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Original poster

MMR Pre School Boster ?? What would you do ??

46 replies

twocutedarlings · 21/08/2007 11:07

Hi,

My Daughter is about to start school next month,She is currently undergoing an assessment for Aspergers. Last week we recieved the reminder for her MMR boster, I was all set for her not to have this boster until after the assessment is done, not because i think the MMR causes Autium but because i have read on the net that alot of parents of children with ASD feel that there kids have become more Autistic by the MMR boster.

Since then i have read on my local forum that the has been an outbreak of measels in our area, so now im questioning my orginal decision for her not to have it yet !! im stumped now i dont know what to do? obviously i dont want her to get measels but im also worried about what ive read about the effects of the MMR boster on ASD children.

Is there anyone here that had also faced my dilema ?? or what would you do if this was your child??

OP posts:

2mum · 21/08/2007 12:00

Hiya, yes im in the same dilema as you. My ds is autistic and although i havent been sent out an appointment for his booster mmr. I dont know what is the best thing to do but im thinking of not giving it to him. Ive read before that a lot of people are covered by the first set of jags and that this booster is just to cath the people who arent fully imune to it. i think you have to decide yourself what to do as there are two ways of looking at it and i dont know whats the right one.

Pixel · 21/08/2007 12:20

Ds didn't have the pre-school booster. My gut feeling was that I was more frightened by the thought of him regressing further, and having to live with the fact that it was due to a decision I'd made, than the possibility of him catching measles (which seems more random and down to fate iyswim). Dh felt the same. As ds had already had a single measles vaccine there was a good chance that he would be covered by that so we kept our fingers crossed! I'm not saying that was the right decision though, I'm aware that it could so easily turn out to be the wrong one if he caught measles and developed complications.

needmorecoffee · 21/08/2007 12:35

I'd leave it. Your DD will have some protection from her previous vaccine (uf you believe these things work). Even if she didn't already have ASD, each vaccine has the potential to cause brain injury etc each and every time.
As for measles, research has shown that Vit A (or beta carotene) protects against serious side effects. My kids all caught measles and were over it within a week (I saw a homeopath too) and now they are immune for life rather than the variable rate of protection the vaccine offers. Complicatons are rare in healthy western children so to be honest I fear the vaccine more thanthe disease.
But it has to be your decision. And one you are comfortable with.

NAB3 · 21/08/2007 12:44

I think I would risk it and not have it done, tbh. Mine have all reacted to their baby jabs so have had the MMR as singles and only half the pre school booster.

ladygrinningsoul · 21/08/2007 12:47

The places that offer single jabs will also do a blood test to check immunity (at a price, of course) to see whether a booster is needed.

needmorecoffee · 21/08/2007 18:03

one complication is, the labs use anti-body response as a sign of immunity (either froma vaccine or from the natural disease) but recent reserach has shown that there doesn't seem to be a huge correlation between antibodies present and immunity. Poeple with no antibodies to a certain disease can sail through an epidemic even if you surround them with sufferers whilst those with good anti-bodies can catch the disease.
All anti-bodies do is show you've been exposed to that virus and your body did something.
My uncle is an immunologist and he admits scientists know very little about immune systems. Bit depressing really.

mum24boyz · 21/08/2007 18:13

all of my boys have had the 1st mmr, although there was lots of hype about it when my 13yr old had it, and i remember being in a dillemma then, however luckily he had no ill effects from it, however my ds3 stopped talking after his 1st mmr, so i made the decision not to let him have the 2nd one when the appt came through, i was told not to worry as most children are covered by the 1st anyway and the 2nd is really just a precaution, hmmm, a lot to risk in my book for a precaution, i have also made the decision not to let ds4 have his mmr, although he still needs his other booster for starting school, although he isnt asd he is still sn so i am just not prepared to risk it. its a difficult choice, i think as regards the 1st mmr, i would rather have a child with asd, then the worst case alternative, but as for a precaution, well i personally would rather not risk it and face the consequences if i have to later.

coppertop · 21/08/2007 20:07

My 2 boys (both with ASD) have had the MMR and boosters with no problems but I would say that if you're at all unsure about it then leave it for now. You can always make an appointment later if you decide that this is what you want.

gess · 21/08/2007 20:27

Read Richard Halvorsen's boook 'the truth about vaccinaitons'. He's an NHS GP- and sets out the decisions clearly. He writes a lot about MMR (and other meacles containing viruses) and measles.

You coudl leave it now, assume there's protection from the 1st jab then give a booster pre-puberty (measles is more likely to be nasty after puberty).

gess · 21/08/2007 20:28

apologies- I meant other measles containing jabs.

mymatemax · 21/08/2007 20:35

Having the same dilema, ds2 starts school in Sept & my head is firmly in the sand until the letter drops on the mat & then i guess we'll have to decide.
I know ds2's disabilities were not caused by the mmr but i'm still uneasy about it.

