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Original poster

Re MMR, am on the brink, are single measles vaccines dodgier?

47 replies

bohemianbint · 13/02/2008 18:25

I posted re MMR a while back and it was really useful to get so much feedback. However, have been paralysed by indecision ever since.

I decided I'd like to give DS the single measles jab (as I think that's what we got in the 70's) and I wasn't overly worried about the mumps and rubella. However, I do want DS to have some immunity to measles as it scares me; my sister had it badly and it really affected her eyesight.

However, I'm told the single measles jab isn't licensed in this country - you can get it but there have been no trials on it. This to me sounds more worrying than the MMR.

So I have come round full circle and am debating getting the MMR tomorrow. It seems to be a choice, realistically, between MMR and no immunity to measles at all, which I'm not sure I want to risk.

Oh, I dunno, I'm just wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom for me as I don't want to end up doing nothing, not out of choice but out of complete paralysis!

OP posts:
ib · 13/02/2008 18:34

Actually the single measles is licensed everywhere else in Europe. Plenty of trials have been done!

Kathyis6incheshigh · 13/02/2008 18:35

I don't think even people who argue in favour of MMR think there is anything inherently dodgy in the single measles vaccine, do they? Surely the concern with single jabs is just that it takes longer to get all the jabs done so they'll be unprotected for longer.

Sounds like you don't want to not do anything, so you should probably make up your mind to EITHER take him for MMR OR get on the phone straightaway and arrange his single jab.

Original poster
bohemianbint · 13/02/2008 18:35

Ah, really? And is it safer than MMR? My doctor is quite pro MMR so didn't get a balanced view.....

OP posts:
donnie · 13/02/2008 18:37

it is licensed all over the place, just not here as there is a blanket MMR policy by the givernment. It's a political decision.

Just do it. I did.

purpleturtle · 13/02/2008 18:39

What would a balanced view be?
Presumably someone either thinks MMR safer, or single jabs safer. Just because your GP thinks MMR the best forward doesn't mean it's not a balanced view.

It's your decision. You need to make it.

I'm not sure why you think polling a bunch of total strangers is going to give you information that is more sound than that of a qualified health professional.

Original poster
bohemianbint · 13/02/2008 18:43

purpleturtle - because the total strangers on here often know things I hadn't considered. I thought the measles vaccine was dodgy. Now I know I need to research this further.

Donnie - did you just do the MMR or the single jab?

OP posts:
stuffitllama · 13/02/2008 18:46

Purpleturtle
You are harsh. There are people on here who've done lots of research into MMR and autism. I'm sure you know that.

HonoriaGlossop · 13/02/2008 18:50

I believe that the only reason the single measles jab is not licensed in this country is that the government only licence the MMR as that's what they want people to have.

When we gave ds the jab the doctor showed us the bottle itself with the name of the jab and the expiry date, batch no etc - it's simply imported from other countries where it is licensed

Original poster
bohemianbint · 13/02/2008 18:54

So are there any concerns relating to the measles jabs that anyone knows of?

OP posts:
AhhChewww · 13/02/2008 18:56

the nurse in my surgery literally spat at me when in response to her "so I see you when she's having mmr" I said "we actually thinking about singles".

and then she went on about their dodginess, illegality etc..

maybe it's a thing they are told to say to people enquiring about single jabs?

Roskva · 13/02/2008 18:58

If you go for single jabs, check where the particular vaccine used in the clinic you choose is made, and check their policy on cold storage during transport. Some clinics use vaccine made in Europe or the USA, which will have been tested, others use vaccines made in India or China, which I would be more concerned about.

stuffitllama · 13/02/2008 18:58

Ahhcheww
she's not right to do that
she probably doesn't know as much about them as she should

MrsGuyOfGisbourne · 13/02/2008 19:03

Yes they are told to say it.
My GP was sympathetic to the single jab, prescribed it, and the local pharamacist sourced it from France. When I took it back to the surgery for the nurse to administer she refused! So the GP administered it. THEN she was leaned on by the local health authority who told her and the pharmacist in no uncertain terms NOT to do it again, and spun a pathetic line about how as it is unlicensed they would not be covered if I sued them because my child caought the disesase dspite being vaccinated
So I went private and now like others in the same position do not figure in their statistics, so they are completely meaningless.

AhhChewww · 13/02/2008 19:06

really stuffitllama?
I wish i knew it at the time as she made me feel like some child abuser just for considering single jabs?
If I knew she wasn't allowed to critisize me this way I would have complained about her behaviour.

[really annoyed now]

stuffitllama · 13/02/2008 20:37

I don't know if it's a good idea to get into a row with the surgery over it. They can be but not always so suspicious if people question their recommendation. And you'll probably need your surgery in the future! There are lots of other sources of information and I would quietly go about investigating them before making your decision. The JABS people I think officially call for single vaccines rather than MMR but there are posters on that forum who are equally suspicious of the singles. They might guide you towards some research.

yurt1 · 13/02/2008 20:43

I wrote to the dept of health in 2001 re the dingle vaccines.

This was the reply:

"Can I assure you the givt has not removed any of these licenses. IN fact there are 4 extant measles vaccine licenses and one extant mumps vaccine license. The companies that hold these licenses have told the dept of health howver that they are not making or marketing the UK vaccine which matches these extant licenses. Therefore the measles and mumps vaccine currently being imported into the UK are unlicensed......... If manufacturers of these products wish to apply for licenses they are free to do so."

Excuse typos.

Can I recommend the Richard Halvorsen book 'the truth abour vaccinations. He summarises some research showing that the single jabs are slightly more effective. He's an NHS GP who recommends singles rather than MMR - although he offers his patients a choice. .

yurt1 · 13/02/2008 20:43

givt = govt= government

yurt1 · 13/02/2008 20:44

oh ffs dingle = single pmsl

pistachio · 13/02/2008 20:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
bohemianbint · 14/02/2008 12:00

Thanks everyone. Will look a bit further into single measles jabs...

OP posts:
Highlander · 14/02/2008 14:59

MMR is 96% effective.

Singles are 99% effective.

pistachio · 14/02/2008 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
bohemianbint · 14/02/2008 18:04

Cheers Highlander - that's interesting...

OP posts:
StrangeTown · 14/02/2008 18:13

MrsGuy - how did you go about finding somewhere private to do it?

stuffitllama · 14/02/2008 18:17

Hi bohemian, if you are going the singles route just wanted to point you in the direction of considering whether to do all of the jabs. Mumps is generally a mild disease in childhood and vaccine immunity does wear off making it more likely a boy could get it as an adult -- not nice and more dangerous. Measles is obviously a higher priority for you right now it seems but if you have the time I would look into that.