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Original poster

DD is one next month which means MMR - help!

47 replies

MammyShirl · 11/02/2004 13:37

What is everyones opinion on this?

I dont think i am going to go for the single injections as i know this lives her open to infection in between jabs!

I am very interested to hear about all your experiences and the choices you made and why?

Also has anyones children had any side effects from the MMR jabs and the single jabs?

Thank you!

OP posts:
oliveoil · 11/02/2004 13:42

There are tons of threads on this subject and there are no right or wrong answers.

I took advice from friends and drove myself round the bend reading scaremongering (IMO) articles and in the end I decided to go for the MMR jab. Dd has been absolutely fine with no side effects to my knowledge, think she had it at the start of Jan off memory.

Beware! This thread could get heated as some people have strong views both ways. Prepare to duck.

xx

bundle · 11/02/2004 13:47

mammyshirl, dd1 had mmr at 15 mths, and I intend to give it to dd2 when the time comes. not everyone feels that way though...

Enid · 11/02/2004 13:52

Dd2 (15 months) had her MMR about 10 days ago. She's been a bit poorly since but also has 3 massive teeth coming through so its hard to say which is causing it.

In Dorset you get called to have the new(ish) Hib booster WITH the MMR - I didn't fancy her having them both together. The hvs/nurses were fine about my decision (in fact seemed to think it was the right one...) so she'll be called again for the HIB in a few months.

Dd1 had the MMR and was fine.

Two days before dd2 was due to go in I had a very scary conversation with someone at Baby Group who said she 'used to work at a drug company' and would never give the MMR to her children. I'm just bloody minded I guess as it just made me more determined to have it done! Also she really believed that the government KNEW that the MMR caused autism but there was a cover-up...hmmmm...I couldn't wait for her to start on about the bright lights she saw in the skies every night either...

Enid · 11/02/2004 13:53

ooh, hello bundle I've just sent you an email!

bundle · 11/02/2004 14:01

how exciting

Enid · 11/02/2004 14:02

I know, I've only ever done it once before

CountessDracula · 11/02/2004 14:03

I'm not going to give my dd the mmr.

We have a history of autoimmune diseases in the family and I'm just not happy giving it to her.

Am pro vaccination in general and will get her the separate jabs.

Enid · 11/02/2004 14:05

Meant to add that there is no history of autism, autoimmune diseases or bowel problems in our family. If there were, I might have thought harder about it.

Jimjams · 11/02/2004 14:12

My son stopped speaking a month after the single measles jab. Don't particularly think it was related- as lots of other unfortunate things happened at the same time. It may have been the final nail in the coffin, but I think (and video evidence appears to back this up) that in his case the main damage was done a little earlier.

I do know a couple of children who became autistic following the MMR, but their story is quite different from the majority of autistic children.

Search under my name and the MMR on here and you'll get a huge number of responses. Sory I'm keeping well clear of the arguements now- but do the search and you'll get plenty.

The autism research unit and visceral are 2 good places to look if you want up to date research.

Original poster
MammyShirl · 11/02/2004 14:21

countessdracula - so if your not giving your child the mmr then how will they be protected?

... sorry but ive put off looking into this one but am starting today!

by giving them single injections, what proof is there that its safer, how long has the single jab thingy been going?

obviously i want to do what is best and ill probably decide on whatever has the most evidence to suggest what is best.

i have gone some literature and videos to read up on but where can i get nonsided info on both options?

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 11/02/2004 14:25

mumsnet!

TBH mammyshirl there appears to be no balanced info, you have the Party line on one side and the Antis on the other and little in between of any use.

I am having the single vaccines for dd. Reason for this is that I feel that if her immune system is compromised it is not going to be helped by dumping 3 lots of vaccine on her in one go. By administering them separately her immune system will have more time to deal with them.

May be a load of rubbish but it's what I think. I have friends who are doctors who have had single jabs for there kids for this very reason.

I am in no way saying that that is what you should do, just telling you what I am doing btw.

Original poster
MammyShirl · 11/02/2004 14:35

What you say does make sense, why then are we steered clear of that route? I know single injections are not free, how much do they cost?

I live in Surrey, is there a quick way of finding clinics?

