Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No judgement, delayed vaccine worries

54 replies

Rosiebuds · 15/02/2024 21:44

My son is 5 and hasn’t yet had his MMR, I put it off for various reasons, including Covid but also I felt hugely anxious about it at the time. I still do, but due to the current media coverage, I’ve booked him in to have the jab next week.

Will he be ok to attend school the following day?
Are side effects common? I’m really anxious, particularly as he’s older than the usual age for getting this set of jabs.

OP posts:
auberginefrog · 15/02/2024 21:54

Not sure about side effects in an older child but most likely would be ok with some calpol I reckon. What a great thing to be getting him vaccinated though. It’s really hard to change your mind about things like this in the face of new evidence and I really admire you for it.

PlanBea · 15/02/2024 21:57

I had my second dose of MMR at the ripe old age of 31. Other than a stiff arm for me there wasn't any side effects. Hopefully the same for your DS!

Blughbablugh · 15/02/2024 21:58

I echo the previous poster, it's a good decision made!
I didn't get vaccinated as a baby and got them as an adult about 5 years ago. I had no side effects after the first but did get a measles type rash after the second dose. I was absolutely fine in myself and able to go about as normal.

Overthebow · 15/02/2024 21:59

Well done for booking him in, great decision.

Radiatorvalves · 15/02/2024 22:00

One son didn’t react at all (was thinking about the lolly). The other one squawked like a banshee. They were totally fine the next day. Can’t recall if calpol featured. They are now late teens and brilliant (biased though I am). Well done you.

LIZS · 15/02/2024 22:02

He may be fine, he may be a bit off colour a few days later.

TheSnowyOwl · 15/02/2024 22:02

My children tended to react to their first MMR and not the second one. However, I also had to have the course last year and was completely fine. Hopefully all will go well for your child.

AngelicInnocent · 15/02/2024 22:02

Take bribery / reward with you. He's old enough to be nervous or a bit uncooperative about a needle. My DD used to have to have bloods taken often and I used to get her to watch me opening the packet of sweets while the nurse was busy on the other side of her, sticking the needle in.

Original poster
Rosiebuds · 16/02/2024 09:12

Thanks for all the replies.

I suppose I’m wondering if I should keep him off school the next day to keep an eye on him in case of fever or reaction. He’s having it done on Wednesday. Or shall I just send him to school as normal? I do need to work, so I can’t decide what to do for the best.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rosiebuds · 20/02/2024 07:21

He’s having it done tomorrow and I’m really anxious 😬 I feel like cancelling but I’m trying to think rationally.

My two biggest fears are:
He will have a severe and life threatening reaction to it.
He will end up ill for weeks or have a very high fever.

It doesn’t help that I don’t know of anyone who has given the MMR to an older child.

OP posts:
Teaandcrumpets86 · 20/02/2024 08:02

My son had his a few weeks ago, he was totally fine and happily went to nursery the next day.
A sore arm and a slight fever are normal reactions (it just shows that the immune system is responding which is exactly what you want) but this should be manageable with calpol/kids nurofen.

He should be fine to go to school the next day.
Serious reactions are very, very rare (vaccines are constantly monitored for safety and the use of MMR has been widespread for a long time). An allergic reaction is very unlikely but would occur fairly quickly after the vaccine is given and the nurse/doctor administering it will be trained to deal with the situation.

JussathoB · 20/02/2024 08:15

hi OP, actually plenty of children have had MMR vaccine at slightly older ages due to ‘catch up’ when they didn’t have it earlier. So what you are doing is not particularly unusual and there’s no reason why it would be harmful.
Remind yourself that the vaccine is intended to help protect your child.

MotherofChaosandDestruction · 20/02/2024 08:16

Rosiebuds · 20/02/2024 07:21

He’s having it done tomorrow and I’m really anxious 😬 I feel like cancelling but I’m trying to think rationally.

