mmr pre school jab and chicken pox - please help

[dawneg]

Hi - dd2 is due her MMR preschool jab and other booster on Tues (in 2 days). I've just been reading a thread that suggests having MMR psch jab close to contracting C Pox runs a risk of triggering autism!?

Dd2 had chicken pox 5 weeks ago, I am now in a panic.

Any experts who can help me on this? I woudl be so grateful.

Thanks in advance.

I have never heard of this, DS1 and DS2 have both just had CP, DS1 is due a preschool booster and DS2 is due his 1 year jabs...

I honestly can't see what interaction would make CP higher risk than anything else but if you're worried you could always put the jab off for a while. Having it a few months late isn't likely to do any harm and, if it helps you feel less worried, is probably a good thing.

I would agree with Imp as always put off jabs if dd been unwell or just recovering.

Thx for the replies. What concerns me is the risk of her catching MM or R if I put them off? She starts nursery this month. Imp, u say ur 2 have just had CP, how long ago?

I know of a child who had her MMR booster at 4 years old and 7 days later, she was ill. I thought it must be the MMR jab, but a few days later, it was obvious that she had chicken pox. The poor girl had her MMR jab and chicken pox infection within a week of each other. I thought, bad news. Something will happen to her.

The child is now 7 years old and is one of the smartest, best behaved and most sociable 7 year olds I know. I know because I was her childminder and, as mindees goes, she was a childminder's dream so to speak, and a pleasure to look after.

She proved me wrong and my worries were wholly unfounded.

I have known the child for 5 years and her parents are good acquaintance of mine. I no longer work as a childminder btw.

DS1 about 2 weeks ago, DS2 recovering now. I'm not overly worried but I am naturally forgetful and disorganised so it will probably be a couple of months before I get round to booking anything.

I don't think you'd need to worry about contracting anything so much if it's only a booster that's due, the protection from the original jab doesn't wear off overnight. There's likely to be months (possibly even years?) of leeway in how long you can leave the booster while still being covered by the baby jabs.

MMR plus chicken pox does not cause autism. The problem with viral disease just before viral vaccine is that the body has mounted an immune defense against the chicken pox and those substances (antivirals) are still around in the blood for a while and might knock out the MMR on entry and the vaccine may be futile. 4 weeks between viral illness or viral vaccine and the next viral vaccine is enough though.

HTH

Thanks CatherinaJTV. Just to be clear, DD2 contracted CP 5 weeks and 2 days ago. Is that enough of a gap for the MMR to be effective? Ie; is the 4 week gap from the onset or the completion of the virus ( 7-10 days after first spot would make it less than 4 weeks between that and immunisation?). Sorry to be picky just want to make sure imm is effective. Altho, she has already had the first MMR at 13 mths, so is likely to already be immune? Thanks again, I appreciate everyone taking the time to reply.

I'm not an expert but when DS was having his baby jabs I managed to make an appointment 3 weeks and 6 days after the last lot, turned up on the day and was told I'd have to make another appointment, he couldn't have them as it is a minimum of 4 weeks gap. At a guess this probably applies to chickenpox as well, but it is just a guess based on my experience.

I still think it's very unlikely to do any harm waiting a few weeks but it's also not all that likely to be a problem having it now. Good luck either way.

It's just best to speak to the nurse at your surgery.
The thread on MMR earlier - there were some pretty Ill informed comments on there so don't take to heart .

what Imp says - I would make it 4 weeks from when the last pox crusted over, but do discuss with your surgery.

Thanks v much all. Left message with nurse and she said ok to go ahead. Poor dd2 is far too knowing and was petrified before we left the house. She wudn't comply at all and I had to restrain her which was incredibly distressing for both of us. She sobbed the whole way home and her arms are very sore. She's perked up after Calpol. I'm wondering why the vaccines don't start to work for a week or so, preumably it goes straight into blood stream? I also don't understand how kids aren't contagious whilst processing these vaccines? T