Original poster

twocutedarlings · 21/08/2007 20:49

Hi all,

Thanks for all your replys, i think ive decided to just wait a while, and maybe have the blood tests done if i hear about any more measels outbreaks, she did have the MMR jab at 18mths, and to be honest at the time it was like she had been given a personality transplant for 3 weeks after, but she also cut two massive teeth at the same time, so looking back it could have been the MMR that upset her or it could have been her teeth, who knows !!

We are going for IQ tests with Psyc on the 29th so i think i will have a chat then, and see if they can recommend somewhere for private blood tests.

Thanks Again xx

OP posts:

Davros · 21/08/2007 21:06

Halvorsen's is the practice we have taken DD to for single jabs. She has only just had the 3rd of the 3 so I have informed the GP that we will not decided about booster for some time to come. When we do consider it I will go back to him for the blood titres test to check immunity. As the booster is only to "capture" the 10% that do not get immunity from the first jab, then it is likely that your DD will be fine. It is not to "boost" the first jab in the way we would normally use the word, just to pick up those who did not get immunity at all from the first jab. Therefore 90% do not need it.

2mum · 07/12/2007 16:30

Hi Im just bringing this thread up again as my ds has been sent out an appointment for his booster but Ive decided Im not going to give it to him. I hope im doing the right thing. He really hates jags and I dont want to put him through it again on top of everything else. i just hope he doesnt catch anything or i will feel terrible.

aquariusmum · 07/12/2007 17:06

I personally think the booster is a con, and if you've had the first one I didn't bother with the second. Think it is the health authority's way of catching up because so many people dropped out of the MMR a few years back.

2mum · 07/12/2007 18:01

I agree Aquariusmum and thats mostly why im not bothering. And also ds gets very distressed at jabs so personally i dont think its worth it as he had the first one. Tbh if i was to do everything again i dont think i would have given my kids any jabs but thats a whole different story.

needmorecoffee · 07/12/2007 19:53

All my kids are unvaccinated and I wouldn't risk it. To me, diseases can be managed with medicine, homepathy and good nutrition (my older 3 have all had measles and whooping cough and are now teens and in good health) whilst injecting vaccines means stuff you inject in, you can't get back out if it goes wrong. There's several brain damaged by vaccines children at dd's sensory group.

2mum · 07/12/2007 20:04

I wish i had done what you did needmorecoffee but i cant turn the clock back now. Im not sure what caused ds2 autism possibly genetics was a good bit but maybe something else such as vaccines or gluten or casein triggered it too. I`ll never know but if i could do it different i would.

needmorecoffee · 07/12/2007 21:05

2mum, ds1 has Aspergers and this is despite no vaccine, organic sugar free etc etc and extended breatfeeding and co-sleeping and everything you can imagine.
Sometimes it just happens. And of course, dd2 has severe quad cerebral palsy.
ho hum

yurt1 · 07/12/2007 21:55

ds2 and ds3 have had no vaccinations.

AS is less likely to be related to 'biological/biomedical' causes of autism than the more severe forms ('severe' there used int the diagnostic rather than day to day living sense).

You could take a blood test and see whtehr therte's immunity. Often there is, it's the teen years it wears off (and no booster currently offered).

2mum · 08/12/2007 10:32

My ds1 hasnt been diagnosed with Aspergers (he does have adhd) but sometimes i wonder if he has it although he had all the jabs and hasnt been on any kind of special diet. I know Genetics must have something to do with it. Ds2 has allergies hayfever asthma and is allergic to pets and had a lot of diahorrea although thats not much of a problem now. He had colic as a baby and he was on formula milk. I did think about changing his diet but im so worried he wont eat i didnt do it. Theres only certain things he will eat as it is. It does just happen sometimes needmorecoffee, but its so frustrating not knowing why.
I personally dont know of anyone having had measles, german measles or mumps for years. Ive seen on the news about breakouts because of parents not giving their kids the vaccines. i will get his blood checked out someday to see if their is immunity but ds2 hates needles.

pagwatch · 08/12/2007 16:26

DS2 regressed very violently after his MMR and has made huge improvements since we changed his diet - so I have no that his vaccines were implicated in his ASD. DD has not had any vaccines and probably won't . DS1 just refused BCG and boosters.
I would rather avoid vaccines with my kids as I think they are peculiarly susceptible.

emandjules · 09/12/2007 13:41

just to point out other side. My friend did not get the MMR for either of her dd's. One got measles last year and was seriously ill with pneumonia and is blind in one eye permanently from catching measles. Saying that i can understand your dilemma and I am sure 80% immunity happens after 1st dose. Good luck with what you decide.

chelseamorning · 31/12/2007 20:06

This is a complete minefield!

My DS is scheduled to have his first MMR vaccination (he's 14 months) in a week's time but I'm really not sure it's the right thing to do.

There are some many reported 'scare' stories about it. The last major research update I can find is from May 2006, where US scientists reported they'd found measels virus (from vaccine) in the gut of autistic children with bowel disease. Anyone heard of more recent research reports??? I generally take Government advice with a pinch of salt.

Who said parenting was easy...?

LeonieD · 01/01/2008 10:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

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