MMR - Live vaccine?

[SamboM]

I wonder if any of you medical types can tell me if MMR is a live vaccine. When my dd had polio they had to get a special inactivated one in for her as I take immunosupressant for Crohn's disease and can't be exposed to live vaccines. I have also had to have special travel vaccines in the past.

I have heard that MMR is live so what do they do about that if it's true?

According to Here is some info given to kidney patients, which I realise you are not, but it does relate to vaccinations and immunosuppressant drugs. It seems to say that there are versions of measles and Rubella vaccines you can take that are based on human immunoglobulin. Can't see anything about mumps though.

If you've had to have previous in active vaccines before then your GP should be aware of the problem, and there do seem to be a couple of alternatives.

HTH

Meant to add that the standard MMR is a live vaccine.

Thanks Pie, but I can't open that link, sorry could you post it again?

The prob that I can see is that the single vaccines are not licensed are they? So will I have to give her unlicensed vaccines, don't like the sound of that must say.

Don't know why that link isn't working..

Try copying and pasting the address, let me know though and I could just copy and paste the whole page here.

www.cardiffandvale.wales.nhs.uk/main/kidneypatients/Section%206/Vaccination%20for%20kidney%20transplant%20patients.html

Rubella is licensed here as they used to give it girls when they were 13 as a single vaccine (I remember having it even though I'd had Rubella for real).

I'll have a look around for the other 2 for you.

Thanks pie you're a star!

BTW I went to my osteopath this am and he said that he does deal with SPD and often quite successfully.

Say this on one of those webistes that advertises single vaccines:

Where are Healthchoice UK's clinics?

Healthchoice UK is committed to providing clinics all over the country. We have venues and dates set in the following places:

London (Kennington) 7th June
Reading 14th June
Esher 21st June
Brighton 22nd June
Exeter 29th June
Sheffield 1st July
London Harley St 4th July
Milton Keynes 5th July
Peterborough 20th July
Cambridge 26th /27th July
Brentwood 2nd Aug/3rd Aug
Newcastle 9th Aug/10th August
Dublin 16th August
Stourbridge 23/24th August

All our clinics are supervised and run by GMC registered doctors

Will my child have access to a doctor?

All our clinics are supervised by one of our experienced doctors, and your child will be individually seen by one. The doctor will have access to the medical information you supply on the Healthchoice UK Single Vax application form, which you will be asked to complete prior to the appointment and the doctor will review this with you and your child prior to the vaccination. The vaccines will be made available to you, you will have the chance to ask questions of the doctor and you will be asked to sign a medical consent form.

What do the vaccinations cost?

For children enrolling for all 3 vaccinations each one costs £80 including the consultation and injection. For children enrolling for only Mumps, the price is liable to be higher depending on the cost of the vaccine from suppliers.

How do vaccinations work?

A vaccine works by introducing a safe form of an agent which causes the disease in small quantities in order to stimulate the body's natural defence mechanism (the immune system). The vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies which fight that particular disease and the antibodies remain dormant in the body to fight exposure to the disease in later life. Vaccination has been extremely successful in eliminating these serious diseases.

From what age should children be vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella?

The child must be at least 12 months old and there is no upper age limit. The child should be vaccinated against measles as soon as possible after that age.

Does my child have to have all three vaccinations?

In order to conform with Government policy, we advise parents who opt for the Single Vax programme that they should finish the course of all three vaccines, measles mumps and rubella, and we ask them to sign a consent form to this effect.

Does my child need a booster?

Not necessarily. If you have the Single Vax, a booster is not generally necessary. If your child has already had one MMR triple jab, you will be called for a second jab or booster by your GP, but you can check whether this is necessary by taking an antibodies test (a blood test). This will show if your child already has sufficient immunity, in which case you will not need a second MMR. Healthchoice UK can provide this service and you can apply for an antibodies test on the Healthchoice UK Single Vax application form (click here to download)

Can I opt for the MMR Triple Vaccine through Healthchoice UK?

Yes. If after assessing the evidence you decide you want the MMR triple vaccine, we can carry this out for you- it is your choice.

Which separate vaccination should my child have first?

We recommend the measles vaccination first because contracting measles represents the greatest risk to the child. We will, however, review each case individually.

How long an interval should there be between the three different innocculations?

The World Health Organisation guideline is 6 weeks between vaccinations, but we recommend longer than that. The specific course for your child we be agreed with you.

Are the single vaccines licensed in the UK?

The Rubella vaccine we use is licensed for use in the UK. The measles vaccine did hold a UK licence but this has lapsed due to the introduction of the combined MMR.There has never been a single mumps vaccine, however the mumps vaccine we use contains the same strain (Jeryl Lynn) as the combined MMR The Medicines Control Agency has approved the pharmaceutical suppliers that import unlicensed medicines into the UK. There are many unlicensed medicines in use within the NHS.

However I don't know about the non live vaccines, there doesn't seem to be much info as I guess not many people have them.

Ahhh...copied the whole thing, you want the last paragraph.

On the oeteopath front, pupuce passed on a name but she spoke to her own osteopath who said from my symptoms I was too acute to be treated. GOing to do some ringing around to see if myabe I would end up doing more harm than good.

yes MMR is live. As are single vaccines (they use the same vaccines as are in the MMR). However I think it is assumed that the vaccine strain cannot be passed from person to person, the way the polio can so it should be OK. Worth checking though obviously.

This has probably been asked before on another thread but I can't find it if it has. My mum told me she didn't let my younger sister have measles vaccination in the 1980s as was linked to autism back then. My dd is not going to have MMR - I am now wondering whether to even go the single-jabs route. Any info/experiences much appreciated. Dinny

Hi Dinny

There is some suggestion that single measles (and also single mumps) could be implicated- but the numbers are small- far less than the numbers implicated in MMR (where numbers are also small).

You are the only person who can decide what to do. At the end of the day you have to take the route that you are most comfortable with. Read as much as you can and then do what you want.

Yes, MMR is a love vaccine with different bits of it working at stages during about a two month eriod, according to my HV. That's why your child can have longer (and more worse) reactions to it compared to the new Hib booster which isn't live.

Thanks, Jimjams. I just don't know what to do - am very tempted to not give dd anything at all. I'm putting off making a decision - keep hoping I'll wake up one morning and know what to do....!!