Measles outbreak and MMR vaccinations: live webchat with Department of Health director of immunisation Professor David Salisbury, Tuesday 9 April, 2-3pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

In light of the measles outbreaks in South Wales and higher than average levels of measles in some areas of England, and concerns reflected in MNers' discussions, we've invited Professor David Salisbury, the government's director of immunisation, back to MN to be our webchat guest tomorrow, Tuesday 9 April, at 2pm.

Please post any questions you have about the MMR vaccine for your children, or yourself, to Professor Salisbury.

Thank you.

[CatherinaJTV]

and here as well, new mum:

Germany uses the MMR and has done so since 1977. MMR (usually Priorix) is given twice before the second birthday. Vaccination morale is generally high and outbreaks occur in pockets of vaccine refusers, like Steiner schools. In Germany (like anywhere in the developed world), the complication rate is the same between natcheral kids and the unsupplemented omnivores. You can find whatever reason you want for not using the MMR, but please don't make justifications up by cherry picking single sentences from 30 year old references.

[NewMumOnline]

CatherinaJTV every Steiner parent I have ever met gets meat from farm sources, where they can trust its quality. To disrespectively assume they are all vegetarians, is to show how little you know.
I apologise if that ONE reference in my post was incorrect, but I stand by the rest of the content.
Liska x

[worldgonecrazy]

Given that there is a link between level of parental education and vaccine refusal, I think it would be fair to assume that any private school (where parents are likely to have higher education levels than the local sink-comprehensive) will have a lower vaccination rate.

Steiner Schools put no pressure on parents regarding vaccination - they leave it to the parents to decide what is best for their child.

[jenna748]

My son is 5, I spent years researching the MMR and decided that the DOH wouldn't pay vaccine damage for a vaccine that is safe. over 2000 parents are trying to get compensation, also the damage has to be 60% disablement before they will pay out. so how many more have actually tried and failed?

so they want us to play a lottery with our childs lives? risk measils or risk MMR side effects.

This is not right, they need to give parents a choice of single vaccines.

I won't be giving him the MMR. I hope he doesn't catch measils, but if he does that his own immune system can fight it.

Its in the telegraph just today that some children were left deaf.

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9521728/Rogue-strain-of-MMR-vaccine-caused-deafness.html

[DuelingFanjo]

vaccines are not compulsory are they? I think it's entirely up to the individual (or parent) if they vaccinate or not.

My son has had the first MMR and is not due to have his booster for another year so i guess he is at risk now until (if) he gets the booster? But then he could be at risk anyway because it's not effective?

One thing I do worry about is mumps because my son has only one testicle so I wouldn't want to compromise his fertility further. yet from what I read in this chat the Mumps vaccine is not really that good anyway?

[Heathcliffscathy]

This thread was SO predictable. So sad that the important questions weren't engaged with and that dissent stomped on, even if some reinstated later. Unbelievably frustrating.