MMR or not - help please

[weejie]

what should I do? get the three in one or pay for three separate?

help!!!

Depends. Do you believe there is absolutely no risk? (In that case, go for MMR).

Or do you think the parents who claim their kids regressed to full blown autism after MMR might be telling the truth? (In that case, go for separate jabs)

MMR.

I'm feeling the separate jabs, just wanted some other thoughts...

MMR unless you have immune problems in your family.

My eldest two have had separate MMR but no booster at 4. My youngest hasn't had anything yet.

MMR unless you have a reason for thinking your child might be at high risk.

Cote - you can think the parents of children who regressed after MMR are telling the truth about it without thinking separate jabs are the answer.

Kathy - so what is the answer? am terrified of making wrong decision

kathy - Not really. If you believe parents blaming MMR for their kids' regression to autism, then you have to believe that MMR causes autism in a small percentage of children.

We don't know enough about autism to say for sure whether or not your child or mine is in that 'small percentage'. As such, the risk is there. And personally I went for separate jabs rather than take that risk.

If there were a lcoal measles epidemic, would you go straight for the MMR? If yes, have the MMR. If not, go for the separate jabs but please do your research and make sure you have the boosters etc. on time and in the right order.

There isn't a perfect answer Weejie, that's the problem.
I wouldn't put my hand on my heart and swear that MMR is 100% safe, because things very rarely are. However we chose MMR for both our children because these illnesses, specially measles, can be serious, and hence NOT vaccinating the children is not 100% safe either. I have never seen any evidence that single jabs are safer than MMR. In our family there is no autism, no immune problems or allergies other than a spot of eczema and possible sesame reaction once, hence no reason to think my children are any more likely than any random child to suffer a bad reaction. That was our decision.... other people have had different experiences.

mmr, unless there are contraindications

much more rigourously tested than singles

free

There is a lot of hype around MMR. But overwhelming evidence says it's perfectly safe. Go for the MMR.

I don't understand why people say "MMR unless immune problems in family" as if all regressed autistic children have had such family history. I know two. They have no family history of immune system problems.

Same with "don't eat peanuts in pregnancy if you have family history of allergies", as if people with allergies always have allergies in family. I have several severe allergies. Nobody in my extended family is allergic to anything. I know of quite a few people with allergies and nobody else in their families have allergies.

This kind of advice gives a false sense of security, imho.

There is HOARDES of info out there, difficulty is deciding which "studies" to believe. I tend to believe the ones with a more credible source (eg BMJ). The Wakefield study that showed MMR causes autism was discredited as it was biased and its findings can't be replicated, by him or others. But some people do still worry about it and think there was something in it. I researched a few articles which investigated links with allergies, IBD/ Crohn's and Gullaine-Barre syndrome, and they all seemed to disprove any links. If you are worried, do some reasearch and then feel that you have done everything possible to make an informed choice. I went for the MMR, but tere have been HUGE arguements on various forums about this, so I'm butting out now, before I get involved!!

I said MMR unless there are immunity problems because personally I think MMR is safe for all the reasons that Jooly said.

But at the same time if there is a risk it is to those with immunity problems and if you have them in the family it would be foolish not to consider that risk.

It isnt about false security at all, it is about considering the known risks.

There is no study on who exactly is at risk from MMR, so yes, your belief that MMR is dangerous only to those with family history of immune problems is a false sense of security. There are loads of kids out there who DON'T have immune problems in family but who nonetheless regressed into autism after MMR.

I let my son have the trple MMR vaccine but I left it until he was a little bit older. There's alot of research to say that it's safe, Wakefield has been discredited as much as humanly possible so I don't think his research was viable. There is an increase in Measles cases, babies are also catching it that are under the age that they have the vaccine because there is not enough immunity in the community. We are lucky enough to have vaccines here for our children for free. I shouldn't have hesitated and I'm glad he's have it. You have to do what's right for your child. It can be hard taking the risk though.

You are right rubyrubyruby. In the end you do have to do your own research and then you can make an informed decison based on your own circumstances and then, in the very unlikely event that something does go wrong you know you have done the best that you can.

Going with the majority view isn't necessarily going to make it the right decision for you and me being confident in my choice won't mean that I am always right.

you decide yourself! emotive and contentious subject lots of research available.

Look at NHS Site MMR

Single or triple jab",

I didn't say that only children with a family history are at risk. I said it was the known risk and as such I was prepared to take the miniscule risk but unknown or unquantifable risk that my DC wouldn't be one of those who had a reaction.

Defo MMR - everything against is very emotive and there are no proven facts re autism risk.
My Father in law is a retired pharmacist so we read lots of articles - he is very much against the separate injections.

I was going to get the triple, but then remembered seeing something on here by someone who seemed very knowledgeable giving alternative research...

I was hoping for links to that...

That might be yurt1.