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Original poster

MMR - Did/Didn't you give it to your baby?

215 replies

cheeseypeas · 27/04/2006 09:14

My DS is about due for his MMR and I'm still really concerned about it and at the moment don't want him to have it (until he's older at least). Things like the autism rates going up so much since it was introduced, allot of regressive autism cases happening about the time of the jab, Tony Blair not giving it to his kid etc that are the causing for concern for me. Also, have read things written by people who believe their babies have been damaged by it and that sticks in my head. I know that the people that started the scare had ulterior motives etc.

Would be really interested to know of other mums reasoning for having it/not having it and any advice if possible. Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
cheeseypeas · 27/04/2006 13:16

Just like to thank you all again for your feedback. V interesting and now feel armed with more info to make my decision with.

Bloody horrible decision to make though.

OP posts:
Socci · 27/04/2006 13:17

Sugarmag - there is also no robust scientific evidence to prove that MMR does not cause children to regress / autism. In fact there isn't much robust evidence about any vaccines - that IS a concern imo.

And to imply that doctors know more than parents so we should leave it all to them / blindly take their word for it is naive and indeed patronising.

Uwila · 27/04/2006 13:22

Cheeseypeas, are you deciding btween combined and singles, or are you considering not vaccinating at all?

Original poster
cheeseypeas · 27/04/2006 13:29

Hi Uwila, I am considering not vaccinating at all but am not 100% decided on this yet.

I prefer the idea of singles but need to do more research.

Also, DS is allergic to egg so that needs investigating too.

OP posts:
FairyMum · 27/04/2006 13:30

My children are allergic to eggs and we were adviced that the MMR is still safe. I know they did think it was not a good idea to give to children with egg allergy, but now think it is okey. Obviously check with the doctors, but that is the advice we were given and they were all fine despite a quite annoying egg allergy.

Uwila · 27/04/2006 13:40

Hey, speaking of measels, does anyone know what sort of condition those nurses were in who caught it a few weeks back at Central Middlesex Hospital? I wonder really HOW sick they were. Especially as they cought it as adults.

Cheeseypeas, if I were you (which of course I'm not) I'd get the mesels one and decide on the others later. Measels is the only one I REALLY don't want my kids to get.

Oh, and definately listen to the wisdom of Jimjams. She is well respected around here. (even if she can't stay off the threads like her name says she will)

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 13:44

I thought long and hard about this and the thing that made my mind up was this:
Measles can kill a child, or make them blind.
The only risk with MMR is a supposed link to autism that is unproven.
Therefore I would rather take my chances with the vaccine than risk my child dying or going blind. Measles is a nasty disease, I think we forget how nasty it can be because it's rare now.

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 13:45

Oh, and as for proven or not, well blindess and death are proven side effects of Measles. There is no disputing that.

Socci · 27/04/2006 13:51

It is rare for a child to die from measles if they are otherwise in good health.

Angeliz · 27/04/2006 13:53

The thing that also gets me emotional for my babies is they might get these diseases. Then again they might not.
But it is my choice that they have to sit and be injected with them. Then there's no choice.

Probably worded that terribly but hope you see what i mean.
Twiglett, which vaccines did you get first?
(have all this to come again! ARGH!)

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 13:58

Yes, it is rare for a child to die from Measles, but it happens. It is also rare for a child to get side effects from the vaccine, and as far as I know, death and blindness are not listed side effects of the MMR.

I know what you are saying, I understand feeling that you are responsible for giving them the vaccine and anything else that comes with it, but just imagine how you would feel if your child got Measles and were seriously ill with it, plus the risks of giving it to other children!

It's like all those cases in Scotland, some of the children who got measles were just babes who hadn't had their boosters yet, like my ds. Now if my ds caught Measles from a child whose parents had decided against the MMR, I'd be furious! By not giving the vaccine, if your child does get it, you run the risk of infecting other vulnerable children.

Original poster
cheeseypeas · 27/04/2006 13:59

Angeliz - That's not badly worded at all. That's exactly how I feel.

Also, Uwila - Have taken onboard what Jimjams has said and the info she has posted. She sounds incredibly informed and well read on this subject.

