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 remember seeing a poster in the surgery a few years ago asking people of a certain age to get the MMR, so it could be that the GP’s are getting paid to do it and it’s part of a campaign.

I work in primary care. We’ve had cases of mumps in adults recently.

The measles vaccine was introduced in the late 60s, then MMR and MR (measles rubella) was used for a while due to insufficient MMR vaccine.

MMR has had an amazing effect on reducing measles mortality. The Green Book says:

In order to prevent the predicted epidemic, a UK vaccination campaign was implemented in November 1994. Over 8 million children aged between 5 and 16 years were immunised with measles-rubella (MR) vaccine. At that time, insufficient stocks of MMR were available to vaccinate all of these children against mumps. Susceptibility to measles fell seven-fold in the target population and endemic transmission of measles was interrupted (Vyse et al., 2002; Ramsay et al., 2003).

MMR vaccine can be given to individuals of any age, and should be offered opportunistically and promoted to unvaccinated or partially vaccinated younger adults – particularly those born before 1990. New GP registration, and entry into college, university or other higher education institutions, prison or military service also provides an opportunity to check an individual’s immunisation history. Those who have not received MMR should be offered appropriate MMR immunisation.
The decision on when to vaccinate older adults needs to take into consideration the past vaccination history, the likelihood of an individual remaining susceptible and the future risk of exposure and disease:
●● individuals who were born in the UK between 1980 and 1990 may not be protected against mumps but are likely to be vaccinated against measles and rubella. They may never have received a mumps-containing vaccine or had only one dose of MMR and had limited opportunity for exposure to natural mumps. They should be recalled and given MMR vaccine. If this is their first dose, a further dose of MMR should be given from one month later
●● individuals born between 1970 and 1979 may have been vaccinated against measles and many will have been exposed to mumps and rubella during childhood. However, this age group should be offered MMR wherever feasible, particularly if they are considered to be at high risk of exposure. Where such adults are being vaccinated because they have been demonstrated to be susceptible to at least one of the vaccine components, then either two doses should be given, or there should be evidence of seroconversion to the relevant antigen
●● individuals born before 1970 are likely to have had all three natural infections and are less likely to be susceptible. MMR vaccine should be offered to such individuals on request or if they are considered to be at high risk of exposure. Where such adults are being vaccinated because they have been demonstrated to be susceptible to measles or rubella, then either two doses should be given or there should be evidence of seroconversion to the relevant antigen.

@dementedpixie 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 didn't know that (I grew up in Australia). I guess his mother got that wrong! Perhaps he did. Well probably just as well he had the shot! Mumps as an adult isn't funny.

Sorry that was so long. Just wanted to get the correct info down to rectify some of the misunderstandings.

We are encouraged to meet vaccination targets but the financial rewards are minimal. It’s not a big money spinner. Believe it or not we promote vaccination because it’s effective, it’s a hugely beneficial public health initiative and it benefits patients personally.

I had mumps when I was just coming up to 11. It was bloody awful, I stayed in bed for nearly 3 weeks and the doctor came to visit every day for the first few days. I spent my 11th birthday ill in bed and couldn't even eat birthday cake.

To add insult to injury, it was the summer holidays so I didn't even get to miss school.

Have the MMR, OP.

Mumps went round the older people in my office last year. A couple were really sick and out for a month. I'd go for it tbh. Any side effects will be better than the risk of the actual thing

It is recommended that everyone has two doses of the MMR. If you were born about 1988-1995 ish you will have only had one as a child. Before that you won't have had any.

You will keep getting asked until you have it or a formal refusal is documented in your medical records

(This is part of my job)

@Graphista Home Counties. Not a city but not immensely rural either.

I’m trying to be convinced, but I’m not quite there. For example, I understand why a flu jab is recommended for higher risk groups, and even more so with corona around. Clear cause and effect. But an MMR vaccine, when I’ve had/immune to two of the three diseases, and there hasn’t been a mumps outbreak around here in my living memory, is harder to justify. Particularly as it appears it has only become necessary in the last 9 months.

I don’t like the thought of over vaccinating. Not if it’s not sensibly needed (balance of risk and all that).

