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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

MMR immunisation for uni?

30 replies

Mykingdomforanickname · 19/08/2019 22:34

I have read a couple of posts in which people have mentioned mumps going around at university. As per the standard NHS schedule, DS had the MMR vaccine as a baby and then again around the time he started school. Looking at the NHS website, it suggests students only need an MMR booster if they haven't been vaccinated in accordance with the standard NHS schedule already. However, I thought I'd read somewhere that MMR protection can be wearing off by the time students start university. Does anyone know whether this is right? If so, do you know whether it's possible to get an MMR booster before going to university (either on the NHS or privately)?

OP posts:
LiliesAndChocolate · 20/08/2019 04:03

More than MMR I would look at the meningitis vaccines.
Read here www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/men-acwy-vaccine/

Decorhate · 20/08/2019 07:44

I wondered about this too OP. Ds is up to date with all his vaccinations (including meningitis) but I plan to phone his GP about the possibility of an MMR booster.

My friend’s ds caught mumps last year in spite of having his childhood vaccinations

SoonerthanIthought · 20/08/2019 07:57

Interesting - this is being discussed as well on the general "Yr 13 off to university" thread at this very moment! There do seem to have been a number of mumps cases at universities, and I think some of the cases have been vaccinated students. I have read that the mumps vaccine in particular starts to reduce in effectiveness but I am not sure whether that has actually been proved.

It may be worth speaking to your practice nurse at the GP for advice - even if the booster is not available on the NHS they may be able to advise about whether to do it privately?

CaptainCarp · 20/08/2019 08:04

There were massive outbreaks of mumps in universitys about 10 years ago but that was because pretty much anyone born between 1980-1990 didn't have the 2nd mmr vaccine and therefore weren't protected. So they started giving a booster to all uni students to minimise it.

My dp had mumps (born in the 80s they didn't go to uni) - doctor told me it is unlikely that you will get mumps if you have had both mmr vaccines but not impossible however it will usually be a less severe case.

Also remember freshers flu can be pretty bad for some as you are thrown in amongst people from all over the UK (& even the world possibly) so make sure they pack strepsils /paracetamol & buy some soup!

Decorhate · 20/08/2019 16:57

I asked at our GP’s about the possibility of an MMR booster. The (predictably dour) receptionist said no, even if we were willing to pay.

4legsandawaggytail · 20/08/2019 21:01

Sadly you can still get Mumps even if you had all your childhood vaccinations. However quite often the vaccine push results in even more incidences of the very thing they are trying to prevent Lots of research out there on PubMed sites for you to get valid information if you wish.

mumsneedwine · 20/08/2019 22:09

Lots of mumps this year, Nottingham I believe had over 300 cases. Some had been vaccinated but were not as ill as those who weren't. One of DDs friends was in hospital for a week and now has lost some of his hearing. He is not v keen on his parents at the moment.

mumsneedwine · 20/08/2019 22:10

Oh and def get meningitis now. And if can afford the £280 for the other meningitis - can't remember which one - then do.

ProfessorLayton1 · 21/08/2019 11:36

Dd is having her MMR booster ( two doses, I believe ) and her GP did not mind that at all.
She is vaccinated with meningitis vaccine

mumsneedwine · 21/08/2019 11:55

Which meningitis ? They usually get C but recommended they get ACWY (think letters in right order !) for Uni. And B if can afford it (know someone who got this in first 2 weeks and nearly died). I knew nothing of all these but have a friend who is s nurse who told me.

SoonerthanIthought · 21/08/2019 12:09

yes ACWY is the right order! - whether this yrs just gone Yr 13 have already had it at school seems to depend on where they live.

