VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS MMR

[JOLLYBOB]

So with the news in regards to Measles outbreak, we was on a catch up schedule ( I thought I knew better than science and facts for a very long time until I came to the realisation I was failing my child and she needed the jabs )

DD (4) has had one dose of MMR - given in November last year, we're booked in already for 29 Jan, however we're in a high case zone.
I've asked GP but they've no closer appointments and unfortunately haven't got anywhere else I can take DD to get the 2nd jab done.

I can't find any info online on if it's safe to still let her go to school whilst we wait for the appointment on the 29th, can anyone shed some information? On effectiveness will it be ok?

As I'm very worried at the minute which is ironic for someone who thought it was ok to not get them done in the first place, when they should've been given.

PSA I don't need to know how important vaccines are, I already know and hence why they've been given.

YABU - One dose is ok until the appointment
YANBU - Don't send to school until afterwards

One does gives 85 % + immunity

Hi I'm a nurse in a GP surgery and a large part of my job is providing vaccines.
One dose of an MMR gives around 93% protection against measles, so very high.
Having the final dose will increase it to up to 99%.
So she will have a lot of protection already from her first jab, but getting that second will give her the maximum possible protection.
It's not just for children the though, anyone who does not have 2 MMR vaccines on their record is entitled to them, check with your surgery if you are unsure if you have had them.
It is likely that anyone born before 1970 has natural immunity to measles as it was much more prevalent before then. So less of a concern.

Hope this helps.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mmr-for-all-general-leaflet

At the moment, the outbreaks are still small and localised. Clusters such as these happen every year

The worry is that with such low vaccination levels, one or more of those clusters could tip into a wider outbreak (such as happened in Wales a few years ago).

Right now I wouldn't worry. Your DC has had one dose, which gives a good level of protection.

@StarlitTrees

Thank you for the information. I have had all my jabs including the 2 MMR's. And so has DP.

The 2nd dose for DD will be given on the 29th, I was just worried the 1st dose wouldn't give her enough coverage at school until then, but thanks you for the statistics.

Yes, that's my issue.

Most cases are in Birmingham - which is where we are.

They do (or at least they used to a few years ago) private testing at City Hospital in Winson Green to check if you were fully immune after one dose, could that be an option?

They've got one dose. That's better than no dose. You can't go back in time so I think you're just going to have to accept the situation based on the decision you thought was best at the time.

@DecisionFatigue

I didn't know about this, I'll look into it thank you!

One dose gives very high protection. I read yesterday 95% and with 2 it went up to 97%.

@Willyoujustbequiet

Yes that's what I'm finding online too

Jollybob, in the event of a local outbreak in your area or child school the Health Protection Team have protocols in place to reduce the risks.
I can assure you from direct experience that they WILL track and trace an identified cases contacts and check if they are vulnerable to developing measles. Yes Birmingham is a bit of an epicentre, not for the first time nor I think the last, but the health protection teams will be busy doing all they can to protect all children.

If you are feeling very anxious you can contact the Bham School Nurses. IF you live in an area of the city that has a number of confirmed cases they may be able to signpost you to a nearby pop up MMR vaccination location if there is a prolonged wait for a second MMR with the GP. The Pop up vaccination hubs placed in at risk areas is part of the HPT remit of reducing the risks of measles spreading further.

A child who has had one dose of MMR will have a vastly improved amount of protection against catching measles than a school child who has had no vaccination against measles.

@JOLLYBOB - I can't answer your questions, but I just feel that somebody should say...thank you for being one of the few willing to change their mind. That's rare these days, and should be applauded.

No need to be applauded, I'm disgusted with myself I ever thought it was ok to not get the vaccinations done, and it took so long to get them started ( 2 years old ).

I'm glad I came to my senses though eventually and realised that a 2 minute pain in the arm and maybe a 2 day fever was a lot better than the diseases they protect against.

And also the children that CANNOT get them done need to be protected too.

Public Health told me one dose gives 95% protection and two gives basically 100% protection.

so I’d get the 2nd dose but wouldnt be up all night worrying about it during the wait

It's quite complicated, unless your child is immunocompromised they will have made some immune cells which can fight the measles virus. Probably enough to prevent her becoming unwell, but there is a possibility that after one dose, not enough have been made to prevent the immune system to become overwhelmed.

DS1 caught measles about a month after he had his first MMR, he was unwell, but not seriously, but it did affect his vision in one of his eyes and he now has one shortsighted eye and one longsighted one.

We just got a letter from school yesterday saying their records show my dd hasn't had two mmr. She absolutely has, but the vaccination folks haven't phoned us back so looks like she's getting another. She's 15, you would think they would say before now but...

I'm sorry to hijack the thread, though I'm sure we don't all want multiple MMR threads on here...

Anyone got any thoughts on what to do with a six month old baby? I have heard the MMR can be given from six months if there's an outbreak... I'm not sure if a doctor would at the moment, either NHS or private.

If anyone has any more knowledge on whether this would be advisable or even possible, please let me know.

OP, I would send your child to school given the statistics quoted above.

We are in Wales and my DD was 6 months old when the outbreak happened here. She was just about to start at nursery so I could go back to work, so I took her for her an early MMR. I was advised then that she still needed to have the usual normal 2 doses as well, So that is what we did.

Yes, after the 1st MMR around 2 weeks later we had fever and illness for around 4 days, assumed that was the reaction to the MMR. So I'm hoping it did kick in for her.

Also you can call GP as MMR can be given after 6 months.

Slightly off topic, but of you were born in the early 70s, MMR wasn't available, but a single measles vaccine was.

Would that still provide enough protection for someone now in their 40s or 50s who hasn't had measles but had the single vaccine as a child?

I'd honestly contact the GP on Monday and ask them, it's advised that all have the two MMR vaccines, but unsure how this works for the people who already had the single vaccine.

One dose of MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles, 78% effective against mumps, and 97% effective against rubella. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles and 88% effective against mumps. MMR is an attenuated (weakened) live virus vaccine.

and yes...for most of us born before the MMR existed the measles should still be active unless you have immune related disorder and the rubella should have been given at school around age 12-14 and should still be effective. But mumps vaccines probably wear off over a lifetime. fortunately this is not usually an issue for middle aged people as the disease is less severe and most of us have completed our families.

If it helps OP, 4 is the standard age for the second vaccine to be given in the US. I had DD1 there, then moved to the UK and I called the GP just after her 4th birthday to book her in and got a right ticking off from the practice nurse for being late! But it must be fine if the Americans do it that way; they’re shit hot on health stuff (if you have insurance but that’s a whole separate issue) and DD was fine despite the fact we’re in an at risk area. Absolutely get it done ASAP but I wouldn’t be losing sleep whilst you wait for your appointment.

I think you're being by unnecessary hard on yourself. Vaccine levels dropped massively post covid; I think a lot of people became cynical and of course when you're reading so much information it does worry you. Your child will have excellent protection now, and even better in a week or two.