MMR Help please

SpanielEars · 2006-08-22T14:51:34+00:00

Hello - that piece of paper has arrived in the post requesting that i get the mmr immunisation done for dd. I'm still not sure whether to go for the combined or the seperate. Can anyone give me any advice please? I'm ripping my hair out just stressing about the right thing to do.

bluejelly · 22/08/2006 15:53

I had the combined and never regretted my decision.

Twiglett · 22/08/2006 15:54

what's your current feeling about it

write down the pros and cons and post it

(I did sepvax for DS .. but MMR booster .. and did MMR for DD .. but will do sepvax booster)

MerlinsBeard · 22/08/2006 15:55

Both mine have had the combined and the only problem i had was with ds2 a week after, just the ordinary reaction. There was never any doubt in my mind as to what i would do as, financially, i had no other option so the desiciion was taken out of my mind)

Original poster

SpanielEars · 22/08/2006 16:08

oh i really don't know. the press have scared me senseless but i have a daughter so i know its not meant to be as worrying but also on the other hand i too can't really afford the seperate. I also don't want to have to out dd through 3 seperate injections if it is all just scare mongering. Most of my friends bar one have had the combined and there seem to be no problems but you always think that you may be in that small %.i suppose i should just follow my head and go with my gut which is the combined. if i don't respond to the invite (i use that trem loosely) will they chase me up and is there a time limit on it?

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Original poster

SpanielEars · 22/08/2006 16:08

oh i really don't know. the press have scared me senseless but i have a daughter so i know its not meant to be as worrying but also on the other hand i too can't really afford the seperate. I also don't want to have to out dd through 3 seperate injections if it is all just scare mongering. Most of my friends bar one have had the combined and there seem to be no problems but you always think that you may be in that small %.i suppose i should just follow my head and go with my gut which is the combined. if i don't respond to the invite (i use that trem loosely) will they chase me up and is there a time limit on it?

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Original poster

SpanielEars · 22/08/2006 16:08

i keep pressing hte button twice - sorry

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Sparks · 22/08/2006 16:11

There is no time limit. You can phone the surgery and make an appointment whenever you want. FWIW, my dd had the mmr, but we delayed it a bit because there were other things going on for her at the time.

HappyMumof2 · 22/08/2006 16:26

Message withdrawn

izzybiz · 22/08/2006 17:45

Both of mine had it too, they are both fine.
Didnt even get a reaction, i agree with happy mum. Go with the facts. HTH.

Medulla · 22/08/2006 17:51

DS's appointment arrived yesterday - will be going for MMR, no doubt about it

Twiglett · 22/08/2006 18:44

if you choose to do MMR delay it till over 18 months ... they do it far too early

HappyMumof2 · 22/08/2006 18:57

Message withdrawn

Twiglett · 22/08/2006 19:10

if you wait till after 15 months you have increased chance of particularly the measles component taking

interestingly its not lifetime cover either even with the booster jab at pre-school (but that's a different argument)

jabberwocky · 22/08/2006 19:24

Here in the US I am pretty sure they wait until 15 months. We did separates for ds.

fatfox · 22/08/2006 19:29

Mine both had single vaccines, as we had friends whose children were adverseley affected by MMR. We went to Direct Health 2000 (DH2000), so don't have the link, but you could google them if you're interested.

Coolmama · 22/08/2006 20:13

Hi SpanielEars - first, let me say that I completely understand our dilemma - it's a hard one, this MMR thing.
You may not be aware of this, but there is an MNer called "Jimjmaskeepingoffvaxthreads" who has a deeply, formidably, well-educated and well-thougt-out view on vaccines and the MMR jam - so do a search with her name and see what comes up -
That said, I gave DS the MMR jab at 16 months and here's why -

Not vaccinating was not an option.
I did a shedload of research and could find no compelling reason not to give the MMR jab.
There is no obvoious evidence of Austism or Aspergers in either family side
My DS does not have any allergies - paricularly egg allergies
DS had absolutely no side effects to any other previous vaccines (nor did he to the MMR btw)
DS has no history of convulsions, fits or any other symptom which might suggest that his immune system would respond badly to the vaccine.
At the end of all of the research, it was the best option for him So do as much research as you need, chech the archives as there are many threads about this and then go where your heart leads. I do understand that this can be a volatile issue and will underline my post again by saying that this was worked for us and our DS - it's a very personal decision, but am happy to be corrected by anyone with other info for the OP.

Jimjams2 · 22/08/2006 20:26

Youy're very kind coolmama

Important to consider your own family history as coolmama says. If you have no gut problems, autism or autoimmune conditions in your family then your decision is easier. Gut problems are (imo- and that of some immunologists etc) the big one really where MMR is concerned. Remember Wakefield's paper was primarily about gut problems- he was describing a new condition- autistic enterocolitis- enterocolitis in some cases of autism is not really disputed, although the cause may be.

If you don't have any "risk" factors (and these are not official), then its worth bearing in mind that the number of autism cases believed to have been MMR triggered are around 7%, that's a very small number when compared to MMR shots given (autism itself is what? 1 in 86 ish at the most).

There are other reasons, nothing to do with MMR that people choose not to give the jab or delay it, but I'm guessing that's not really an issue for you so I won't go there.

aragon · 22/08/2006 20:31

Hi SE,

I am a HV and very convinced of the safety of the MMR. However, I am also a Mum and just as sensitive to the negative press as anyone else. I had a dreadful time trying to decide what to do for my DS (even though the logical bit of me said MMR was okay).
The best advice I can give you is to do your own reading (not just of the papers) but also other info. There's lots on the immunisation website (NHS) which is obviously pro-MMR. Also there are plenty of other sites which discuss the pros and cons.

My son had his MMR at 15 months - I delayed it by two months (while dithering about what to do)then did it - he's fine.

Coolmamas post is excellent too and a very sensible approach.

liquidclocks · 22/08/2006 20:45

Hi spaniel, don't think you can go far wrong if you take coolmamas suggestions. I just want to say well done for not making it an mmr or nothing thing and saying you'd consider singles as an alternative. Also to tell you I did a lot of research too as my DH adamantly refused to give consent for the mmr or the singles at first. I worked very hard finding all the literature I could about it (I'm a OT researcher in my other life), thankfully he was convinced that DS had none of the 'risk' factors that might have put us off and DS had his mmr at 16 months - I was very pleased he had when measles showed up in our town, it meant I didn't have to worry about him, or him catching it and passing it on.

Coolmama · 22/08/2006 20:58

Hi Aragon and Hello Jimjams! - glad to see you are back - this is a bit "off-piste" as it were (so apologies for the hijack), but I did want to say thank you for all your thoughtful, intelligent and well-considered posts - you made making the MMR decision so much easier for me - so Thank you!

Jimjams2 · 22/08/2006 21:45

thank you!

Still struggle over my decisions though or

Original poster

SpanielEars · 23/08/2006 14:58

all - thank you so much for all your info and thoughts regarding this. I think i have now decided what i'm going to do and i think tonight may be the first night that i sleep without worrying about it.

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