DS been exposed to measles, hasn't had his 2nd MMR yet; should we rush down to docs and get it?

[nitemare]

Sorry but NHS Direct is innundated due to Swine Flu so can't do me a call back till tomorrow, by which time I will have hopefully got an answer from the doctors anyway. But thought I'd try the Wisdowm of Mumsnet tonight as I'm supposed to be off out early tomorrow leaving DH to take DS to nursery and go on to work. I want to try to change plans if it turns out we should rush down to doctors in the a.m..
Apparently we were in contact with a kid with measles on Friday; I just found out.
DS is 3 and a half, has had 1st MMR but not second one yet.
Would nipping down tomorrow and getting the 2nd one go any way towards heading the measles off at the pass, so to speak? Or is it too late for that; if he's been in touch with it and he's going to get it, he'll get it whatever.
Maybe giving him the 2nd MMR tomorrow will make the illness less severe if he has caught it? I have no idea. Just thought I'd ask.

Not an expert but...

If the first MMR worked as in the majority of cases, I would think he would be fine. Part of the purpose of the booster is to try and catch those who had the 1st one, but for whom it didn't work.

If you get a vaccine, you are not immediately protected (I think). Your body would need to produce antibodies etc etc, it needs time to do this. eg my DD has just had the 1st single measles jab and the expected reaction (if any) is in 7-10 days time.

Thanks Crokky, I do think it's probably far fetched that a 2nd jab tomorrow would make any difference, but I just need to know so I can do all I can to protect him.

bump

very very unlikely that the MMr hasn't "taken" and very unlikely a 2nd jab would make a blind bit of difference. You could ask for a blood test to check immunity if you are really worried.

I didn't realise the second was just in case the first jab didn't "take".
Any other opinions as to whether I should rush down there in the morning?

I think that if you have been exposed to measles and do not have immunity from 1st jab then having 2nd jab now will make no difference - no retrospective immunity. having said that make the appt for the booster !

The MMR can be used as post-exposure prophylaxis but should be given within three days. However your DS has a 90% chance of being immune from his first MMR - the ones that don't are mainly because of maternal antibody interfering with the vaccine efficacy.

There's no harm in getting the second MMR now and it will give him future protection if measles is circulating in your area.

Is it a laboratory-confirmed case of measles he was in contact with?

Thank you Musukebba,
I know the doctor told her it's measles; not sure if that means it's laboratory confirmed. That's very interesting about the post exposure MMR; I guess I will take him in tomorrow. We saw this lad on Friday but my ds also saw him Saturday and I think Saturday he actually was close with him whereas Friday they were just briefly on the same room together IFYSWIM.
I don't know what prophylaxis means but assume it means it can prevent onset of measles?

Hi nitemare: yes 'prophylaxis' basically means protection against either infection or severe disease. It can be given either pre- or post-exposure; the former would be like your normal scheduled vaccination, and the latter after you've had a proper contact.

THanks Muskeebba, I went to the docs this morning and no one at the surgery had heard of giving it post exposure within 72 hrs. But they gave me it anyway as I said I'd googled and read about it.
He's due his second dose anyway so they were fine with that.
I did google after getting your post and found lots of mention of post exposure dose within 72 hrs.
NHS Direct called me back about an hour ago (took 18 hrs to do a call back!), and they confirmed what you said about post exposure prophylaxis.
Bit worrying that no one at my surgery knows about it, but glad I had your message as otherwise I wouldn't have insisted on the jab. Fingers crossed he's all covered now, poor little blighter.

Hi nitemare: glad you got it sorted and well done for insisting . I'm surprised the surgery didn't know about the MMR prophylaxis because it's in the DoH 'Green Book': the standard manual for vaccination and other immunisation (Measles chapter here; page 226). Sounds like they need to do a bit of 'Googling' .