Just been reading about Men B mumsneedwine - I didn't know about this! Have you tried asking for it on NHS - I agree the website looks as though its for babies/toddlers. I wonder if that's because it mainly affects them rather than teenagers? (worried now)

Fere · 21/08/2019 12:09

@mumsneedwine where did you see the price £280 for menangitis vaccine? Superdrug has it for £50 healthclinics.superdrug.com/services/meningitis-acwy-vaccination

mumsneedwine · 21/08/2019 12:12

It's 3 shots but Superdrug much cheaper than Boots ! My DD v lucky as got it free at Uni occupational health as doing medicine - she has been vaccinated against everythino.
The ACWY wasn't given at either of my kids 6th forms ☹️

mumsneedwine · 21/08/2019 12:13

Sorry it's the Meng B that is £280. ACWY is free to everyone.

Sidge · 21/08/2019 12:18

I’m a practice nurse.

We can only offer MMR to young people who haven’t received their 2 doses - if they had both doses at 1 and 3.5 you’d need to have it done privately. Some GPS will do private vaccines (we don’t) otherwise you’ll need to go to a private clinic such as a travel health clinic.

MenACWY and DTP boosters are (should be) given in Y9 or 10 so all students off to uni should have had those. If they haven’t, we can give them so they’re up to date.

We don’t give MenB to teens. The NHS only give it to under 2s as they are the group most at risk. If you want them to have MenB they’ll have to have it privately.

Fere · 21/08/2019 12:29

@Sidge how many shots of ACWY should a 19 year old fresher get?

Fere · 21/08/2019 12:31

@mumsneedwine ACWY is one course (£50), it is Meningitis B which needs 2 or 3 (according to Superdrug page)

Sidge · 21/08/2019 12:32

@fere just one. It’s a single dose vaccine, no boosters needed.

It’s usually given at school but if they haven’t had it they can have it on the NHS up to and including age 24 if at university.

Sidge · 21/08/2019 12:42

No young person should need MenACWY done privately, it’s available on the NHS.

MenB is much lower risk in that age group. I’m not sure of the dosing schedule but in babies they need 3 doses.

mumsneedwine · 21/08/2019 12:44

Might be a lower risk but still happens and is very serious when does. But is rare ! ACWY was given by GP free.

Meng B is a course if 3 I believe. As is Hep B that my daughter had to have - supposed to be over 3 months but done in 3 weeks by occupational health !

ErrolTheDragon · 21/08/2019 17:53

My DD is just about to start her 3rd year at uni. Following the recent outbreaks plus having a friend who had to take a gap year because of bad mumps, she had a third MMR shot at the start of the summer vac at a private clinic. I think it was about £70.

There is evidence that this is beneficial.

Effectiveness of a Third Dose of MMR Vaccine for Mumps Outbreak Control | NEJM

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa17033099_

DH, who is 58 and had never been vaccinated or had measles mumps or rubella as a child (I'd had M&M and vaccd for R) got himself done too, that was 2 doses.

Michaelahpurple · 21/08/2019 18:03

Taking my boy off to Superdrug for hpv vaccination - again they were the cheapest

Original poster
Mykingdomforanickname · 23/08/2019 15:45

Thank you everyone for all the replies. Sorry I'm a bit late coming back to the thread, but I have now read it in full. Re the Men ACWY immunisation, I can see from my DS's records that he had this in 2017. Having read the information on the NHS website, my understanding is that one dose is enough, so I think we are OK there. Phoned GP's surgery to ask, and there are no extra ones they are recommending.

Re MMR, the link which Errol posted is interesting. I'm not a scientist, but the article seemed to me to provide fairly strong evidence that the protection that the MMR vaccine provides against mumps wears off over time, and protection is significantly reduced where the last MMR dose was given over 13 years ago, which will be the case for most UK students (including my DS).

OP posts:
Hoghgyni · 23/08/2019 16:14

I don't know if this is available nationally yet, but my DD has been part of a trial for year 12 students who have been immunised against Men B. It may be worth asking your GP if it is available alongside any other jabs they are receiving.

scarecrowhead · 23/08/2019 17:26

Booked my ds into Citydoc for mmr booster, he had his meningitis at school,