You cannot over vaccinate but you can be under vaccinated.
You do not have to have it. No one is making you. If you don’t want it say no. There are many of us around who haven’t had it and aren’t going to.

@RuthW but why is it important now? Why wasn’t it important last year, or when I was 40, or 35? Surely my risk hasn’t rocketed now I’m past 45?

@Sidge

Sorry that was so long. Just wanted to get the correct info down to rectify some of the misunderstandings.

We are encouraged to meet vaccination targets but the financial rewards are minimal. It’s not a big money spinner. Believe it or not we promote vaccination because it’s effective, it’s a hugely beneficial public health initiative and it benefits patients personally.

Thank you - that was helpful.

Does that mean my surgery will let me have the vaccine if I am over 50 and haven't had mumps if I just ask then?

[quote Lemons1571]@RuthW but why is it important now? Why wasn’t it important last year, or when I was 40, or 35? Surely my risk hasn’t rocketed now I’m past 45?[/quote]
I have heard of outbreaks of mumps among students over the last few years, which wasn't a thing for so long.

I think there have been enough people who are not vaccinated for it to be circulating in pockets, and they are trying to fill the gaps in the system where people did not have the vaccinations earlier, as it puts them at risk, and it is usually worse for adults.

@Melroses yes they should do. Make an appointment with the practice nurse and ask for it.

@Lemons1571 We will offer it opportunistically, but have thousands and thousands of patients and just don’t have the capacity to cold call patients to offer catch up vaccines. It tends to come up when you’re there for something else and we’ll go “oh by the way”.

I had mumps when I was around 20 and it was horrible...I was unlucky enough to get both mumps and glandular fever at the same time and it was the worst experience of my life. I’d highly recommend doing anything that prevents preventable illnesses like mumps cause if you land unlucky they are not pleasant.

I didn't have the MMR , when I was at school you had a single rubella vaccine when you were about 12 which I had. I don't know when the MMR came out, certainly not before 1984 in my area.

I'd had measles and mumps anyway (and rubella) by the time I was 7. I didn't know that they were doing a catch-up programme for my age group (I am 48). But maybe my health records indicate that I've had all three illnesses and the single rubella vaccine, and/or it depends where you live?

Oh just saw Sidge's message. I've not been to the GP since the end of 2017, so that would be the reason.

Welcome to the UK's police state where the mumps vaccine (safely and effectively given for years) is now unavailable. The govt. were pissed about people getting single jabs and thought that they'd force everyone to get MMR by deleting the supply of single jabs. Upshot = mealses and mumps outbreaks. Well done you fucking totalitarian government.

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

MMR was first licenced in 1971 - so you could certainly have had it before, it just wasn't part of the routine vaccinations in the UK until much later.

I always assumed was immune to mumps as none of my family ever had it. I contracted mumps 2 years ago age 54- I was so ill and not only had a chipmunk face, I had swollen ovaries! I was so ill so if you can have vaccine do.

If I was invited to have a vaccination I would have it.

I was born in 1982 and had mumps and rubella before I was old enough to have the MMR.

I was born in 74 too. As a kid I had measles (v poorly) ; mumps (crap Xmas) and German measles and had the rubella vaccine. When I retrained for a healthcare role I was told mmr was mandatory. I asked for a blood test to check my immunity but they concluded that was unacceptable. So I drove to the hospital near uni (2hr round trip) x2 for an entirely futile vaccine. It was fractionally cheaper in fuel than the £120 I'd have had to pay to have it at my GP.

You'll not react to measles this time. You'll already have immunity.

@kathmacc

I always assumed was immune to mumps as none of my family ever had it. I contracted mumps 2 years ago age 54- I was so ill and not only had a chipmunk face, I had swollen ovaries! I was so ill so if you can have vaccine do.

That's what I don't want.

Hope you recovered well

@ekidmxcl what the single mumps vaccine that gave people meningitis and encephalitis and so was withdrawn in the UK?

Why would the government offer single unsafe unlicensed vaccines as part of a national immunisation programme when there’s a safe and effective triple alternative? Wakefield is to answer for the fall in uptake of MMR and outbreaks of mumps and measles in university aged young people, not the government.