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?

My mother-in-law lost the sight in one eye as a child through measles. Please don’t cancel.

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

I had measles when I was 6. It affected my eyesight, and my glasses cost £££ because I pay a lot to have my lenses thinned. It also affected my hearing.

I'd get it done op. My h had measles when he was younger - vaccine wasn't rolled out until just after he was born. He's partially sighted in one eye and had to spend a lot of his childhood in moorfields.

Sorry just seen you're taking him 👍🏻 hope all goes well.

The later date for the second MMR is to combine it with other pre-school shots, and gpsave the NHS one appointment per child rather than doing it separately.

It still works - just like the covid jab part 2 - recommended for 3 weeks but delivered at 12 for admin reading.

The jab is just as safe at 1 month interval (manufacturer endorsed), the six month gap you've been offered, or the typical wait to the pre-school top ups - which is again schedules for the social reason of starting school, rather than a medical imperative)

I'm glad you've decided to go ahead, northernlass7
It's only offered this way when there are clusters in the area, and they want to protect DC and avert an outbreak.

Is it because they want to make money from vaccinating patients, even though it may not be in my son’s best interests?

Of course its in your sons 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.
Why?

@northernlass7

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.

Good stuff. You’re doing the right thing, and there’s nothing wrong with asking questions and seeking reassurance.

My daughter had her first one at 8 months as we were travelling to a measles area so I wanted it done before we went, GP more than happy to oblige. She then had her second at 13 months, which should have been her first. All was well.

Glad your taking him.

Imagine how you would feel if he got measles and you hadn’t made sure he was fully vaccinated.

Glad you've decided to take him.
I understand your caution. Whenever I have a wobble I remind myself that vaccines are statistically much safer than the disease they protect from.
I also have a friend who caught measles as a baby and has suffered severe hearing loss from that. Measles is a dangerous illness.

We had our first ones at ? 12 weeks, I can't recall exactly.

Then a huge gap of 6 years.

Then we had a letter saying they hadn't had second vaccination, and despite proof on my part, the nurse who gave them hadn't updated the computer system. This was going back 15 years now so at a point they were charging over to computer systems.

So my children have had a third dose so it can be logged on medical records!

My son shrugged and said he's now able to lick handrails safely, he was 18 when he had his third dose.

I think as long as they get a second dose it doesn't really matter. I was told by a doctor that they only give the second one because the first is given so early and they can't guarantee antibodies. You only need one if you make antibodies as they stay with you for life.

Glad you've taken him. I am a scientist, I've got a PhD in immunology, have done vaccine development in the past and work for a company who, among other things, make vaccines.

Our immune systems are incredible, we are very dirty mammals who live crowded together with other species (pets and farm animals) and our immune system is incredibly complex and powerful to cope with that. The MMR vaccine contains a weaken copy of the viruses that can't make copies of themselves to teach his immune system how to fight the viruses. The weakened viruses from his first vaccination will have been destroyed by his body within the first week or so of getting the infection. His little body is fantastic at fighting off all the new viruses he's constantly being exposed to for the first time, has he fallen over and got a graze yet? That will have put far more nasty viruses and bacteria into his body than all his childhood vaccines put together.

If it helps, I live in Australia and our schedule is to have it at 12 and 18 months. I think its quite a normal schedule.

Measles would be far worse for his little body.

It has been the normal schedule in Europe for many years. Dd had her second at 18 months and is now 20! However she did discover a couple of years ago that she had no Rubella immunity so had a top up before going to uni.

My parents didn’t vaccinate me for measles or mumps or whooping cough. Having caught and suffered through all three diseases, I urge you to accept the offer of free protection from them. They suck! Especially whooping cough, where I felt like I was drowning. I still have some breathing problems that I suspect may have been caused by the whooping cough (which can actually prevent child lungs growing to full size).

I’ve taken every vaccine I can get as soon as I was old enough to choose.

