the MMR jab - looking for others opinions, etc..

(before i write my post here, i just want to say that i know we will have differing opinions on this touchy subject, and i only want to know others opinions,etc. i dont want to stir up any negative feelings, etc.) -


i am wondering what other parents' (or parents'-to-be) feelings are on the MMR jab. about having or not having it done. or having the it done with three separate injections.  i have been reading the nhs' website about MMR (http://www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk/) this morning and was really curious to see what others think...

thanks in advance:)
-trish

Well, I'm not a parent nor a parent to be, but I am doing a Master's in psychology and so have had to read all of the debates and scientific papers for my studies and my opinion (and that of all of my professors across the board in both England and California) is that there is no link between the MMR jab and autism. The "link" could be that the symptoms of autism begin to appear around the same time that babies get that particular jab. And the fact that autism rates are soaring is likely because we now are more comfortable with its symptomology and so it's simply being correctly diagnosed now whereas before it probably was seen as shyness and lack of focus in girls (since extreme dreamyness is one symptom) and mild to moderate retardation in boys.

Having said that, I understand the worry since there's been such an extraordinary amount of debate about it, and while I don't know the medical ins and outs of getting the jabs separately, if that's an option,  I don't really see the problem. What I do worry about is people avoiding them entirely since there is now a very, very real possibility that these childhood diseases (which unquestionably can be fatal) are going to start making a comeback....

My two cents for what it's worth.... 

My two cents for what it's worth.... 

i appreciate your post, thank you!!
-trish

I've never been convinced that it is a bad thing. Philip is having his 3rd round tomorrow. I also had an MMR shot 2 months ago because we found out I'm not immune to Rubella. The doctor told me that there may just be something about my system that means rubella immunisations won't work on me, and that very rarely that happens (nothing is 100% after all) - and I'll get tested in a month to see if it "took". But I had no qualms about getting the shot myself, as an adult - nor do I about my child.

I suppose this is my philosophy: that there are so many things that are "bad" for you... that every time I blink there is some new cause for breast cancer, some new food that will kill you, some new thing that will give you a horrbile disease - and SO many of them come to nothing. So I listen to those warnings, keep them tucked away in my head, but I don't get myself worked up and scared about things until there is a lot of reasearch, until that research is obvious, and until the majority of Doctors agree. My midwive felt the same way about the MMR, she wasn't convinced and she knows the research a whole lot better than I do, and she's a mother. Had she said "oh yes, the majority of the medical community agree that Philip shouldn't be having them" - then I'd have changed my mind. But as it is, (and it is iffy!), I'll go ahead and immunize my child against these nasty horrible diseases on the off billion-to-one chance that he'll get autism.

In my humble(?) opinion!

Both of my boys had the MMR shot.  With the first, I had never heard to the 'great' MMR debate.  With the second, I read what facts I could find and feel that the vaccination was safe.

However, for those parents that are concerned, I don't understand why separate vaccinations can't be given as a standard option.

I suppose this is my philosophy: that there are so many things that are "bad" for you... that every time I blink there is some new cause for breast cancer, some new food that will kill you, some new thing that will give you a horrbile disease - and SO many of them come to nothing. .

In my humble(?) opinion!

I can definitely agree with that way of thinking.. 

i think my concern for all this was sparked by the mention to me that someone we know has a sister that has had a very bad experience with the MMR jab and even though i know that chances of something happening to calvin may be very slim, its just something i want to make sure i have researched as much as i possibly can..  though me and sean both feel that vaccinated is best ...

(thanks for your post!)

However, for those parents that are concerned, I don't understand why separate vaccinations can't be given as a standard option.

i don't know if they are available, even privately. but it is something i am going to look into as an option as well....

From what I can find on Google, they are available privately.  Single MMR doses are not licensed in the UK, but aren't illegal to use.  That means it's not manufactured in the UK or available on the NHS.

http://www.dh2.co.uk/mmr.htm

It seems that website also has a list of clinic where you can go for single doses:

http://www.dh2.co.uk/news.asp

As far as I know, the problem people had with the MMR was the thimerosol (thimerosal?), the preservative they used which contained a trace amount of mercury.  But they stopped using thimerosol back in 1999, so any MMR shot after that time is even safer.
My dd had the jab.  I have never felt that any of her problems traced back in any way to it, and since we've just finally gotten the "No autism" clear, I feel even better about my decision to immunize her.  As AnneG said, I personally feel it's my duty as a member of society to immunize, since the risk to immunized children goes up when they are around non-immunized children.  Diseases that should have been eradicated are making a comeback because parents are relying on the immunized kids to protect their kids, if you know what I mean. 

Marlespo, you were not immune to Rubella?  Me either!  I had to get a booster after Dagmar was born, haven't seen my bloodwork so I don't know if it took this time.  I know I was immunized before when I was young.

As far as the single injections or waiting, I'm all for that if a doc OKs it.  I believe strongly in immunization, and I think if what will convince a parent to do it is letting them wait three months or get three separate shots that's what we'll do.  The important thing is to get it done.

(before i write my post here, i just want to say that i know we will have differing opinions on this touchy subject, and i only want to know others opinions,etc. i dont want to stir up any negative feelings, etc.) -


i am wondering what other parents' (or parents'-to-be) feelings are on the MMR jab. about having or not having it done. or having the it done with three separate injections.  i have been reading the nhs' website about MMR (http://www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk/) this morning and was really curious to see what others think...

thanks in advance:)
-trish

Hi Lunar,

I chose not to immunise my kids, but if I had chosen to immunise, I'd go the 3 separate injections. Less of a shock to an immature immune system. Good luck in your choice. It's a very personal one for sure and you are wise to ask questions.

Diseases that should have been eradicated are making a comeback because parents are relying on the immunized kids to protect their kids, if you know what I mean. 

I am certainly not one of those parents and cannot think of one of my "non-immunising" parent friends who is either.

Hi Lunar,

I chose not to immunise my kids, but if I had chosen to immunise, I'd go the 3 separate injections. Less of a shock to an immature immune system. Good luck in your choice. It's a very personal one for sure and you are wise to ask questions.

with doing more reading on it, i am definitely leaning towards 3 separate injections, although when i see my GP next week with Calvin, i am going to ask him about it as well and hope he can advise me well.

From what I can find on Google, they are available privately.  Single MMR doses are not licensed in the UK, but aren't illegal to use.  That means it's not manufactured in the UK or available on the NHS.

http://www.dh2.co.uk/mmr.htm

It seems that website also has a list of clinic where you can go for single doses:

http://www.dh2.co.uk/news.asp

thanks for the links...

love your avatar picture!!! =)

I have not felt that jabs are a bad thing. If you have 10 kids and 8 aren't they have a great risk of getting ill. If we all decided to not give them the jabs we could be faced with polio and other bad events. I think kids should have them. But thats my opinion.

... But thats my opinion.

thank you for taking the time to respond to this entry!