MMR - Single Vaccines - Info Please

[AnnieMo]

I am really not wanting to start up any MMR discussion (honest!) but would just like some information if anyone can give it. How can I get hold of addresses of places that offer the single vaccines. I have looked on the JABS website and have come up with a GP in Edinburgh. I live in Aberdeen and this seems to be the nearest. Does anyone know of anywhere else nearer or a register of doctors offering them. Many Thanks

Sorry, didn't mean to post that twice - this is the first time I have started a topic - Scarey!

Hi AnnieMo, I'm a Londoner so only really know of a place in Pimlico and the clinic I used, in SE London. Friends in Edinburgh speak very highly of the GP there, (on a general basis he is thought to be a highly experienced doctor and a very nice man) so if you cannot find anyone further north it might be worth a quick trip? Or why not give his practice a ring and see if they can recommend someone else?

The only ones I know of outside London are Worcester and Louth - so Edinburgh would seem to be a good bet!

Try talking to your GP - you never know! If they do the rubella single jab first (freely available on the NHS) any doctor then has the right to request import of the other two vaccines specifically for that child.

My HV also is good at pointing enquirers towards the nearest places - try yours (you'll have to mention it at some point, so why not now?).

AnnieMo - worth ringing the one in Edinburgh, as sometimes clinics offer outreach clinics if demand is high enough. There's also one listed covering Glasgow (no nearer I know, but worth a try re: outreach clinics). They too are listed on the JABS website - Dr Pugh 020 8953 1881.

My son had his measles jab today, by Dr Pugh, and I'm having real panics about it. This is going to sound daft, and I know (because I am a grown up mature adult) that I am being silly, but how do I know for sure that the injection given to my son was the measles vaccine? Dr Pugh could be another Dr Shipman for all I know and the syringe was full of some horrid poison. Please someone put my mind at rest. I didn't sleep much last night for thinking about the jab and I can see me sleeping even less tonight.

If you give yor kids single vaccines they are not licensed and could in theory be anything.

the literature from the vaccine clinic says that all their vaccines have a product licence and that measels has a product licence throughout the EEC but not a specific UK licence. It says that it's made in Switzerland by Moraten Serotherapie GmBh.

Could anyone who's used a London clinic comment on what they thought of it and which one they used???

mckenzie, I know a few people who have used the Elstree clinic (Dr Pugh) he is also the chief medical officer for the airfield there. he did my DH's medical for his pilot training and annual checks.
I do think that he took advantage of peoples emotions and set up the clinic just to do the vac's but then it has helped a lot of nervous parents by offering the single vaccine, but it's a great money earner for him!

I don't think you need to worry!

Ellaroo, we went to Direct Health 2000 in Eltham, SE London, and were very happy with the service we received. This clinic was set up to provide local people with a range of alternative GP-type services (they are offering a less excruciating way of conducting a smear test now, too - and do Sunday appointments for travel vaccines, etc, etc) - but what I liked most about them is the founder and practice manager is a NURSE, and a very good one. Her decision to offer the single jabs predates the really major media furore about the safety of the MMR - we were amongst her first customers. It has turned out to be big business for them, sure, but DH2000 are not bandwagon jumpers IMHO. When we went, we were shown (and were able to keep) the vaccine packaging for each immunisation, including details of its licensing and provenance. Ds' red book was marked up and our GP was contacted so they could put him down as "done" and not lose out on their quota.
Hope this helps.

My dd had all three single jabs by Dr Pugh as did my friend's ds. Don't worry - she is absolutely fine!

I forgot to add - believe that Dr Pugh's clinic does specialise in Autism hence the offering of single jabs...

Gosh, I think your comment was very insensitive marysmum - poor mckenzie was just naturally worried, and wanted a bit of support - and should be offered it. Noone is going to rise to the whole mmr/single jab debate (done and dusted), but I could imagine a worried mckenzie reading your response and feeling even worse.

I have phoned the Edinburgh clinic and was passed to a recorded message saying that they were experiencing difficulties in supply of vaccine - is this now a common problem? - I had read that Glaxo had stopped manufacturing the Rubella vaccine. The message said to send a cheque for £12 to receive an information pack which I am not too keen to do if they can't even supply to vaccines. It seems that there is no real alternative to the MMR up here in Scotland. The longer this all takes to organise the longer my little one is unvaccinated and I really don't want that either.

As I understand it, the single vaccines are licensed for use in this country, but not licensed for production. We went to the Action Medical Clinic in Bath for the single vaccines (have only had the measles one so far) and the doctor there gave a long talk about it, answering all questions, gave us the make and batch number of the vaccine, filled in the red book and gave us a letter for our GP.

But I do know what you mean, mckenzie, you still wonder what exactly is being put in your child's arm! (She has had no reaction at all to the measles jab).

thanks everyone. I knew I was being daft but I did need to hear/read your reassurances to make me relax a bit. Much appreciated.

Anniemo, maybe it would be worth travelling to get the single jabs done if there is a delay in Edinburgh? My ds had them done and was never asked to send money for an info pack, think that sounds abit of a swizz IMO. We went to a place in Oxford which was brilliant, and like others have said, it was all recorded officially in his medical book.
Let me know if you want the details of the Dr we saw.

AnnieMo, just wondered how you got on with this, we are in Scotland and have been thinking about getting single vaccinations for DS2. Did you manage to have them done in Scotland?

Got through to the Edinburgh Dr today and I think we probably will go for the single measles. If you are out there AnnieMo I would still be interested to hear if you have had any experiences with the GP in Edinburgh.

Sorry not to get back to you sooner Demented - I have not checked Mumsnet for ages - have had my mother-in-law staying for two weeks (another posting i'm sure!) In the end we went to Direct Remedies who have a mobile clinic. (www.directremedies.com) DS had the measles jab in York while we where staying with Grandparents and then the rubella in Glasgow. Unfortunately we are still waiting for the mumps as the vaccine is in short supply (a common problem I think). They do clinics in Glasgow every six weeks (The clinic was held in a hotel in Renfrew) and we certainly found them very efficient and caring. Just wish we could get the last jab to tie things up. Does anyone else know if the mumps vaccine is going to be available again.

AnnieMo
I have used the dr clinic in Glasgow and have been waiting since JUNE for the mumps vaccine for my ds. Our next scheduled appointment is the 23rd nov, but they've already contacted us to say there's still no vaccine available. So we just have to wait. The only consulation is that we are top of their list.
They've moved the clinic to an alt. health centre in Paisley. They have appts all day Sunday, so at a push you could drive up and down the same day. (how fun!!)I can not find any alternatives, but on the plus side, my ds never flinched when getting his first 2, so very experienced jabbers!!

Thanks Anniemo.

I vaccinated my baby boy at GP Matters, a private GP clinic in Glasgow (www.gpmatters.com). The service was excellent and I found the fees very reasonable compared to other places.