OP posts:
Angeliz · 27/04/2006 14:02

That's why i give singles. The disease does actually scare me (measles) but so do the consequences of something going wrong with a jab.

On your point though Rhubarb, my worry for years to come is (Jimjams has said this too i beleive and i've read it lots) is that our children won't be able to pass on any natural immunity to their babaies. So their babies will be at riak from very early with no natural immunity to any of these diseases.

FairyMum · 27/04/2006 14:03

Agree with Rhubarb It's not just a choice you make for your own child, but for other children who have yet to be vaccinated because of their age or cannot be vaccinated for other reasons. IMO it's irresponsible not to vaccinate. Not a popular view on MN, I know, but it really isn't just a personal choice like many seem to think.

Uwila · 27/04/2006 14:09

Ohhhhhhh.... is anyone selling hard hats yet?

motherinferior · 27/04/2006 14:13

Both my children had the MMR, after some but not massive consideration on my part.

Both DP and I are quite pro-vaccination for quite a lot of things, having spent much of our childhoods in countries where there are diseases that tend to kill you if you're not vaccinated against them. And my mother has permanently damaged eyes from measles in early childhood.

Socci · 27/04/2006 14:15

"Now if my ds caught Measles from a child whose parents had decided against the MMR, I'd be furious!"

Rhubarb - that sounds very judgemental. There have been numerous threads where the argumant that children should be vaccinated to protect others has been discussed and I hesitate to post my views on it again. However, I do not believe that anyone would put the theoretical welfare of anyone else above that of their own child and rightly so. There are many reasons why the argument doesn't stand up to scrutiny, among them that vaccines are not 100% effective and some children catch diseases from vaccinated children.

I always find it difficult to understand why people cite it time and again as a valid reason to vaccinate when nobody applies the same theory to any other similar situation. For example, if your neighbour was undergoing chemotherapy I'm sure you would think he was barking if he knocked on your door and said you should all have flu jabs to protect him because he's immune system is compromised.

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 14:16

How about getting hold of one of those Scottish mums whose kids got Measles and ask them how they feel about the vaccine now?

There will always be the \link{http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/4871728.stm\vulnerable} children most at risk from this disease. So whilst your average Tom, Dick and Harry could get it and be ok, others like the little boy in the story get it, and they die.

Socci · 27/04/2006 14:16

sorry for typos

motherinferior · 27/04/2006 14:17

Actually, Socci, I would think that was quite reasonable of a neighbour. I agree with Rhubarb on that point.

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 14:18

And Socci, if I knew my neighbour was undergoing chemo I would do my best to keep any ill-ridden child or adult away from them. If it was a member of my family then I would consider getting flu jabs to protect them, yes.

But there are people out there having 'Measles Parties' much the same as 'Chicken-pox parties' to ensure their children catch it and develop immunity. Irresponsible?

Socci · 27/04/2006 14:19

So Fairymum - I assume you also believe that adults should be vaccinated against everything too - to protect everybody else - who may have AIDs, be undergoing chemotherapy, are old etc?

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 27/04/2006 14:20

If the mother has had measles (real measles, not the jab) then the baby should have some sort of measles protection until about a year old, and tiny infants should definitely not be given it. Most tiny babies who catch measles have not got antibodies because there mothers haven't got antibodies because they haven't had measles. You wouldn't really want a tiny baby to be given MMR or have real measles.

Posted on a recent thread research showing that the measles protection from the jab is not as long lasting as measles protection from real measles. The link was to a pro-vax paper btw- the discussion was when to give MMR- 9 months, 12 months or 15 months.

Shades of grey all round.

Still very interested in how Wakefield is getting paid for all of this.

spidermama · 27/04/2006 14:21

I'm reading \link{http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0892819316/qid=1146143983/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl/202-0565193-3141413\this} at the moment which is very interesting. She's one of my favourite writers on the subject of childrens health and I find her approach very measured.

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 14:21

The difference is Socci, that you cannot vaccinate against all types of flu, meningitus or other natural diseases that could affect vulnerable people. But you can vaccinate against Measles.

Would you expose a pregnant woman to chicken pox? Same argument.