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Original poster

MMR Jabs

222 replies

Qd · 13/03/2001 17:53

An osteopath told me last week she had heard there was a homeopathic alternative to the MMR, but didn't have any info. Does anyone know anything about it?

OP posts:
Bloss · 16/09/2001 05:49

Message withdrawn

Joe · 17/09/2001 09:20

Thanks Bloss, he was one yesterday so he will be just over a week from his birthday, poor little man they have alot to do when they are so little. We go on holiday on the saturday so I hope he doesnt have too much of a reaction.

Bloss · 17/09/2001 09:59

Message withdrawn

Chanelno5 · 03/11/2001 09:25

Just like to reassure anyone out there worrying about MMR jabs, all 3 of my children had them and are fine. I too, worried about them getting it done, but decided on balance I would prefer them not to suffer the illnesses.

Joe1 · 03/11/2001 09:57

My son had his MMR just over 2 weeks ago and no problems at all, other than the nurse doing everyting in slow motion. Im glad I have had it done, I wouldnt have been able to live myself if he had caught one of the dieses.

Marina · 29/01/2002 10:17

Panorama on Sunday 3rd Feb (10.15pm BBC1) is looking at the MMR debate. I think it will be discussing the validity or otherwise of Dr Andrew Wakefield's research into the links between the measles virus and Crohn's, autism etc.

Esme · 04/02/2002 13:58

After listening to all the recent media speculation regarding MMR I'm just as baffled as I was before. However I do feel uneasy about the vaccination and my instict is to try and minimise any risk however small whilst still immunizing my child. Therefore I need a phone number or some information regarding where I can go for the three seperate jabs. My GP refused to give me the information stating that as the single vaccinations were not licensed he could not comment. If anyone can help with info I would be grateful. I live in York and would be looking for a clinic in the North.

Rhiannon · 04/02/2002 14:05

Don't know anywhere in the north but there was a clinic on TV at lunchtime called Health Direct in London, you could ring them and ask if they know anywhere in the North. Otherwise you could ring your local private hospital. The price quoted on the TV was £180 (£60 each) no consultants fee. R

Batters · 04/02/2002 14:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SueDonim · 04/02/2002 14:17

If you go to the Jabs website you can email for info about your nearest single jab clinic. HTH

Lill · 04/02/2002 14:39

Before I start can I point out that I am L i l l
( 2 ls)and not L i l L (1 L) - do you see?

Thanks

Reading quickly through this thread it appears, that in the main, contributors are pro vaccines. To date, our 4 kids have only had a few of the recomended program. Should any of you want to go through the myriad of reasons why we have chosen this route I will happily explain.
But for now, can I ask how many of you will be happy to add the chicken pox vaccine to the recomended 23 vaccines a child has before they start school?
Ask any health professional why we vaccinate and they will answer it is to protect the community. People with immune deficiency disorders need protecting from as much as possible and so it appears we will be offered yet another vaccine. No doubt in 10/15 years time people willl talk of the horrors of chicken pox. Lets face it for the most part this is a relatively innocuous disease. The problem is, as I see it, these childhood illness only become a problem in 'at risk children' and the vaccines themselves can pose a threat to 'at risk children' - what noone seems to know is who those 'at risk children' are. So we are left with a game of statistics to make our own judgements!

This is such a personal issue that all we can do is recognise that as parents we make our decisions, right or wrong, for the right reasons. Sometimes I wish I had a blind faith in the medical profession so I could let them make the choice for me as it is a minefield out there!

Pupuce · 04/02/2002 15:32

Hey Lill, check this out... I agree with you
My 2 are not vaccinated at all.... And it is a decision we have taken, having read and discussed a lot.

Lill · 04/02/2002 15:39

HURRAH! Thanks pupuce. It is a hard decision but at least this way you can change your mind. Do you know any websites pro non vaccination?

Pupuce · 04/02/2002 15:46

Batters - will you let us know if the 3 kids who are ill, recover well ? I am not sure we'll hear it in the news.
Thanks

Pupuce · 04/02/2002 15:50

Lill - I have read stuff but can't find it just right now and the sites I saw were not in English language. But the info is out there.
Can I just point out that I work in the "spin" industry (as some might call it) for a controversial industry and I am quite familiar and experienced in turning facts into arguments in your favour... so finding out the truth (if such a thing exist) is almost impossible.

Pupuce · 04/02/2002 16:05

A quick search on the internet, I have found these 3 sites (the last one references a book).
vaxchoice.crosswinds.net/
www.wddty.co.uk/
www.family2000.org.uk/vaccination.htm

berries · 04/02/2002 16:20

I made the decision not to give my eldest dd the mmr in late 1996, before the link between mmr & autism had been speculated. There had, however, been a few reports about a possible link with crohns disease, and I also though it was too much for an underdeveloped immune system to cope with. I have since done far more investigation, primarily to fight back against continual requests from health professionals, and am becoming more and more convinced I made the right decision. One of the most worrying things was the govt continual use of a strain of the mumps vaccine which had been banned for a number of years in other countries for its high risk of side effects. Our govt deemed it 'safe' to continue using it for at least 2 (probably 4) years after evidence it was high risk. This gives me no confidence in any govt saying these vaccines are 'safe'.
Also, I think it is about time the govt spokes people realised that giving people a choice of single vaccines doesn't mean that more children will be at risk. The majority of people opting for single vaccines believe it is a choice between single vaccine or NO vaccine, not single or triple.
Finally, re:all the other countries who believe this vaccine is so safe, how come Japan discontinued it's use in favour of the single vaccines?
I wasn't anti-vaccination originally, however, I'm leaning more and more in that direction as I find out more information.
Another useful website is www.van.org.uk