They’re booking at the minimum separation of the doses (or closer to, it might be as short as 4 weeks apart). The preschool boosters are just the way the NHS schedules it. Doesn’t mean it can’t be done sooner.

@beautifullymad

We had our first ones at ? 12 weeks, I can't recall exactly.

Then a huge gap of 6 years.

Then we had a letter saying they hadn't had second vaccination, and despite proof on my part, the nurse who gave them hadn't updated the computer system. This was going back 15 years now so at a point they were charging over to computer systems.

So my children have had a third dose so it can be logged on medical records!

My son shrugged and said he's now able to lick handrails safely, he was 18 when he had his third dose.

I think as long as they get a second dose it doesn't really matter. I was told by a doctor that they only give the second one because the first is given so early and they can't guarantee antibodies. You only need one if you make antibodies as they stay with you for life.

This is getting off the OPs topic, but there have been outbreaks of mumps among students (a mix of those whose parents were mislead by that charlatan Wakefield into not vaccinating properly, plus some waning of the vaccine protection). Theres good evidence that a third round of MMR is a good idea. One of DDs friends has neurological damage following late teen mumps.... we paid for DD to have a 3rd round. So the admin problems may have done your DS a favour!

Measles kills. Because we now live in a time where almost everyone is inoculated, we dont see children dieing regularly from measles. We dont see children permanently maimed. There is too much of the attitude, "oh, its only measles. It really doesnt matter."

Measles kills. Vaccines do not. Vaccines barely even have side effects. The side effects they do have dont last more than a couple days and those are totally standard immune responses. Not harmful. Not dangerous.

The rise of unvaccinated children has lead to outbreaks of a disease which kills children. They want to get full immunity earlier now because your child is at risk of catching the disease. That's why they're doing it earlier. It is standard in other countries. Millions of children vaccinated with a 6 month gap. It iant harmful. There is nothing to be worried about. His body will be just fine. If you dont vaccinate, he could die. That is just a fact about these diseases. They kill.

@beautifullymad

We had our first ones at ? 12 weeks, I can't recall exactly.

Then a huge gap of 6 years.

Then we had a letter saying they hadn't had second vaccination, and despite proof on my part, the nurse who gave them hadn't updated the computer system. This was going back 15 years now so at a point they were charging over to computer systems.

So my children have had a third dose so it can be logged on medical records!

My son shrugged and said he's now able to lick handrails safely, he was 18 when he had his third dose.

I think as long as they get a second dose it doesn't really matter. I was told by a doctor that they only give the second one because the first is given so early and they can't guarantee antibodies. You only need one if you make antibodies as they stay with you for life.

My kids all had a third dose of MMR at secondary school, isn't that the norm?

I caught measles as a toddler just before I was due to be vaccinated (long time ago). I was so ill, and ended up with terrible eyesight and slight hearing loss in one of my ears. One of my adult front teeth has what looks like a chip in it, but I was told by a dentist that it was deformed whilst in the gum because I had such a high fever so young. I really wish I'd had that jab sooner!

My kids all had a third dose of MMR at secondary school, isn't that the norm?

No. Are you sure it was the MMR? DD had the HPV vaccine and the 3 in 1 teenage booster MenACWY at secondary school.

@RampantIvy

My kids all had a third dose of MMR at secondary school, isn't that the norm?

No. Are you sure it was the MMR? DD had the HPV vaccine and the 3 in 1 teenage booster MenACWY at secondary school.

Hmm I'll check. We live in a high turnover area that routinely vaccinates for TB at birth and is prone to breakouts of various things so perhaps it was in response to a local threat?!

Just checked and they were given dip/tet/polio and MEN-ACWY and we were asked to consent to MMR but they only have to those who hasn't had both doses. As DC had their pre school booster dose they weren't given the MMR

It's probably to late for this comment now. If your not sure then I would delay and speak to the gp to get any questions answered and find out the information you need. Best to make an educated decision. Then you can get it booked in when you feel more comfortable with the decision xx