Need to vaccinate even if already had the disease naturally?

[PriscillaQueenOfTheDesert]

I do my sons vaccinations on a delayed schedule.

We've just moved area and surgeries and they have sent a letter for his Vax. That's fine but on the letter it says "Even if your child has already had measles, mumps etc you still need to get your child vaccinated"

Anyone know why?

My child hasn't but if he had there would be a very good chance that he gained natural lifelong immunity to that particular disease yes? So why would I still need to have him vaccinated for it?

( I don't want a fight here about my child's vaccine status, I just want to clarify my answers)

If you think that they have had the disease already and don't want to trust the nhs 'guidelines' which were written to be followed like sheep by non-thinking persons you could have them blood tested and check their immunity. Your GP will not be helpful unlikely to support the idea, but it is the only way you'll really know if they've developed immunity.

Oh sorry I've just re-read your question- the answer is 'because the NHS don't want to be bothered to fork out your tax contributed funds to check if children are immune or not, it's easier to just inject them regardless'

If he did have that disease ie Measles/mumps/rubella. Then he would have life long immunity. Also Whooping cough. Childhood diseases. The others are different.

I believe that the brought the MMR in, in the US to stop people doing a delayed of changed schedule.

Even if you were allergic to one componant of the MMR you would still be unprotected from the other two.

Sorry, I should have said immune, not allergic

@ Catsareevil. Cats are totally evil. I had a cat for 15 years and I cried when it died. Then after 3 weeks I realised I hated the blighter and was lying to myself about 'cat love'. Creepy little monsters, all take and no give.

If your child had whooping cough s/he will NOT be immune for a life time. Whooping cough immunity wanes over time, whether from vaccines or from coughing your lungs out for 8 weeks (I know that from experience, unfortunately).

If your child had any one or two of M, M and R s/he will still not be immune against the other one or two and there are no single vaccines anymore.

If your child had chicken pox, s/he has a 90% chance of long term immunity.

It is unlikely your child gets hib, tetanus, polio, diphtheria, meningitis, so we can really just be talking about the above?

"there are no single vaccines anymore"

Single rubella and measles are available privately.

Yes, priscilla, he would have natural immunity if he contracted them so you wouldn't need to vaccinate against them. It would be nice if there was a bit more choice about vaccines for that reason but hey ho! Much easier just to bundle them all in together and to hell with people's actual needs.

I would guess it is because the NHS is a huge organisation, and as such has a need to 'tick boxes'. Many parents think their child has had measles, when in fact they haven't - many illnesses do mimic the symptoms of a mild case of measles.

As far as I am aware if you have had wild measles, mumps and rubella, you gain lifelong immunity. My brother nearly died from mumps at 18mths old .

Can you expand on that running? Complications from mumps in children are very rare.

its true about the whooping cough. Ive had it about 5 times (doctor swab taken each time) as an adult. Bastard thing. Neither the vaccine (which is contraindicated after aged 7) nor whooping cough give lasting immunity.

There is also the issue of protecting our own children in the hope that they won't pass on these diseases to other more vulnerable childen and adults. Those undergoing chemo for instance may not have immunity or be fit enough for vaccines themselves

fairy, if you've acquired natural immunity from having the disease itself then you wouldn't be passing on the diseases either.