Measles epidemic in France, holiday soon. Early MMR???

[PumpkinM]

In off to France next week with my DD who will be 10.5 months. I've heard that there is a measles epidemic there at the moment, so called NHS Direct re: making sure she is safe. They suggested that she has her MMR before we go.

Has anyone experience of giving the MMR early? Is she likely to have any adverse reactions?

Should we do it? Or wait and risk the measles whilst on holiday?

frak I personally wouldn't consider single jabs (if at all available) as the combined (mmr) is the more common and therefore more safety data is available. but that is only my opinion.

I know they're not licensed in the UK but they're a relatively common choice in France for under 1s - measles (and rubella for older girls/women without immunity) by Aventis Pasteur - because you need a measles vaccine for crèche and some parents don't want 3 doses of the MMR. We still do 2x MMR at the same time as the normal schedule as well.

Interesting it's mainly in the SE!
The majority of cases are in the under 1's ie prob pre vaccination with another peak at (was it) 11-15 seems a big age gap to say it's lack of uptake of second vaccine children getting it and affecting younger sibs? The single vaccine is protective in the vast majority of cases though isn't it?

Could it be a strain thing?
Seems like there is a pretty low uptake overall I'm not sure what percentage is required for heard immunity?

Is childcare not common for under 1's in France? can people 'object' to vaccination and still use group care?
by homeopathic do you mean 'officially' so or a version of water given to parents who object?!!!!

FWIW my local authority gave the vaccine 'later' when I had my first child (maybe officially 15-18m I can't remember I know HV etc were ?unofficially advising people to have their kids done later once they had no developmental concerns) they have vaccinated my second at 12 months.

There is also a Mother out there (yes you know who you are) who didn't see anything wrong in taking her knowingly measles exposed baby to look round a childcare facility and leaving him/her in the baby room (as you are often encouraged to do) while she looked round the other rooms.
You (you know who you are) are personally responsible for one of the larger outbreaks that year.

Once measles was discovered early vaccination was offered to the children in the nursery (I'm not sure if it was all or some were too young) lots had it, lots got measles, I have not heard of any problems but I've not asked all the parents myself either IYSWIM

Not very helpful sorry

ML for most is over at 10weeks! But the immunisation schedule is so loaded that 9 months is the earliest it's reasonably practicable to have it although it can be given from 6months. After 10months if you haven't had it you can't go to any kind of setting where there are other children. If you object to vaccination you either don't use group care or you do the homeopathic thing.

I have no idea what homeopathic vaccines are - some GPs offer them but it's not a route we're going down.

Sorry to clarify my post the first vaccination is protective in the majority of cases I know nothing about the single vaccine

frak 10 weeks

16 weeks full pay ML, automatically 6 weeks taken before your EDD unless you write and request otherwise...

You do have the option to take virtually unpaid leave for I think up to 2 years but not many do it.

I'm glad my ML falls in such a way that I only have to go back in September.

Surely most people write and request?
I assume they are 'allowed' to

?Teacher

Close - university though.

I honestly don't know how many do. A lot of my antenatal class stopped at 6 weeks and you have to submit paperwork. They don't make it easy for you to work after they think you should stop!

DD had the MMR vaccine yesterday. NHS Direct told me that measles is "raging" in France and it is one of the most contagious diseases. It can cause really serious complications including encephalitis (sp). She is 10 month and 2 weeks and we are travelling next week.

Even if we are not mixing with other children, we will be going to shops, restaurants, airport etc and she could be sitting next to someone with the disease. It is contagious for 2-3 days before any symptoms.

The GPs nurse did tell me that, as she is under 12 months, it doesn't count towards her normal vaccine schedule and should be treated as an extra. So she will still need it again at 13 months and pre-school. But I think it is worth it.

Same here, Pumpkin.

DD is almost 10 months old - she had her extra MMR today. Same advice - she has to go back and get her MMR at the "normal" time - we just have to ensure there is minimum 3 months between this extra one and the scheduled one - something to do with optimal immunity conditions.

We are going in less than 5 weeks, spending a month on a campsite. Too much risk to go without it, imo

MMeLindor, that was a really useful link to the statistical information for France - my 10yo DS is going on a school trip to Normandy in 3.5 weeks time, and has not been immunised (for very good reasons that I don't want to go into now) and it was useful to see how likely he is to be affected. We are also driving down through France to Spain and back in August, unfortunately staying overnight in the SE on the way back...more thought may need to be given to this later on. I don't suppose you know how to get hold of a similar link for Spanish statistics do you? My language skills aren't great so wouldn't have a clue where to start!

I would definitely have it in your case. Almost all holiday destinations involve a degree of mixing, and I'd get yours done at the same time as you not being immunised will increase your child's chance of catching it as you could pass it on.

MMR is one of the most tested vaccines, and side effects are rare.

Measles causes horrendous complications and can kill.

This is Roald Dahl's heartbreaking account of losing his daughter to measles www.blacktriangle.org/blog/?p=715

I don't see how it's a difficult decision tbh.

It's not a difficult decision unless you have good reasons for being concerned about the vaccine. Didn't want to start the whole MMR/autism debate again, but my stepson is autisic and was very badly affected at the time when we were making our initial decision about MMR. Whilst I agree completely that for the vast majority MMR is a completely safe vaccine, I do believe that for a very tiny minority, who may be pre-disposed to autism, it can pose a significant risk. My son is, I would say, in that category - whilst not diagnosed as autistic, he has in the past been on the SN register for things such as communication/socialisation issues, and I would say probably has Aspergers to a degree. We have investigated single vaccines (as we are not anti-immunisation) but these are not available in our area and we have met a bureaucratic brick wall with regard to this. Having looked at the statistics for the area he will be going to with the school, the statistical chances of him coming into contact with someone with measles is 0.015% - under any other circumstances this would be considered incredibly good odds!

Easylife
I googled the translation of measles in French and with the assistance of google chrome translator thingy, found that website. Or you could put a shout out on the boards for a Spanish speaker to help you look.

Tbh, if I were you I would look into giving the single vaccine, even if you have to pay privately for it. I have paid for vaccines in the past if they have not been available though our health insurance. I don't want to get into a mmr/autism debate either, but fully understand that you don't want to risk the mmr.

Just can't understand why so many people believe anecdotal evidence over the vast swathes of scientifically conducted studies out there. Aaargh.

Thanks MmeLindor, I'll have a look and see what I can find, thanks.

4pudding, against my better judgement I'm going to respond, although I really, really didn't want to get into a debate. I don't choose to believe anecdotal evidence over scientific studies, however, the scientific studies are not unbiased, funded as they are by drug companies and governments who have a financial interest in the vaccines. People stating anecdotal evidence are not making it up purely for fun or to stir up a hornet's nest - they have a genuine belief in what has happened to their children as a result of MMR. As a fellow parent (and step parent of an autistic child) I choose NOT to dismiss their experiences when forming an educated opinion - to blindly believe one side whilst totally dismissing the other does not seem logical to me, whichever way you look at it.