OP posts:
Enid · 11/02/2004 14:38

From what I understand, doctors are unhappy about single jabs for all as they believe that people will not bother to have all three. Also I have heard that the single vaccinations are not actually licensed for use in this country so its a bit of a risk from that point of view.

CountessDracula · 11/02/2004 14:40

www.jabs.org.uk gives more info

I have a thread about this \linkwww.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=138&threadid=18254&stamp=040211132455\here}

We are steered clear of that route allegedly because

(a) the govt does not trust parents to ensure that the whole course of vaccinations is completed

(b) the govt feels that is is not as effective as you have to wait between injections so leaving child open to mumps/rubella (as the measles is usually the first one as it is the most dangerous)

(c) presumably because they cost more to administer.

They cost between £200 and £300 depending on clinic for all 3.

You could do a google for clinics in your area.

CountessDracula · 11/02/2004 14:41

They are not licensed here because the govt don't want us to have them. Dd is having one that is licensed in Switzerland, quite frankly I would be far happier with the swiss licensing anyway!

The problem is with unlicensed vaccines that you have no comeback if there are problems. But given that the govt claim there are no problems anyway, you have no comeback anyway so that is a non-argument in my book

Jimjams · 11/02/2004 14:42

the single vaccines are the same strains as found in the MMR. same vacines. the unlicensed bit is just an admin thing- bit of a red herring.

Jimjams · 11/02/2004 14:42

precisely cd

Northerner · 11/02/2004 14:47

Hi Mammyshirl, this is such a tough decision isn't it? It was by far the hardest decision I ever made, and I felt I had to make it alone as no one could give me definate answers from either side. After lots of research I finally decided to give my ds the MMR. He had it at 16 months and is now 22 months and he was totally fine afterwards. We have no history of autism etc in our family so after weighing up the pro's and con's I decided I'd rather he was immunised. I know the decision I made was the right one, but I'm so glad it's done and dusted. You have to decide what is right for your child. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Original poster
MammyShirl · 11/02/2004 14:49

oh now i feel worse.. does parenthood get any easier???

i really really dont know what to do?

i just know that whatever i decide my world would collapse if anything went wrong and i would be to blame as it was my decision...

whats the minimum waiting period between jabs?

thanks

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 11/02/2004 14:50

Yes you are very much on your own sadly

And like most big decisions in life there is no right or wrong just your decision which you must make and bear the consequences.

CountessDracula · 11/02/2004 14:53

Some clinics say 6 months, others shorter, others longer.

No no, as long as you make as informed a decision as you can and act in the best interests of your child then you cannot blame yourself if something goes wrong (but you would of course!)

I liken it to the decision I made to get my dog speyed young, I didn't know if we would ever be in a position for her to have puppies and if she was not speyed before her first season then she had a 26% chance of getting breast cancer.

I had her speyed for all the right reasons (ie to protect her) but I still feel sad whenever I think about it.

Original poster
MammyShirl · 11/02/2004 14:54

all my friends with children except for one had the mmr, one of them who had the mmr has recently been diagnosed with autism - not sure if its related to the mmr. the friends who chose the mmr did not even think about it - they just done it. sometimes the less you know the better. as a parent you are constantly worried about making right decisions and there always has to be another route to throw everything up in the air and mkae you have to re-think!

if i choose mmr - there are risks of autism etc very slight i know - but there still are.

if i choose singles - then i am leaving her open to infectiosn in between, i may have to wait a while for the next injection and there is not ENOUGH evidence to totally back it up is there???

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

OP posts:
suzywong · 11/02/2004 14:57

I gave my DS1 MMR at 17 months.
I was initially caughtup in the media furore and slightly hesitant but then his Uncle who is a GP in Australia offered to do it while we were out there visiting I agreed. I figured if a close relative and a medic saw no problem then nor should I.
HTH

Thomcat · 11/02/2004 15:00

I didn't go for MMR - I went for seperate vaccines and would do so again with future children.

Angeliz · 11/02/2004 15:01

I got my dd the single jabs.
My reasons were that i was always worried about MMR and then did what you are doing and just researched a bit. After reading alot and talking alot with dp we just felt more comfortable with the singles!
I am still waiting for the mumps Vaccine though as they can't get supplies. It's been over a year now but i am not worried as the other two were the most important for me!
I am hoping for another baby this year and am already worrying about things like this but all you can do is what YOU feel best for your child.
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