MMR jab

[simms]

Those of you thinking about this issue might find the following site helpful...

www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk/

Of course, the NHS wants everyone to have the jab, but I felt that there was not too much bias in the content. All the available research on MMR/autism is included here, positive and negative.

I also contact them about preservatives in the MMR jab they use in the UK, as there have been concerns about thimerosal preservatives and autism. They told me that the MMR vaccines they use in the UK contain no preservatives.

[babyblue]

I remember reading that the manufacturer stopped producing (or stopped supplying) one of the 3 jabs (I think mumps) for the 3 illnesses covered by the MMR. So some kids had 1-2 jabs but were not able to get the final jab, meaning that they were no fully vaccinated and probably have to get the MMR anyway.

I think there are always risks to vaccinations. I think vaccinations are beneficial to the community because that is how small pox (and tuberculosis) was irradicated. But it is really the parents choice.

Even now with the injections giving at 2,4 and 6 months, it's a combination of 3 vaccines in one needle (DTPa, HIB and I can't remember the other one)

[saundra]

On the tymerasol issue, it may be contained in all vaccinations. Always worth checking before you go for a vaccination. There isn't widespread awareness of the danger in England - took a couple of days for my surgery to find out about it for me. It has been withdrawn from all paediatric vaccinations in US. My friend has two autistic children, both vaccinated against MMR and she is leaning towards the preservative being a factor. Her sister-in-law they now recognise is autistic (low on the spectrum as are her children) so it was something that had a high chance of happening anyway, but it is likely something triggered it in two children.

Bear in mind, the MMR issue comes up again when your child is turning 5 as it is one of the pre-school boosters. I did get both my children vaccinated but it was a difficult decision. Luckily, neither had any side effect. Just get full details of the manufacturer, etc so that you can get the same one for the booster. It is a very muddy issue and unfortunately there is no information out there that can help you find a definite yes or no. Sorry!

[anna]

i've been thinking about this too recently, and am glad to see this post
I wanted my daughter to get her MMR this week as i still follow HK guide lines (given to me in the medical booked issued from Matilda after birth to track what vaccinations have bn given)
When i asked her Dr here in S'pore she persuaded me to wait a while. They believe that giving it too early is a major concern and will not issue it before 15 months...... yet still advocate that children SHOULD get it.
i guess i will wait till my daughter 15 months but still go ahead with it.
As i am NOT a medical practitioner i can only do what is advised to me by my daughters Pediatrician.

[issa]

I'm also concerned about the MMR cos my daughter is due for one. From my discussions with my doctor, I'm waiting a while more before deciding. As she said, in Japan, kids don't get MMR til 2 yrs old. In fact, i'm presently looking for the separate vaccines on my trips cos my doctor said she'll jab for my daughter if I can get the vaccines myself cos it's unavailable in HK. Just for those interested, she too agrees that it's more of a commercial and political issue with MMR. And it's really sensitive for doctors to advise otherwise in case something happens to your child. Basically, if you have a daughter like me, mumps is not neccessary. As for Rubella, she won't need it til she's of puberty - for giving birth....so the only crucial jab she needs is measles, which I'm presently looking for.
Interestingly, I'm concerned about autism cos I've noticed an increase in autistic kids amongst the pp I know...lots of debates about that but one of my colleagues with an autistic boy is choosing not to give her 2nd child the MMR. Basically it boils down to personal judgement.

[jools]

Hi,
Just to add to the debate about MMR. The controversy about the jab in the UK was due to some research carried out by two doctors and published in the UK medical journal the Lancet. The research has now been discredited and one of the docotrs who carried it out has now said that he didn't agree with the findings anyway. It was found that the other docotor had a vested interested as one of the groups funding his research was related to autism. I have to admit that this made me very angry because alot of parents have gone through a very difficult time in making the decision to vaccinate or not. Just before I left the UK to live on Hong Kong they had just produced some more independent research that said there was absolutely no link with autism.
To also add my own experience, I have a couple of friends who have autisitic children. