Got MMR 6 weeks ago - now has rubella???

[BigBird]

Hi - my dd got her MMR jab 6 weeks ago and today has rubella / german measles. The GP said its not 'mini' rubella (ie. a small dose as a result of the jab' but a proper dose. I am now worried that the jab didn't work or something - she tried to explain to me why I shouldn't be worried about mumps and measles but I didn't really understand and I can't understand how dd got rubella. The gp said her immunisation prob hadn't built up yet....the incubation period is up to 21 days for rubella. Has this happened to anyone elses kids or does anyone have a good knowledge of vaccines and can u tell me if I should now be concerned about the other 2 parts of the vaccine (ie. that they may not be effective).

Any help much appreciated.

Hi BigBird - My dd had her MMR jab but got german measles when she was 2yrs 10mth. I too worried that it wouldn't be effective for mumps and measles, but she had no problems and went on to have the booster. I guess they just don't work sometimes and it is a worry. That's not much help to you, I know, but I just wanted you to know you're not the only one!

My HV told me that the booster MMR given at about 5 prior to starting school was actually not a booster but the whole strength jab again as 10% of the first jabs don't work so they do it again to cover that 10%. So this could be the case for your little one, Bigbird.
I've actually decided not to get my DS1 re-jabbed as I feel that the chances are he's in the 90% of the first working jabs.
I have to say I was AMAZED when my HV told me this and was quite shocked.

Bigbird- this is true of all vaccinations. All of them may not work. For example the whooping cough vaccine is less than 80% effective (probably even less now that whooping cough itself has mutated in response to the vaccination).

Just because the rubella portion hasn't worked, it doesn't mean the mumps and measles hasn't. You could request antibody tests to tell you but they're not always reliable.

The incubation period for rubella is 14-21 days, so it may be that your daughter was exposed too early- before she had produced antibodies, or it may be that she didn't produce antibodies full stop.

What is certain is that having had rubella naturally she will now be protected for life from rubella- which she wouldn't necessarily be from the vaccine.

Measles has been documeneted in 100% vaccinated populations

Hi again, Jimjams just reminded me that ds also got whooping cough when she was nearly 4. Guess she just likes being contrary - she still is at 8!! Hope your daughter is feeling a bit better

hi Bossa-the whooping cough vaccine has never been very good- some countries see it as such a waste of time they don't bother with it (Sweden for example if I remember correctly). Unfortunately it is also the vacine that has one of the dogiest safety records (convulsions etc).

Both my cousins had whooping cough- the one who had had the vaccination was far sicker than the one who hadn't.

When DD had her original MMR she sailed through it. Last April we finally got around to doing the pre-school booster (she was 2/3 year through YR) and she reacted against every part of every vaccine she had, I think. Her left arm just had one rash after another and I was on the phone a couple of times a week to NHS Direct.

I have to admit though, she didn't just have MMR but also DTP and polio, all at the same time.

Thanks you all. As always mumsnet is a great place to come for more advice and reassurance.
DD is not feeling too bad at all but we're keeping her home. Fingers crossed the rest of the vaccine worked and jimjams its good to know that she is now protected for life and needn't worry about rubella if she is pregnant... grandchildren....eeek

lol@bigbird- scary thought...... That is the nice thing about getting it naturally (especially for a girl)- you know she's safe.