MMR booster. should my autisic son get it?

[yogabonkers]

my 5 year old had all his vaccinations when he was a baby, including his MMR at 13 months.

however, i never got him his booster when he was 4.

i believe you are born with autism, and it is not caused by the MMR, however, i didnt want to give him anything which could exacerbate it.

now i'm not so sure and think he should maybe get it. i'm very pro vaccination usually.

anyone have any thoughts?

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

Still haven't given my 11yo DS with ASD his booster. I also think he was born with ASD, but just like you I couldn't bring myself to risk it. My DS3 hasn't had either MMR jab. No good reason for it anymore, may get around to it one day. Wasn't much help, was I? Sorry.

[ouryve]

Both of mine got it. They both already had autism. Why risk the complications of measles on top of that?

[Eveiebaby]

DD had her booster although I did delay it for a year. I must admit I was reluctant hence the delay but dp was very insistent that she should have it so I did give in (not normally like me - I just used to chuck the reminders in the bin before dp seen them. We did not notice any difference/regression after the booster. I'm certain that there is a blood test you can get done privately to see if they are immune after the first vacinne. Tough choice I know.

[BrigadeOfLannisters]

I had a thread about this last night. My DS was very ill after having MMR, already autistic and IIRC Andrew Wakefield never set out to prove that autism is caused by the jab, only that it may be associated with a new type of bowel disease in a sub-set of autistic children.

MMR 2 isn't actually a booster in the strict medical sense, just the same thing again in order to cover the 5-10% who will not have received immunity with the first dose. So it may not be necessary. Especially if the child has already had measles.

It's a tricky position to be in. Sorry you're experiencing it.

[nadia77]

mine had his first mmr like yours but hasn't had his second shot yet for the same reason my ds is 4 so two minds weather to give it to him or not might make things more complicated maybe i dont know.

[Triggles]

All of ours have had their MMRs and boosters. I will admit to postponing them with both DS2 and DS3 to see where they were sitting developmentally, so they got the initial MMR closer to 2yo, but I was comfortable with that. Had they been in a nursery setting, rather than at home with me during the day, I might have gotten it closer to the recommended time, due to higher risk of exposure.

DS2 was already showing signs of developmental problems by then, and i personally don't believe a definite link has been shown yet. It's tough though, I know, because they don't really know what can cause or be a catalyst for autism, it makes me worry over every little decision.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

My DD had hers nearly 2 weeks ago, was totally fine

[cwtch4967]

My ds has ASD and I've he's had the booster - life is hard enough now without him getting measles - there have been quite a few outbreaks around here.

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

Mine had the original MMR (but delayed) as we felt what will be will be...and his booster.

However he actually got measles 2 years ago. He was SO SO SO ill. I know it's quite unusual to get it after the jabs but he did .. I have never seen such a frighteningly high temperature.. he was delirious for days and the local docs took photos of the rash for teaching purposes!! He was just unlucky but I'd defo have the booster!!

[drivemecrazy63]

my dh is as and so is my DS3 he would have had austism anyway i belive you have it from birth yes possibly the jab could exasperate it but as they dont know i go with that because we dont know , it could be anything that would exasperate it , just like cancer unfortunately its in your genes and no way would i ever ris my dcs health further with the terrible implications of measles ect i had a relative made seriously ill who didnt have MMR so ive seen that side of the coin its very scary, the way i look at this is if god forbid and i dont believe it is the cause of autism then they already got that with the first one a second wont make the effects greater i think we have to go with HCP advice atm untill we have different proof as i belive with all vaccines but each to his own, you have to decide whats right for your family .

[ouryve]

The risk of catching measles is only low because most children are immune, so it can't spread so easily. That said, we had an outbreak in our region, last year. I don't personally know anyone who has had measles and not been left with some lasting effect, such as complete deafness on one ear.

[drivemecrazy63]

do we not I know I did read all the info good and bad then decide , our dcs health is paramount so its a totally individual decison we must base on facts and statistics and then on personal experience and also family history then come to our own individual conclusions

[sc13]

My son has ASD and we did the booster last year, with no consequences. But I admit I dispatched DH to the GP with him for the jab, because I couldn't face it taking him myself

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

When I was a child, before MMR, nearly everyone used to catch measles at some point, much like chicken pox. I had it, but not too badly. I do think it's the vaccinated children who are making it unlikely that our DC will catch it. I will get my younger 2 vaccinated one day.

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

It is usually a serious disease, but it can be.

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

Bugger, that was supposed to be, It is not usually a serious illness.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Is there no appreciation of the fact that smallpox and diptheria do not exist any more due to vaccination? That's not just scaremongering on the part of vaccine manufacturers

[silverfrog]

smallpox was not entirely eradicated by vaccination. in fact, it was only after the vaccination programme was reduced, and other measures were used alongside (such as better sanitation and isolation) that smallpox was eradicated. vaccination was not the sole cause, and would not have eradicated it alone.

there is an awful lot of scaremongering that happens wrt childhood diseases and vaccines. dd1 had the unfortunate timing of coming down with chicken pox while on holiday in America. now that was interesting, as it is all but notifiable over there, and we were very nearly slapped into isolation as a result (she had a mild case, btw) - that is once the doctors had actually worked out what was wrong (I new what it was we were there to get a fit to fly letter, which I had to dictate to the doctor, as she did not know how long dd1 shoudl be out of circulaiton for, or when she would be ok to fly. which ws a bit worrying really, as surely you go to the doctor's to get advice, not give it?)

FWIW, dd1 had her initial mmr (as well as all baby jabs plus a whole host of others, as we lived abroad when she was born). it didn't cause her autism, but it didn't do her any good either (serious gut issues started post mmr). she has not had her booster, nor will she have it (or any other vaccination)

dd2 is unvaccinated, and will remain that way for the forseeable future.

OP, all you can do is research it, and come to a conclusion that suits your family. no on here can tell you what to do. you have to be comfortable with your decision either way.

for some background reading on th matter, search beachcomber's posts on vaccination, or bubbleymummy/bumbleymummy. they have posted a lot of interesting links over the past few years.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

well..wasn't diptheria? and now there has been a new case due to reduction in vaccination? or is that just scaremongering? I am genuinely interested. I suppose some will say its scaremongering and other not, not much middle ground here.

[EllenJaneisnotmyname]

There'll never be middle ground on vaccinations here! It's the wrong place to get a 'normal' opinion. On the main board it gets a bit hostile sometimes. At least we're not like that. I, personally, believe in vaccinations. So why hasn't DS2 had his booster or DS3 has either MMR. No logical reason, just couldn't bear to actively give him something that may harm him. Easier not to. Though now they're 11 and 9, maybe it's time.

[silverfrog]

diphtheria has not been eradicated.

there are cases, but they are rare (not saying this means you don't need to vaccinate, just stating facts)

there have been cases of diphtheria annually in the uk (and of course in the rest of the world), so not sure what you mean by a new case due to reduction in vaccination? cases have been largely static in the uk in the last 8 years.

[want2sleep]

98% of population is covered by MMR first time round. OP you could get a blood test done to see your dc levels to determine if booster is required.