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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:
Heathcliffscathy · 27/04/2006 14:22

measles does not kill healthy well nourished children that are getting enough vitamin c and a.

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 27/04/2006 14:22

My son caught rubella from a vaccinated child. I was livid (of course I wasn't).

Children who are vulnerable to the diseases matter, and children who are vulnerable to the vaccines don't. You should know that by now Socci.

Oh sod it, I should have just stayed away. I knew I was right and I'm off to tell Aloha so.

Socci · 27/04/2006 14:24

I suspect the reason parents do that is that they would prefer their child to get the disease while they are younger and less likely to be damaged by it.

I maintain that none of you would have your child vaccinated if you knew he/she would be damaged as a result. Lets not forget that vaccinating is an invasive procedure - what about a child's human rights? There is also no way of knowing which children are most at risk from side effects.

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 14:25

Blimey! Now apparently I am saying that children vulnerable to the vaccines do not matter? Are we perhaps taking this thing a little too far? I thought the original poster was asking for opinions. This remains my thought process and it is why my children are vaccinated against measles.

Everyone else can make their own bloody minds up! I'm off before I get accused of being a child abuser or some such crap!

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 14:27

P.s. My nephew has DS and a heart condition, he cannot have the MMR. I can only pray that he doesn't get Measles because if he does it will almost certainly kill him.

I can see both points of view, why can't you?

Socci · 27/04/2006 14:27

I don't dispute that keeping ill children away from those who are vulnerable is the right thing to do - but that is common sense and not invasive.

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 27/04/2006 14:34

Hang on Rhubarb we've just been called irresponsible again, we've just been told to go to tell a Scottish mum who's child died that we don't vaccinate because......

It seems there are never any reaons good enough on mumsnet not to vaccinate against MMR. Having a sibling who is severely brain damaged is not enough.

As always in these things before bowing out I will point out that the number of children damaged by MMR is small, that MMR is safe for the majority of children, that single jabs may or may not be safer (and actually this thread is about single vs MMR, not MMR vs nothing so the irresponsible arguments can come out of it). POsted somewhere once upon a time some research showing that the efficacy of single measles was slightly higher than MMR. Not much in it though.

But despite the fact that for the average Joe MMR is best all singing dancing vaccine that every was created and will protect your LO from lots of nasties, it is small comfort to those who have done the "right" thing and done their "duty" and protected all the vulnerable in Society - and their child has paid a pretty big price for that altruism- to be called irreponsible and selfish when they decide not to go there again with their younger children.

Uwila · 27/04/2006 14:36

Jimjams, is Aloha back? Do you know her in RL? Is she coming back?

oliveoil · 27/04/2006 14:37
Heathcliffscathy · 27/04/2006 14:38

i believe that all vaccines damage all children...to a greater or lesser (sometime undetectably lesser) extent

i believe that in centuries to come (if we make it that far, which doesn't look altogether certain) future generations will shake their heads at the blunt instrument that is childhood immunisation and will be fully aware of the consequences of removing the some of the major ways in which a child's immune system develops

i don't usually say what i believe on here for fear that it will be taken as an attack on those that disagree with me on this

but this thread is pissing me off so much that i've decided to risk it for a biscuit :o

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 27/04/2006 14:39

Picture the scene

Vaccinated child has suspected measles (so the jab hasn't worked). Doc says its suspected measles and swabs.

Child not too poorly so Mother of said child decides to take this child to a children's petting farm.

Everyone chunters about it behind her back, blah blah spreading measles. I rang her up and told her she needed to stay in for 14 days. Me, the selfish one.

ANyway said child did not have measles, but if you ask me that was incredibly selfish (this mother hates staying in)- getting a child vaccinated does not make you a saint. Just as choosing not to vaccinate because you think your children are high risk (and have the evidence in front of you as a daily reminder) does not make you irresponsible or selfish.

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 27/04/2006 14:39

I don't think Aloha will come back, and to be honest I don't blame her.

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 14:40

'Scuse me! I said that perhaps we should ask one of the Scottish mums whose babies got Measles what they think of the disease now. The link I provided was just to show that children do die of Measles because someone else said that it was rare for anyone to die from it. It also highlighted that the more vulnerable children are at risk.

The word irresponsible was used in connection to mums having 'Measles Parties'.

Please do not make me seem biased or judgemental on this because I am not.

Uwila · 27/04/2006 14:41

Damn. Sad

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 27/04/2006 14:44

Why are measles parties irresponsible? No-one is forced to be there. If ds2 or ds3 get measles I've offered to tell a friend who may be interested in exposing her children and vice versa. Getting measles as a teenager/adult is not fun which is why if people decided never to vaccinate then measles parties can be responsible.

Rhubarb · 27/04/2006 14:45

That's what I was asking, are they irresponsible? Jeez! I wish I would stay off these threads too - no-one bloody reads my posts!

panicpants · 27/04/2006 15:12

Having read all of this, I'm now even more confused then ever, my ds is 8mths so will be due his MMR in a few months time.

So at the end of the day, is it better to give him the MMR or single jabs?

Anyone know conclusively?

foxinsocks · 27/04/2006 16:39

kateandfelicity, we were told by top paed (allergy bloke) at hospital that unless the egg allergy was very severe (i.e. anaphylactic) it was OK to have MMR done at the GP surgery. The only reason they were more concerned about the anaphylactic ones was that the GPs (and prob the parents!) would feel happier to have them done at hospital in case it triggered an anaphylactic response. This bloke sees thousands of kids in a large central London hospital and had never seen a problem.

panicpants, there's no right or wrong and there's no absolutely conclusive research either way. You have to do what you feel is best.

foxinsocks · 27/04/2006 16:45

should say he classed severe as not only anaphylactic but also as a reaction having an effect on their breathing

Alipiggie · 27/04/2006 17:06

I went the single vaccination route as I do not trust anything that we're told by anybody in the government - yep sweeping generalistion I know. Vaccines do not give lifelong immunity and for some no immunity - check out the number getting Mumps over here in the US at the moment who have had MMR. And yes there's been a tail off in the uptake in the states too. I believe we should be given a choice and not forced down the multi-vaccine route comprimising babies immune systems. Wasn't even happy doing the DTP and and for the babies, but did. But certainly wasn't overloading only a few months later with yet more vaccines. Good luck with your decision. Follow your instincts.

TheBlonde · 27/04/2006 17:42

My DS has had his first MMR jab
I felt the likelihood of any negative effects on him from the vaccine was minimal

I delayed it a few months as I wanted to think about it and have a bit of a read
I wasn't bothered about him catching any of the diseases in the interim - he is healthy and was unlikely to die or be damaged by them

Failed to find any info to sway me either way. The UK gov stuff is all propaganda.

If single vax were offered by the GP I probably would have gone that route

I'm not worried about what other people choose to do - you need to do what you think is best for your child

Wembley · 27/04/2006 17:46

This is all my opinion but I am really amazed at the number of mums who favour the single vaccines. I wouldn't entertain the idea of giving my children a drug that is unlicensed. We do not know how safe these vaccs are! Also it means our children are exposed to these awful diseases for longer, children can die from measles although some people seem to think that this was not common!! Shock

panicpants · 27/04/2006 17:57

Didn't realise the single vax's weren't licensed Shock

expatinscotland · 27/04/2006 17:59

gave it to dd1 at 13 months. will give it to dd2, but probably at 18 months.

Socci · 27/04/2006 18:01

Wembley - it has never been common for people to die of measles and even 20 years ago was not regarded as a fatal disease as it is today.

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