MMR Jab and booster

[ClareC]

Is there anyone "medical" that can help.

My daughter had her MMR jab at 12 months and her booster at 15mths. This is in accordance with the red book issued by Southwark. There is no mention of any further MMR boosters being required as printed in the inoculation schedule.

We have now moved out of London and are with another health authority. Their view is that the booster should be done between 3 and 5 years and having it at 15 months is too early. They claim she is subsequently no longer covered and therefore want her to have another booster.

I have refused for obvious reasons. Surely the current London "way" is different not wrong. I can't seem to find any conclusive evidence either way.......

Thank you

[Oxalis]

The "green book" on immunisations is probably the best place to look - produced by the Centre of Disease Control.

This link below should take you to a PDF of chapter 21 of the green book which covers measles/MMR vaccination. The second paragraph on the 9th page states "if the child is given the second dose less than three months after the first dose and at less than 18 months old, then the routine pre-school dose (3rd dose) should be given to ensure full protection"

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/147968/Green-Book-Chapter-21-v2_0.pdf

I think as a result of the poor uptake of the MMR a few years ago, particularly in South East London, Southwark started giving three doses of MMR routinely to pre-school age children.

[ClareC]

Thank you Oxalis, that's really helpful.

The nurse actually photocopied the Vaccination schedule in the red book, the MMR isn't shown at all with the pre school boosters which seems odd. Perhaps an error given what the link states.

[Oxalis]

That's odd - MMR is definitely part of the pre-school booster.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/vaccination-schedule-age-checklist.aspx

[GinaG3]

My daughter had all her jabs, then I stopped. I'm so torn between what to do. She's now nearly 6 and has been through a lot, she has a fear of needles after many blood tests and I feel emotionally its a difficult choice to make. She was due her preschool boosters 3 years ago (including MMR), I get constant reminders from our GP practice. I've spoke to my GP about having them done in the near future and if additional jabs will be needed, she assured me that she can have it any time and it would be the same as if she had it on schedule. Of course the other thing that gets me is that no jabs are 100% effective so I always think in the back of my mind whats the point in doing them. I'm completely unvaccinated, except for when I had my last child and was practically forced to get the MMR shots to protect my future pregnancies.

There is definitely 3 MMR shots in Southwark at least.

[buggie]

Gina - the more important one is the tetanus in the pre-sch booster, very definitely worth getting done as at the moment she wouldn't be covered properly if soil/dirt/rust got into any open wound - not saying this to freak you out, but it would be needed urgently as a catch-up if she ended up in A&E (which I doubt would help her phobia).

Would suggest taking a v slow route into her helping her to have the jab at the GP ("Get well soon" on cbeebies had an ep on immunisations which might help her/encourage positive discussion) so that it isn't done as an emergency (on top of an emergency IYSWIM).

With regard to the MMR - *definitely* not 3 MMR's in Southwark/Lambeth or Lewisham. Oxalis is correct in what is quoted from the Green Book (aka bible!) in that they have to be given at least 3mths apart, which is why (if given on schedule) their given at 12mths & 3 mths later at 15mths.

The only time a 3rd jab wound be given is if (due to close living proximity to an index case of measles) an infant under 1yr is given the jab due to it not being as effective under a year (thus not given younger).

Hope this helps, & thanks for getting my *nearly finished mat leave* brain functioning again :-)

[EDmummy]

I hate to say this really because I know how hard it is seeing your child go through what may feel like unnecessary medical intervention but you must make sure she has her necessary vaccinations. I'd even contemplate going in with her and having a tetanus booster myself and showing her how easy it is. I think the more positive and emotionally strong you can be can only benefit your daughter GinaG3. As a parent, our attitude to health professionals is really picked up by our children.

[Trish]

Have you tried using an aesthetic cream for your daughter ahead of getting a vaccination/blood test done? Your GP can prescribe it and you put it on an hour or so before the vaccination and it numbs the area where the needle goes in.

From a young age I developed a phobia of needles and could faint at the prospect of having an injection. I'm pleased to say I eventually got over the phobia but it took until I was about 30. The cream really helped me though so I hope it might help your daughter.

Good luck!

[Saffron]

Do you run out in a snow storm in your knickers? No. You put on boots and a coat. Are they 100% effective at keeping you from feeling cold? No, but it's better than not wearing them.

Same logic applies to imms. xx