MMR jab - I can’t go through with it

[northernlass7]

My son has recently turned 18 months old and is booked in for his second dose of the MMR jab tomorrow. The second dose is normally given at just over 3 years old, but because of the area we live in (so I’ve been told) our local authority books children in for the second dose just 6 months after the first.

I’m feeling extremely apprehensive about this as the NHS says the second dose of MMR should be given at preschool age. Why is my surgery trying to rush it through sooner, when my son is still practically a baby? Is it because they want to make money from vaccinating patients, even though it may not be in my son’s best interests?

I’m very nervous about vaccines and long term side effects in general and am feeling more and more hesitant and scared about getting this done. My son seems so well and happy in himself at the moment and I’m scared of injecting a live vaccine into his body and potentially causing him harm for no reason. How is his system going to cope when there’s only been a gap of 6 months since the first jab? He’s so small compared to other kids who get the jab aged 3.

Should I cancel the appointment and wait until he’s 3?

Hi OP

My area does this too. I believe it’s because there’s a fair number of unvaccinated around us and therefore a higher risk of these illnesses - so they want to get the protection in quicker.

However, my DC had some health issues so I pushed it back to age 3.5. Nobody batted an eyelid or even asked for my reasons.

I wouldn’t cancel it, it’s fine for them to have the second dose earlier. Can’t you call the surgery and ask about the timing?

It will be because you have either high rates of measles locally or lots of unvaccinated children

There is no link between the vaccine and autism, if that’s what you’re thinking.

You’ve already given him one dose when he was 6 months younger - why are you apprehensive about giving him the exact same vaccine again, when he’s six months bigger?!

Here's some information from wiki which hopefully explains the timing

The MMR vaccine is administered by a subcutaneous injection. The second dose may be given as early as one month after the first dose.[32] The second dose is a dose to produce immunity in the small number of persons (2–5%) who fail to develop measles immunity after the first dose. In the U.S. it is done before entry to kindergarten because that is a convenient time.[33] Areas where measles is common typically recommend the first dose at 9 months of age and the second dose at 15 months of age.[6]

You should follow medical advice for your area.

My DD had this vaccine gap because of a measles outbreak in North London where we were living. She was absolutely fine and remains so (now 5)

I’d be more nervous about the long term effects of measles - it can have lifelong health consequences

My son seems so well and happy in himself at the moment and I’m scared of injecting a live vaccine into his body and potentially causing him harm for no reason.

Measles will cause harm. It can kill children. If you look it at another way if you don't have the vaccine and your child gets measles you have caused them to be seriously ill for no reason.

You’ve already given him one dose when he was 6 months younger - why are you apprehensive about giving him the exact same vaccine again, when he’s six months bigger?!

The main reason I’m worried is that most children have at least a two year gap between doses, but my little boy only has a gap of six months between his. I’m worried it’s too much for his little body.

Am I doing the right thing getting it done so young?

Yes you are doing the right thing.

I also think you're using dramatic language which isnt helping your mindset at all.

Yes.

OP as someone who has actually had measles, mumps and rubella (and chicken pox, whooping cough, slapped cheek and countless other diseases as my mum's allergies prevented me from getting childhood vaccinations) for the live that is Holy please get him jabbed.

They are all really unpleasant, whooping cough and measles can be really dangerous (and mumps v unpleasant for boys too).

The traction to the vaccine, if any (and none of mine did for their second doses) is not a patch on any of these illnesses. Which obviously he is at greater risk of if they are vaccinating early.

My son wasn't born in the UK and where we were it was standard to give all children their 2nd MMR at 18months. I was surprised when we moved back to the UK and saw the different vaccination schedule for my younger daughter and I have the opposite fear... Why is it so long between doses.

If it was too much for his little body they wouldn’t be offering it - they’re doing it for a reason, to protect him.

Where I am in London, all children are invited for their second dose 6 months after the first, or at least they were in 2016, due to the higher than average rate of measles, mumps, rubella compared to the rest of the country. All perfectly normal and fine and my own child was vaccinated at this age.
I would encourage you to trust the professionals and protect your child in what is obviously a high risk area.

I assume there is a high dose of measles in your area. It can kill OP. Just get him the bloody vaccine. It's long term protection massively outweighs anything

@northernlass7

You’ve already given him one dose when he was 6 months younger - why are you apprehensive about giving him the exact same vaccine again, when he’s six months bigger?!

The main reason I’m worried is that most children have at least a two year gap between doses, but my little boy only has a gap of six months between his. I’m worried it’s too much for his little body.

Am I doing the right thing getting it done so young?

Yes you are, many countries have a shorter gap between them than we do as standard. The surgery wouldn't be able to offer it if it was risky, it sounds like there's probably high cases locally and they're keen to give children the best chance of being immune.

my aunt had measles age 6 and has been deaf and partially sighted all her life.

I get the vaccine hesitancy, and I think there is likely something around immune system reactions in children who already have some of the gut disorders associated with ASD...that we haven't properly observed yet. but I don't think mmr could make your child autistic if they weren't going to be anyway.

Thanks for putting my mind at rest. I was just so surprised by the 6 month gap. I will take him to the appointment today.

Thank you
I had mumps as an adult and it caused me to miscarry. Rubella syndrome in babies is devastating. Measles can kill your baby. Don't mess about.

The more people who don't vaccinate the more chance these illnesses have of taking hold. This will get worse because of the push back against the covid vaccine. People are looking for control because they've been out of control for so long. I'm glad you're taking him.

Please do take him. The possible side effects of the diseases are devastating.

His immune system is confronted with at least 50 challenges each day that you don’t know about and haven’t been extensively tested and trialled. Two extra spaced by 6 months have no impact at all. If the immune system were that fragile, we’d all be dead already.

I would be more frightened of my child getting measles.

Nothing wrong in being worried we all get nervous

I'm of an age where we all caught measles and mumps and rubella and scarlet fever (that was awful as was mumps), and goodness only knows what other illnesses. My mother caught measles as a child, and it seriously affected her eyesight; she wore those bottom of a bottle glasses for the rest of her life. She was 2 when she caught measles, she would have grown up scared of catching things that are now unknown in most of the world. Please just allow your LO to have the vaccination. we are really so fortunate that children don't have to suffer from these illnesses.

You're doing the right thing Northernlass, taking him today. I lost some of my hearing due to measles. I'm 50 so the vaccine wasn't available. I can understand why you've stopped to think things through and I'm glad that you've been reassured by the posts on this thread.