rubella?).

Do I need to take action, or even, can I?

Yeah I’d probably give it a swerve tbh

Why is it that you don't want to have it? When I took DS for his MMR booster slightly early due to a measles outbreak in our area. The doctor administering suggested I get vaccinated too as the immunity from my MMR would probably have waned enough to put me at risk. I explained I was too old to have had the MMR but I did have Measles as a toddler and Mumps and Rubella as a child and had tested positive for all three antibodies in pregnancy. But that I'd take the vaccination if she still thought it necessary. She said I wouldn't need it but I'd have had it without hesitation if she'd said otherwise.

Vaccination is so rarely to protect us ourselves. It's to protect the more vulnerable among us. I remember bits and pieces of having measles, it was very unpleasant but ultimately fine. I remember Rubella and Mumps, which I had one after an other in immediate succession, as genuinely really, really nice times. I felt absolutely fine but had a huge fuss made of me with presents from extended family and more custard and ice-cream than usual. (Same as chickenpox which I'd had a few years later.) I have no doubt DS would have fared the same/better if he contracted any of those viruses, especially as he breastfed full-term and would have received the benefit of my immunity. But I had him vaccinated for them because it would be likely that he's pass the virus on if infected, and it could/would end up in someone less likely to fare as well.

Vaccination allows us to share some of the benefits of our good health. It's one of the most amazing things humans have ever achieved!!! And all it costs the majority of us is a quick pinch and occasionally, possibly a day or so of feeling less than 100%.

My DP was given MMR on the off chance last time he was at the doctor's for a checkup. He couldn't remember if he had it as a child (he's 52). He had the jab. When he got back, he asked his mother, turns out yes he did have it as a baby.

But OP, if you don't want to have it, then you don't have to. It's your choice.

@spongedog there was a measles vaccine so you maybe got that

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

My surgery have only started asking me to do this since the start of 2020. Between the ages of 18-44 it was never mentioned. It’s now an alert, whenever they log into my medical records for any other reason.

@Gwenhwyfar def no more babies!

@TitsOutForHarambe I did ask the gp and said everything I’ve said here. He didn’t directly answer anything, just said it’s now recommended and the system says I need it.

I suppose I’m so near 50, that it seems a bit weird to start plugging this to me now!

I do have DH and DS’s. DH has never had the MMR (same age as me) and never been offered it at gp appointments. He’s a front line worker. DS’s are all fully MMR’d up.

@CrunchyCarrot He couldn't have had the mmr jab as a baby as it didn't exist. Do you mean he had one of the infections as a baby?

I don’t even know if I’ve had the vaccine- just presumed I have

It was introduced in 1988 so if you were born around or after that time you may have had it. Prior to that it didn't exist so you couldn't get it. There have been various catch up programmes too

In my opinion you don't just solely have the vaccine for yourself but the benefit of those around you, who can't have the vaccine, are too young for the vaccine, I remember my biology teacher years ago explaining the efficiency of vaccines...you need almost total population take up for them to be effective as not all vaccines (but only something like 0.5 or 0.05%) will not be effective when faced with the virus for some reason... etc etc