MMR booster.....reassurance please

[cardy]

I am taking dds (7 and 4) for their MMR booster today and feel quite (maybe irrationally!) worried about it. Both dds had single vacines at 18 months but never had the booster. I do feel much better about the triple vaccine (as opposed single vaccines) however I have put the booster off for a long time. There have been a number of cases of measles locally so I do think it is sensible for them to have the booster. It does stop me worrying through.....

I guess I worry most about a reaction or side effects. Am I being irrational?

Why have the triple booster if you did singles?

Ours have had the singles and no booster.

Because five/six years ago when dd1 had hers there was a lot of controvesy - I have since been reassured by GP and consultant at local hospital the MMR is safe.

No research that has been done in the last 6 years backs up Andrew Wakefield's thoery.

Okay.

You have to do what you feel is best.

only have 15 mins before I have to pick them up from schools and go to the doctors

NAB3 - aren't you still supposed to have boosters after the singles. If not then there is not need for dds to have the MMR booster. Both had singles at 18 months.

No idea re singles, but both dds had boosters and I worried about each, but no reactions whatsoever. They both had mild reactions to original MMR, dd1 had rash and slight temp, dd2 was grouchy. NOthing after boosters.

Ds had the singles and is due the booster. I had a quick search on the internet and from what I could gather it would appear the MMR is around 90% effective and when you have the booster it increases to 95%, whereas the single vaccine is already 98% effective so there may not be any point in going for the booster. I don't think we will bother with the booster.

Thanks. Interesting stats. At the private clinic where they had the singles we were told boosters were required (for only 2%??).

I do know many peoples whos dc had MMR and MMR booster and didn't have reactions. In fact I don't know anybody who had, but I still worry.

When we started on the single route with our eldest we were told there was no need for a booster. We haven't seen any evidence that that has changed so our children are having thr pre-school booster without the MMR part.

I haven't taken them. I am sure GP is going to be cross with me. I am still unsure, dh is going to talk to GP again. Are the single vaccines 98% effective?

The 'booster' is the same as the MMR, it is to make sure a higher percentage of the population are covered because the original MMR may not be effective. A have been told a blood test would check if your child has immunity from the first MMR but this is more expensive than giving everybody a 'booster' - that is another MMR !

Why don't you get an immunity test done for them? That way you would find out for sure if they belong in the 98% or the 2%?!
That's what we did with DD at age 3 and after finding out that her immunity levels were adequate we ditched the booster idea.

And even if they do get any of those illnesses....just why exactly would that be the end of the world ?!