MMR Vaccine Invalid

[littlelionroars]

I have a really strange problem that I'm hoping to get some advise on.

DS had his standard MMR jab the day before his first birthday.

For about a year now I have been receiving letters from the Immunisation Team at the Child Health Department in my county telling me he needs to have his MMR jab.

When they first started arriving I spoke to my GP and they told me that sometimes the central database takes a while to update and to just ignore them as his records reflect the jab has been done.

We have since moved and changed GPs but the letters kept coming. So I contacted the Immunisation Team directly and they have told me that because the jab was done one day before his birthday, it is invalid and needs to be retaken.

My son is just about to turn 3 and his MMR booster is coming up in a few months.

I am completely flummoxed that the NHS is insisting my son be revaccinated over a one day discrepancy?

Why did our GP book us in the day before if that invalidates the vaccine?

I'm struggling to any information online as to possible side effects of having the vaccine twice. Or why it's invalid before a year.

DS gets really upset at his vaccinations, I feel like he is going to have to go through pain, trauma and possibly feeling poorly just because of someone else's admin error?

So my question is what would you do in this situation?

1. Redo the vaccine and then follow with the booster. Which means my son gets two rounds of jabs this year. OR
2. Ignore the letters and just follow with his booster at the correct time.

I suppose that strictly speaking they are sticking to the rules as if its given under 1 year then they need to 2 doses at the usual times. I doubt whether a day makes a difference though

I would just give the booster as normal.

It sounds like a very cut and dried approach based on dates and realistically speaking, one day isn’t going to make any difference.

I went for some holiday vaccines in my 20s. Was told at the time I never completed my mmr course. My mum is sure I did, but doesn't have a record of it. I had the extra one, just to be sure. That was more then 6/7 years ago now. I know it's not the same as he's only little, but I've not had any effects to a possible extra dose.

MMR used to just have 1 jab and the 2nd jab came in later. That might be why you had just had 1 dose

I'd just have the booster as normal. Can't imagine 1 day is going to make any difference.

Vaccine seems to be more effective over 1 year than below but unlikely it changes sharply exact on your birthday! MMR is given closer to 9 months in high risk countries anyway.

The booster is an effective revaccination so the risk will be well brought down plus your exposure risk is low, repetition seems unnecessary. Though harmless if you do opt for it (eg the usual approach to uncertain MMR status in adult healthcare professionals is just to do another one!)

Thanks everyone, I am leaning towards just letting him have his booster on the usual schedule.

I've requested a call back from my GP, so I'll get her thoughts on the matter too.