Booster injection coming up....2 give or not to give?

[samira837]

Hi i have a ds1 with autism dx 4 months ago just got a letter about the MMR injection booster....hm.....dont really know if i want him 2 have it as i feel that this is something that maby contributed 2 the dx...hmm...am i being reasonable??!!!
Also if i say no what will happen?!

Hi, I had the very same worry cue a long conversation with our family doctor about mmr and the separate injections. He said that studies had found that the mmr jab wasn't linked to ASD, and no studies had been done into whether the separate injections were "safer", he also reminded me that as dd had already had the 1st injection, whether this had or hadn't caused the ASD, she would have already been exposed to vaccine and therefore the booster would be unlikely to change anything.

It's a difficult one. I originally (prior to speaking to dr) said no to the booster, they made a note on the notes. Not heard anything since, and doubt that I will.
I think you need to consider the pros and cons of the vaccine, what they are vaccinating against etc.

My DS didn't have the MMR booster. And then he got measles, which in itself was pretty mild, but resulted in bowel problems for quite a few months afterwards So in hindsight was probably the wrong decision! It's a difficult one, as most childern don't actually need the booster, and it's all case of balancing the risks of vaccination against risks of not vaccination, there's no 100% guaranteees either way... Did your DS have a bad reaction to first MMR?

btw other than the odd snotty comment from health pros, never had any real issue re:lack of MMR booster. The GP who dx'ed measles was absolutely lovely, and didn't bollock me!

I've decided not to give dd2 her booster as I don't want to rock the boat ifyswim. However I will be paying privately for her to have jabs seperately

DD1 won't have the booster. we also plan to get her the jabs separatly. same for DD2 (no MMR at all, just separate jabs).

I think everyone is entitled to make this decision for themselves and your child is the most important person.

However for us we have had all our daughter's immunisations done, she has epilepsy and other issues and the consultant said it was better to get it done then have her in hospital with one of the diseases as this would be worse for her.

Just a note and again in no way meant to seem pushy on my views but i have just done a tiny miniscule look into this and the link between autism and MMR was based on 12 children who had autism, the study funded by solicitors of the parents wishing to sue drug company. In Japan between 1990 and 1995 this scare came around and immunisation went from 70 - 0 percent per 100,000 but the cases of autism dramatically rose after the drop off.

AGAIN I DO NOT WISH TO OFFEND just stuff that i have read concidently and thought i would just let you know as it is one of the toughest decisions to make for your child.

Best regards

Have given all 3 of mine boosters, but have a different take on any vaccination. DS2 got HSP (Henoch Schonlein Purpura) after his pre-school booster. Vaccinations and immunisations are known causes of this. They don't really tell you about this as it is all the odds game. If they started to tell you all the possibilities of things going wrong afterwards - however remote, most people would never give them. He was never the same child after the HSP.
Now I weigh up the pros and cons each time.

Thx everyone ds1 never had a bad reaction to the first lot off MMR but I'm just petrified to give him this as he has just started 2 talk now and socialise ect.
Don't know what I think will happen but for now I think that I'm just going 2 say no...hmm...but will start 2 look in 2 doing it privately

Some autism would appear to have some sort of immune disorder related to it, some doesn't. You know your child and what might be relevant to them.

In our case ds1 didn't have boosters and his brother's haven't had vaccinations but our family history (no autism, no broader autism phenotype, but lots of immune issues + and ds1's post viral regression) is one which would suggest some sort of immune disorder/dysfunction may be related to his condition. This isn't going to be the case for everyone with an ASD dx.

My experience is like PinjinJo, that my DS regressed and went blind and developed nystagmus the day of his jab. He recovered his sight 5 months later he still has nystagmus and ASD. However it was the 3 month DTP jab that did it not MMR.

CordysMum - your research is totally wrong (as evidenced by
Pinjins story) and is offensive. Sounds like you have done about 5 minutes research into the topic and found one site sponsored by the drug companies.

It is really, really complicated.

It's not an easy decision, because there is no wrong or right answer. Neither option is risk free. Anyone who is trying to simplify it into a wrong or right answer is lying to you.

DD did not have the MMR booster (and that decision was probably made before the big 'scare' about the vaccine). The GP told me that most children gain immunity from the 1st vaccine, but as it is easier to jab everyone a 2nd time than it is to test everyone to see if they are immune, then they do everyone twice. Of those who didn't gain immunity the 1st time, only some of those will gain it after a 2nd jab, so some children will remain unprotected anyway.
DD has complex health needs and the GP was of the opinion that this triple vaccine was a massive attack on her immune system which there was a high chance she didn't need. I have been asked many times on admission to hospital if her vaccines are up to date & have always told them she hasn't has 2nd MMR and have never been questioned about it!
Incidentally DS did not have any MMR jab as he was due to be vaccinated just as the scare kicked off big time - was lined up to have individual jabs but then government vetoed them before it happened and there was nowhere locally that he could have them privately. He has HF ASD and his behaviour was already an issue(even though not diagnosed) before he was due to have the MMR - Call me a bad mother if you like - but he remains unprotected and is now old enough to understand that decision himself and ask for the vaccine if he wants it.