Anyone have advice on MMR issue???

[opinionsrus]

I know that this is an "old" topic, but I am a first time mum and TBH do not know a great deal on the topic.

Please can anyone tell me? Which is the greater "risk"? The MMR jab given at 15 mths, or the booster at age 4?

Don't really know if it works like that at all so apologies in advance if that sounds a bit dumb. If your child was going to have a reaction,would it be after the inital jab, if at all?

Any comments are greatly appreciated so many thanks in advance to those of you who answer....

hi, all I can make out is single jabs at 18 months + seems "the best"...in my opinion.

Agree with Quootie.

Do they still need booster at age 4 with the single jabs??

sorry opinionsrus...are you asking about the 'risks' of autism, or just the usual post immunisation grizzles?

Yes risks on autism.

I had the same concerns with ds but after lots of research, questions and soul searching, I went for it. Ds didn't have a single reaction, not even a fever. Children of friends of mine have had mild fevers, rashes etc but nothing untoward. If you are concerned about the jab being combined, have a look on the web for doctors in your area who are willing to issue the jabs seperately and weigh up the pros and cons of each. Whilst I have never agreed with the emotive way this jab has been publicised and promoted, I do believe in immunising against these illnesses.

Am going to try very hard now not to sound like a bossy cow!!!!

The department of health has made it's opinion on this subject VERY VERY clear after all the recent contraversy surrounding this jab...there is simply no evidence to show that the combined MMR causes autism. The original study/article (in the Lancet I think) has been shown to have been deeply floored and basically completely crap research. Giving your child single jabs does however expose them to an increased risk of contracting these diseases (measles, mumps & rubella) as they have to be spaced out, and the increased number of jabs also often means that some are missed, again increasing the risk to your child of contracting rather nasty and sometimes fatal diseases.

If you have real concerns about this immunisation (and to be honest I think most parents have because the media did such an 'excellent' job of scaring us half witless about it), I would recommend you speak to your HV or GP, they will be able to show you all the recent research showing what a safe jab this is, and reassure you that the combined MMR really is by far the best thing to give your child.

Hope this helps and hasn't sounded too much like a sermon!!

I would also add that it was found the guy who came up with the original research on links to autism was actually working for a company that produced the single jabs which produced part of the basis on which a lot of it was discredited. Doesn't make the decision any easier I know!!!

Thats fine flumpy but that wasn't my question.

My son has already had the injection. On the limited knowledge that I had on the matter I decided to go ahead with it.

What I would like to know is that if he has had the first injection (combined), he is now 3 and has shown no signs of a reaction, does this mean the "booster" jab also poses no threat, if there were to be one at all???

sorry (never was v good at reading questions properly in exams!). There is no risk of your child developing autism after either jab (so says the research).

OK flumpy thanks for your opinion/advice.

What worries me is that information about MMR being safe is still not available widely enough and there are still perfectly intelligent people wondering what's best. The whole thing was so hyped up by the media and of course its just not good news to say "oh sorry by the way it all seems safe now". One of the few stories they do seem happy to cover is the increase in measles outbreaks now that "herd immunity" is decreasing.

Opinionsrus - go for the booster guilt free in my opinion. No reason why it should cause a problem. If you really want more details, try putting MMR into the BBC News website search facility (though the results are rather lengthy!!)

The research does not show there is no risk of developing autism.

A few cases of regression are recorded at 4 (and even older- the oldest I've come across is 16!- although that wouldn't be recorded as autism). When you give an MMR jab it either "works" or it doesn't (well that's not quite right- but it is possible to have the jab and not develop immunity- usually if there are a lot of passive antibodies still circulating). If it hasn't worked the first time then the risk will be the same iyswim as is it is being given the first time.(!!).

The pre-school MMR jab is not a booster- it is to catch those for whom it did not work the first time around- if a booster was to be given would be given around teens (as in the US). You could have a blood test to check antibody status- which would give some indication of whether your child was protected or not.

Hope that helps!

what jimjams...????? The research from numerous studies done all over the world ever since the MMR was introduced show conclusively that there is no link between the MMR and autism.

No it doesn't. The research shows that it is safe for the majority of children. That's not the same at all. The only research done directly on the children has revealed that they have measles virus in places where they shouldn't have it. And controls don't.

Andrew Wakefield described a new condition- autistic enterocolitis- no-one has disputed the existence of this condition, and I am not aware of alternative theories for its causation.

I could also introduce you to someone whose son was developing normally. 24 hours (ish) after his MMR he had massive seizures and ended up in ICU. He survived but is severely autistic. His paediatrician thinks it was triggered by MMR (unofficially of course). I could introduce you to others with similar tales to tell.

The consensus now of people working directly with the children is that about 5% of cases of autism are triggered by MMR. That's not a very large number. It's a very small number. But its not the same as none. The last time I read that figure (5%) in print, it was written by someone who is not anti vaccination- in fact he has developed his own (widely used) vaccination.

A 16 year old regressing is fairly easy to spot as well!

Jimjams I'm sorry but what you are saying is really utter utter nonsense. Using anything said by Andrew Wakefield in your argument is ridiculous..this man's theories have been completely discredited by the scientific community.

You also simply CANNOT use that old chesnut...'I know a child who was perfectly normal, had the MMR...diaster, disaster etc'. This is scaremongering at it's very worst and is not a valid form of argument when discussing medical treatments and the scientific research that has backed them up. I might as well say my kids have had the MMR and they're fine so go for it.

Opinionrus if your concerned speak to a health profesional who has access to all the facts!!

LIght the torchpaper, why doncha, Flumpty.

unfortunately there is no injection or medecine created which is 100% safe for everyone because everyone is different. you must weigh up the percentage risk of your child developing autism if he has the jab, or your child developing M, M, or R - all of which can cause serious damage to a child - if he does not. the same risk assessment would apply to deciding about the booster.....

I believe that the first MMR will get 90-95% of children, so there is a high chance your ds will already be covered. My dds have had their first MMRs and I am not sure if I feel that the second is necessary.

My GP is of the opinion that MMR is as safe a sany vaccine, but that all vaccines have the potential to cause problems very rarely. Each time we put our dcs in teh car or walk along the street with them they are at more risk. My GP did also say that there has been a paper produced in the States which says that MMR may act as a trigger in certain children but that the autism may well have been tiggered by something else later on.

FWIW, my view is that measles kills. MMR doesn't.

be VERY careful about telling jimjams that she is talking crap on this subject.

she is incredibly well read, well researched is a scientist herself and has a vaccine damaged autistic son.

So back the f*ck off.

that was extremely restrained compared to what i was going to post.

Yes, I found reading jimjams' posts helpful in making my mind up re the MMR, even though I opted to have it for my dds, I find her posts very balanced.

how rude! i also read everything jimjams posts about the mmr, its also obvious if you have read posts of hers that she has an excellent reason for being so well read.

exactly nearlythree.

so to hear someone saying that she is talking nonsense really really winds me up. she is so patient and SO unbelievably responsible in terms of what she posts.

I hate people that shut debate down. so flumpytina please, i'm not saying don't post, not at all (not that you'd listen to me i'm sure) but please please understand that jimjams is incredibly respected on here for very good reason.