berries · 04/02/2002 16:27

I made the decision not to give my eldest dd the mmr in late 1996, before the link between mmr & autism had been speculated. There had, however, been a few reports about a possible link with crohns disease, and I also though it was too much for an underdeveloped immune system to cope with. I have since done far more investigation, primarily to fight back against continual requests from health professionals, and am becoming more and more convinced I made the right decision. One of the most worrying things was the govt continual use of a strain of the mumps vaccine which had been banned for a number of years in other countries for its high risk of side effects. Our govt deemed it 'safe' to continue using it for at least 2 (probably 4) years after evidence it was high risk. This gives me no confidence in any govt saying these vaccines are 'safe'.
Also, I think it is about time the govt spokes people realised that giving people a choice of single vaccines doesn't mean that more children will be at risk. The majority of people opting for single vaccines believe it is a choice between single vaccine or NO vaccine, not single or triple.
Finally, re:all the other countries who believe this vaccine is so safe, how come Japan discontinued it's use in favour of the single vaccines?
I wasn't anti-vaccination originally, however, I'm leaning more and more in that direction as I find out more information.
Another useful website is www.van.org.uk

jsmummy · 04/02/2002 16:30

My 4yo ds has had all his vaccinations but NOT MMR. Batters, I also hope the children concerned are OK.

We all had a discussion about this at p/group this morning: I missed the programme last night but others had seen it. I know that every time there is an outbreak of measles icy fear grips my heart in case ds gets it, is seriously ill and it's my fault...on the other hand he sailed through chicken pox with no problem and generally is in good health with, I fondly imagine, a strong immune system. I do know that measles et al are more serious than chicken pox. It's such a hard decision isn't it?

Pupuce, interested in your perception, since you work in "spin": do you think the govt feels that allowing parents to vaccinate their children singly is tantamount to an admission that MMR is unsafe? In other words, is it political rather than medical? Or is that blindingly obvious and a silly question?

star · 04/02/2002 16:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Pupuce · 04/02/2002 16:38

I won't even go into the political debate.... see I am not British but live in this lovely (but very wet) country!!! and I have no political allegiance. I think that it doesn't really matter who is at the head of this country, it would be the same. That's partly because you get the vaccine for free.
What I am far more concern about is the arrogance (sorry I am sure I am going to get hit for saying this ) of the medical profession : we know what's best for you, trust us, and those who say things against "our" science don't know the facts and are just trying to scare you.... that sort of arrogance.

Pupuce · 04/02/2002 16:45

Actually JSmummy.... I think that allowing for single vaccine would be seen as an admission of a problem with the triple one - if they had not be so stubborn from the beginning we wouldn't even be having such a debate.
Also I had measles as a child... not all cases of measles are dangerous. If I hear of a child having measles near me, I would probably try to get my children to have it. I would not do this without in the wrong condition (like I'd make sure my kids are in good health at that point,I'd make sure I or DH can take the week offn (or longer) to care for them, etc)
This is all very personal obviously but there is a lot of scaretactics in all of this.
Did anyone see the ER episode on measles ???? That was VERY pro jab !

jsmummy · 04/02/2002 16:49

Thanks Pupuce, yes, it interests me that, for those of us in our thirties (less maybe, think MMR is 13 years old?) and older, there was no vaccination and we're OK. I know, I know, 'the death rate from measles probably was higher as a result' is the stock answer but still.

Janus · 04/02/2002 16:55

I too was going along the lines of the single vaccinations for MMR but was worried that one of the vaccinations had not been licensed in the UK - how did we therefore know that this one is safe?, wouldn't I be taking a risk which is what I was trying to avoid?, etc.
Also, if you really take advice seriously you must leave a significant amount of time between each jab (I think at least 6 months and some advise of up to a year) so the problem for me would have been knowing that she may have been protected against, say, Measles, but still at risk of contracting Mumps and Rubella for up to another 12-18 months.
I dithered for a few weeks then my daughter developed a horrific rash one weekend. I was convinced she had something terrible like Measles and felt completely sick. Luckily it turned out to be a strange virus. She had her MMR jab as soon as she was fit again. Believe me, the utter horror of thinking your child had got something because you had not immunised was sickening and if she had had one of the illnesses and been seriously ill I would have had a very hard time living with myself.
The MMR jab was fine, she was 'off colour' for about a month which my GP surgery failed to inform me, ie the pattern of side effects but I feel much better now knowing she is protected.
I'm really trying to understand that everyone has a choice (of course you do) but if, God forbid, anything happens to your child could you live with the guilt? As we have seen and, I think, will probably see a lot more, break-outs of these diseases will occur so how can you run the risk?
I'm really not trying to be hard on you for your decisions so sorry if I offend anyone.

Croppy · 04/02/2002 17:17

Well I'm in my 30's and a child I was at school with died aged 7 from complications of measles.