My two biggest fears are:
He will have a severe and life threatening reaction to it.
He will end up ill for weeks or have a very high fever.

It doesn’t help that I don’t know of anyone who has given the MMR to an older child.

I had terrible anxiety before the vaccines for my children and they had a slight fever but that was it. You have to think that any severe reaction is vanishingly rare. Breathe through it, you'll both be fine, you're making the right decision particularly as measles is on the rise and the consequences of that can be much worse.

Sending positive vibes to you - you've got this!

Itscatsallthewaydown · 20/02/2024 08:22

In the 90s I was involved in a mass MMR vaccination campaign in schools; we gave entire classes the vaccine. Your child will be ok.

Original poster
Rosiebuds · 20/02/2024 08:25

I think I’m just anxious because of the idea once the vaccine has gone in, you can’t get it out again. Also this idea that I’m putting poison into him.
DH is taking him in , as I can’t bring myself to see the needle going in.

OP posts:
Itscatsallthewaydown · 20/02/2024 08:27

Try and be reassured that you’re doing the right thing, and it’s in his best interests

JussathoB · 20/02/2024 08:28

It’s not poison.

LivingRoomTiger · 20/02/2024 08:29

I had it at 22, my first MMR. Unlike the flu shot I don’t even remember a stiff arm

JussathoB · 20/02/2024 08:29

Given your DH is taking your child in, perhaps you could distract yourself now? Nice shower, few gentle exercises, a hobby, a book or puzzle, out for a quick walk in fresh air?

Cookerhood · 20/02/2024 08:30

You are doing a good thing having him vaccinated. I'm not sure what you've been reading, but it's really not poison. That is anti vax terminology.

Dulra · 20/02/2024 08:31

Rosiebuds · 20/02/2024 08:25

I think I’m just anxious because of the idea once the vaccine has gone in, you can’t get it out again. Also this idea that I’m putting poison into him.
DH is taking him in , as I can’t bring myself to see the needle going in.

It is not poison, you are protecting him from a horrendous virus called measles which is on the rise again. We had two young men die from it in Ireland in the past week. There is a major drive to get people vaccinated because the rate in the UK and Ireland has fallen below the threshold needed for herd immunity. Well done for going ahead with it

atalosstotes · 20/02/2024 08:32

What are your worries about NOT getting him vaccinated? Perhaps look up some stories and outcomes, with pictures of what Measles, Mums and Rubella can do to young boys and men and that might worry you enough on the other side to go ahead with vaccinating your son?

Leafbuds · 20/02/2024 08:35

I don't think you need to keep him off school to monitor in case of reaction - if he's unwell in the morning, you'll know then; if not, the nursery will let you know if he seems unwell later in the day. It won't be a reaction that if you miss noticing a fever, something bad will happen, or something that you could or should do anything about - if it isn't a noticeable reaction/fever/anything that upsets him, then he will be fine (presuming that you trust the nursery to be looking out for his welfare and wellness generally! If you think they would miss seeing that he's upset or unwell in some way, then that's a different matter).

It's a good decision - I had measles as a teenager and it was not pleasant, and I had a very bad case of mumps will lots of complications as a child.

Have you not given his other baby vaccines? Or does this one worry you more for some reason?

Historygirl91 · 20/02/2024 08:37

He will be fine OP, please try not to get too worked up, do you suffer from anxiety? It’s not poison - having the vaccine protects him and you’re doing the right thing by him. I was also anxious before my DD had hers but she was absolutely fine and I felt like a ninny.
anti vax content is very dangerous, don’t get sucked in by it.

badwolf82 · 20/02/2024 08:37

I had it as an adult (booster, adult dose) and while I didn’t have any major side effects I did get quite sore joints for about 2 weeks afterwards. Apparently it’s the rubella component and quite a common side effect. It probably happens to kids too but they're usually too young to explain that their joints hurt. So if that happens to your child don’t worry too much, it’s just the immune response and it’s not dangerous.