Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Early MMR jab at four months - reassure me?

14 replies

Loobyloo1902 · 01/08/2011 12:07

I took my 4mo DD to the GP this morning because we spent Friday afternoon with a poor wee little boy who's now been diagnosed as having measles.

The NHS website says that at 4mo, they should have an immune booster but my GP suggested she could just go straight for the MMR today (which I did).

Now I'm home, I'm ever so slightly worried that I might have done the wrong thing in letting her have it so early. Anyone want to reassure me?! Guessing it's too late to suck the vaccine out of her leg.....

OP posts:
bumbleymummy · 02/08/2011 11:05

I'm surprised she was given it tbh. I thought it wasn't really given before 6 months because it isn't effective due to interference from maternal antibodies. How old was the boy you were with?

Original poster
Loobyloo1902 · 02/08/2011 22:06

He's 14mo and just had his MMR a month ago.

OP posts:
JarethTheGoblinKing · 02/08/2011 22:11

What?

JarethTheGoblinKing · 02/08/2011 22:12

Sorry, ignore me. Misread.

LawrieMarlow · 02/08/2011 22:13

I'm a bit confused. Is your DD 4 months or 14 months?

PirateDinosaur · 02/08/2011 22:39

Her DD is 4 months, as per thread title and OP. The boy who had measles is 14 months ("How old was the boy you were with?" / "He's 14mo")

ShowOfHands · 02/08/2011 22:42

I always assumed it was highly ineffective at such a young age. It's still not as effective at 13mo as it could be at say 18mo.

nicky1968 · 03/08/2011 11:58

So the boy that has measles was vaccinated against it a month ago?

Tabitha8 · 03/08/2011 14:03

Evidently, that is what happened. He had his MMR but caught measles anyway.

tulip27 · 03/08/2011 14:06

one mmr doesn't offer complete immunity that is why they are revaccinated at 3.5 years with a second mmr.

pooka · 03/08/2011 14:09

Only now they do the first at 12 months and second at 14 months (round here at least - because only having first not as effective, and there have been outbreaks). Also I know quite a few people who were travelling to France (big outbreak) and who had their younger children vaccinated (younger than 12 months) and then the second jab too.

bumbleymummy · 03/08/2011 16:05

Yes, during epidemics it can be offered to children younger than 12 months but not under 6 months. I'm not even sure it has been tested on that group tbh. I'd be a bit annoyed with my doctor.

Original poster
Loobyloo1902 · 03/08/2011 17:30

That's what I read on the BUPA website (that the MMR was for babies over 6mo) so I'm not sure why she was given it and not the immunity booster.

My little one has a hacking cough and a big case of the snuffles now so I'm taking her back to the GP tonight for some reassurance. It could be totally unrelated but last night, I was hovering over the phone, wondering whether to call an exorcist she was in such a state.

Hmmmm... thanks for all the replies, going to give her another cuddle.

OP posts:
Tabitha8 · 04/08/2011 18:55

From the NHS website
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/MMR/Pages/When-should-it-be-done.aspx
Children are given a booster dose before they start school (usually between three and five years of age). Between 5 and 10% of children are not fully immune after the first dose. The booster gives increased protection, and less than 1% of children remain at risk after it.

So, the majority of children are protected after only one dose. The second dose is to pick up those who were not fully protected after the first. Even then, a few will still not be immune.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread