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”

Oh yes I’d have had the rubella jab while at school, forgot that.

@scrappydappydoooooo bit worried in case I did have an adverse reaction to the measles jab when I was a toddler. I could do without being ill with a fever, oh and that is now going to trigger isolation and a covid test. Also a bit that this hasn’t been medically necessary for 45 years and suddenly it is.

Also concerned as @WanderingMilly said that it’s just a tick box exercise. Especially as the gp couldn’t answer me when I suggested along these lines.

I've just seen info that MMR could also be protective against covid and that there are trials using it

First, no vaccine is 100% effective. To make vaccines safer than the disease, the bacteria or virus is killed or weakened (attenuated). For reasons related to the individual, not all vaccinated persons develop immunity. Most routine childhood vaccines are effective for 85% to 95% of recipients.
www.who.int/vaccine_safety/initiative/detection/immunization_misconceptions/en/index2.html

@Lemons1571 medically necessary for others as explained above

I've not been offered that and I was born late 70s. I had measles and mumps before I was a year old ( according to my mum).

Also had rubella at 10 and the vaccination at about 10/11 at school.

I'm glad I've got a heads up from this. We were born in 73 but in Australia. I didn't get measles vaccine - I think it was just becoming available locally after my younger sister was born but we had such a history of reactions and allergies our GP felt we were better not to have it. I had definite measles age 6. Rubella vaccine at secondary school.

As a medical student in the 90s I wondered if I should get mumps vaccine (but definitely didn't want MMR, having further history by then of vaccine reactions). Instead it was suggested I get antibody testing done first and it turned out I was immune to mumps already. I believe "sub-clinical" infection with mumps (probably just looks like another viral illness) is not uncommon.

So I will be declining MMR if offered as "not needed".

Op have they just randomly contacted you about this? I know for a fact I didn't have the mmr as mum was antivac at the time. I was in a job years ago in a hospital that required rubella immunity and when I asked at my gp they said there was no record of me having mmr. I've had three children in the last 7 years, how has this never come up?

@Lemons1571 Have you had antibody testing for all three in pregnancy? If not maybe get that done first. Perhaps you have immunity to all three, so can then happily know it's unnecessary.

The vaccine can't be worse than contracting Mumps.

@Gwenhwyfar

"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.

Some may not have had the vaccine, and it isn't 100%.

@EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide they randomly started mentioning it when I have been to appointments for other reasons. They’ve never contacted me directly.

Only had antibody testing for rubella in pregnancy. Don’t think they tested for the others.

I have found though, on a different subject, that my GP surgery won’t accept evidence of private test results as a conclusive reason why something like this is not needed. If the system flashes up ‘need MMR’, it’s a case of computer says Yes, irrespective of sensible reasons why this is not necessarily the case.

I wouldn't take it under the circumstances you describe, work in NHS too and your age. We had the jabs all separately back then, maybe your records arent correct/up to date?

The doctor couldn't explain WHY you'd needn't satisfactorily, sounds much more like a "computer says no" tick box exercise. You're nearly at the age it doesnt matter anyway.

I had a bad reaction to the MMR as a kid so they gave it to me as separate vaccines spread out. My daughter had hers the normal way and was fine. Mumps is the pits if you get it.

I'm the same age as you, by the way

@Sewrainbow my electronic medical records don’t show my childhood jabs. My Mum did have paper records on small bits of paper that was so old it looked like parchment . Hopefully I’ll come across them again one day.

And my gp practice has lost several documents over the years (or not made an appropriate entry on the electronic medical record).

The chicken pox virus lays dormant in the body to be reactivated many years later as shingles when the infected person becomes run down or susceptible for some reason.

I'm 41 and has the rubella at 13. A few years later the mmr was rolled out and everyone in my year had it at school. (Not sure if it was a whole school thing or certain years)

@dementedpixie

I've just seen info that MMR could also be protective against covid and that there are trials using it

Does that mean that having had the illnesses would also give some protection?

"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 BCG was more than a quick pinch. Massive big red swelling, small scar still there 30 years later. And then to find out it doesn't give much protection either and meant I had to have an x-ray when a colleague got TB when my other colleagues could get a skin test.

"@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."

The system says you need it! What kind of answer is that? Shows why you have to do your own research and not just listen to one GP.

Please just have the vaccine if offered. It will be much easier than asking if you can get a test for immunity ie phone calls to the surgery, nurses or GPs needing to look into it. You can never over vaccinate.

I was born in 1970, I have not been vaccinated for measles, mumps or rubella. The rubella vaccination was offered through school when I was about 13 but my mother wouldn’t let me have it as I had already had German measles and she said I would have developed antibodies naturally. I was always concerned about this so when I was old enough I went to the doctors to test for rubella antibodies and I had them, so the doctor said there was no need to vaccinate.

I also had measles and mumps when I was a young child. No doctor has ever mentioned to me having MMR jab and it is not something that ever crossed my mind. I am over 50 now so I guess I will never be offered it based on what some posters have said on this thread.

You're only 2 years younger than me op, I've not had MMR but have been vaccinated against those illnesses in the way it was done for our generation

Have they checked your medical records to be sure you haven't been otherwise vaccinated?

Iirc measles and mumps were part of baby vaccines and then rubella was done at school when we were around 12-13 as a girl but unfortunately boys were exempt as the focus was on pregnant and childbearing patients

He didn’t directly answer anything, just said it’s now recommended and the system says I need it.

I would not be happy seeing a gp who wouldn't/couldn't answer basic questions about a basic health query!

it’s a case of computer says Yes, irrespective of sensible reasons why this is not necessarily the case.

Jesus! I'd be changing gp surgery!

Every time you post what they're like it's worse!

@Graphista there wasn't a single mumps vaccine in use in the UK prior to the MMR. Measles vaccine was brought in in 1968 and rubella was done at school from 1970.

I stand corrected

But I still think the op needs a better gp!

Particularly as they don't seem to be ABLE to reassure her in any way as to potential issues with measles vaccination

I've never had mumps I've never even seen anyone with mumps.

I've not been told I need to update vaccinations either what part of the country are you in op?