Can someone explain the MMR vaccine to me

[MissingGrandstand]

Feeling particularly stupid today, have tried to look this up on Google but keep getting confused so wondering if anyone can help.

All of the articles today re Measles talk about the low risk after 2 doses of the vaccine. My almost 2yo has had all vaccines on schedule, but obviously the second MMR dose isn't given until 3y4mo in the U.K.

Can someone explain to an idiot (me) how I should be reading the article - is a 2yo with 1 dose equally as protected as a 5yo with 2 doses? Or should I still be taking extra precautions this winter given DC has only had one dose?

Not trying to stir up any vaccination discussion or fear monger, just trying to understand as I was going to start travelling more with DC, particularly to London, but would be happy to put that on hold if there is increased risk until after the second dose.

Thank you!

Our old (and trusted) GP once told me that 80% of people get immunity from the 1st MMR jab. In order to catch the 20% that don't they give everyone a 2nd jab as it's cheaper and easier than testing every to see who is immune after the 1st one. Of the 20% who didn't gain immunity the 1st time around 5% still won't get it the 2nd time.

Both of my DCs only ever had the 1st MMR jab (for different reasons).

That's really helpful, thank you!

So additional boosters of vaccines help prolong the duration of the protection.
With the MMR in the late 80s they stopped giving the second dose of the mmr vaccine and everything seemed fine no increased rates of mumps or measles. Until all of those children reached 18 and a significant number of them went to university together just as the protection from the MMR started to wane. In the mid 2000s there was a big mumps and possible measles outbreaks across universities and an emergency vaccination regime was put in place to ensure all 16-21 year olds got a second dose of the mmr. So they reintroduced the second vaccine into the childhood schedule but it's not actually until much later in their childhood that it becomes important

I turned 18 in 2006 and I remember the frenzy to get vaccinated before going to university and the fear of getting mumps after a night out as that was usually when friends started to get symptoms. The lack of sleep and good nutrition probably played a role!

The second MMR dose was introduced in 1989.

The plan is to potentially bring the second MMR forward to 18 months with the possible introduction of the CP vaccine.
In fact, if you were given a second MMR at this age by mistake for example, it would count and no further doses would be needed.

First dose was introduced in 1988 and the second dose was introduced in 1996

Quote from a government document
"MMR vaccine was introduced as a single dose schedule in 1988 and
a two-dose schedule in 1996 with the aim of eliminating measles and rubella (and
congenital rubella) from the UK population."

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7db6ec40f0b65d88633f79/1516_No10_Measles_Mumps_and_Rubella__MMR__Immunisation_Programme_FINAL.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwipv-749NWCAxWcXEEAHS1JBe4QFnoECBAQBQ&usg=AOvVaw1Sstw3Apm0t8WRRDCUHEMY

How many injections did your DC get? We only had the first dose but they were 4 injections ( I was crying my eyes out while that happened). My little one had been afraid of doctors since

The 4 injections aren't all the MMR, they are all different vaccines. By the time the next vaccines are due a child would have forgotten about the 12 month jabs. I doubt a 12 month old would become scared of doctors because of this, most wouldn't know what a doctor is (& most vaccines are given by nurses anyway). Not too say it's not very sad watching a 1 year old get 4 vaccines! But less sad than them contracting a disease you could have prevented through vaccines.

When my older daughter was two there was a local measles outbreak so I asked and got her second MMR dose early. I haven't done this for my second daughter as there is not a local outbreak, she have it on schedule at 3 years 4 months with her other pre-school boosters.

My daughter had to have her 1 year vaccines individually over 6 months. I really wouldn't recommend that either. She was 19 months she was fully vaccinated as there were a few delays - having to be referred to the hospital for the vaccines and then being able to get appointments at the right times. At least 4 weeks but some were more like 8 weeks due to Christmas for example. 1 week recovering from a vaccine in every 4 weeks repeated 4 times was hard!
My daughter ended up in hospital after her 4 month jabs due to a reaction to the men B vaccine. I understand the reason she was recommended to have them separately but if I was to do it again she would have had all 4 on one day.

The preschool boosters are 2 injections one is the MMR and I can't remember what the other was.