MMR - are vaccinated children now at risk too?

[biscuitdunker]

Ok I don't want to start another MMR debate but I just need honest answers to a question that has been bothering me.

My kids have all been vaccinated and I always assumed that this would pretty much guarantee protection.

Now however, with vaccination rates dropping (though starting to pick up again recently)the herd immunity effect has been lost so, does this mean that vaccinated children are now at a higher risk of catching the disease now compared to a few years ago when the uptake was good?

I have looked back through all the mumsnet threads and googled for more info but Im still not sure.

I have 3 questions:

Are vaccinated children now at a higher risk of catching the disease then before?

If they are, will it mean that because they have some immunity, they should only gt a mild case of it?

Should i stop my children playing with other children who I know haven't been vaccinated?

I would be really grateful if anyone knows the answers, but I really really don't want to turn this into a vaccinate/not vaccinate discussion

No, you should be fine; herd immunity helps protect those who are not vaccinated by reducing cases of the disease, so they are less likely to come into contact with the virus.

I worried about this too. Was going to wait with second MMR dose to 12 years because assumed they were immune after first dose at 16 monhts, but decided to give them second dose afterall and did it last week with DS1 4.5 and DD 7. 2 doses should be enough and yes I do think that IF they get it they get it mildly, but don't quote me on it.

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I don't know the answer - but I can tell you that my fully vaccinated dd had measles over Easter. It wasn't a particularly mild case, and she was pretty poorly. Protection isn't guaranteed and never was so I guess that if children like my dd, for whom part of the vaccine hasn't worked, come in contact with other children with the illnesses they are at risk of catching them. But you don't know whether the vaccine has worked or not until they catch the diseases.

I do think, though, that keeping your children away from those who haven't been vaccinated would be difficult and unnecessary. The likelihood is that your children have been protected by their vaccinations, and won't go on to develop the disease. It could be tricky to find out which of their friends have had the MMR, and certainly it will be very difficult for them to avoid unvaccinated children at school.

thanks everyone, Socci - would that mean a blood test, is this a service the GP would offer?

thanks

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