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.

I had the opposite problem Catherina. I turned up for pre school boosters and asked was it OK to give them on the same day as second dose of MMR, and nurse said "Oh, I quite understand, you shouldn't do anything you have any doubts about, feel free to just leave it all for today and have you considered homeopathy ." I was t

@silverfrog

Justine, I did NOT say 'thanks for giving up your precious time.'

I said
'well, that was informative .

thanks to Dr David for giving up his precious time. '

please do not misrepresent in that way.

Yes sorry you are right - it was the "precious" time that seemed unnecessarily rude to us - worth taking a look at our webchat guidelines to avoid being deleted in future. Thanks.

I had the opposite problem Catherina. I turned up for pre school boosters and asked was it OK to give them on the same day as second dose of MMR, and nurse said "Oh, I quite understand, you shouldn't do anything you have any doubts about, feel free to just leave it all for today and have you considered homeopathy ." I was too shocked even to report her.

@infamouspoo

I'm intrigued at how MNHQ can tell our tone through the computer

Sorry for double post.

Apology accepted, justine, thanks.

'Well that was informative ' is too rude for mumsnet now? Really.

And he did give vague answers. It was disappointing.

urk. How's my hair looking Justine. Ive had a nap

Oh I'm behind.

Also want to add

'twas just manners, innit?

One can disagree with what someone is saying, and indeed their whole stance, and yet still be polite at the end of the discussion.

It is not necessary to judge everyone by the lowest common denominator.

I don't think anyone was rude to him were they? Considering some of us have severely disabled children who may (or may not) have been affected by vaccination I think emotion was kept well out of it, it was polite and valid questions were asked (and on the whole not answered).

It is allowed to point out when he hasn't really given the details requested surely?

Pluserix - I do take your point. However, as far as I am aware, the Cochrane Collaboration has exceptional standards for "high quality" studies (I just finished reading "Testing Treatments" - can highly recommend to understand their mind set). The studies that have been done still have some informational value and the epidemiology certainly shows high efficiency.

Pluserix can I just say I am loving your name.

feel free to just leave it all for today and have you considered homeopathy

yikes!

I was disappointed too.

@saintlyjimjams

I don't think anyone was rude to him were they? Considering some of us have severely disabled children who may (or may not) have been affected by vaccination I think emotion was kept well out of it, it was polite and valid questions were asked (and on the whole not answered).

It is allowed to point out when he hasn't really given the details requested surely?

Yes, of course SJJ - as lots have on the thread, no?

@saintlyjimjams

'Well that was informative ' is too rude for mumsnet now? Really.

And he did give vague answers. It was disappointing.

No, it was use of word "precious", as explained - seemed sarky and rude to me.

It seems that the points i raised were addressed today, unfortunately in such a vague way that I am none the wiser.

What a shame that Dr David was unable to give more objective information.

As the old saying goes, 'if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing properly'.

Catharina JTV

"I have never had problems to get a package insert in the UK, didn't even have to be forceful. The problem was to find someone to give us the vaccine we wanted, between a clueless GP and an overworked nurse who hung up on me (probably assuming she was dealing with a pesky vaccine refuser )..."

I wasn't a vaccine refuser until I saw what they did, and the blanket indifference of the DH (not to mention the bare-faced hostility of MHRA yellow card system). Most years, btw, there are no pay outs at all from the discretionary fund and the max. pay out is £120k. For me, however, the biggest issue is not the money but the lack of accountability which makes the system unsafe.

Yes sorry Justine - I did apologise after my post for being behind.

There is a Grande Illusion that somehow government is trustworthy in this sphere even though no one trusts them about anything else, but the reality is that the successfully perpetuated myth of vaccine safety is undermining safety itself.

I'm British but not in the UK so unfortunately missed the chance to post in time. My DD followed the UK vaccination schedule until we moved to the US and she is now following this.

I'd be interested to know why vaccines aren't compulsory in the UK? Here in the US, you can't attend playgroup, start school or attend any kind of government run childcare without having a certificate that says you've been vaccinated against a number of illnesses, including MMR, plus hep A/B and chickenpox, which aren't standard in the UK.

I have to say that I was uneasy with this concept when we first came here. It felt rather big brother-ish. However, given the current issues in the UK due to low uptake of vaccines, I'm more and more convinced that this would be a good idea. Just wondered what anyone else thought?

(Also wanted to add that if there is history of reactions to jabs in the family, you can be exempted.)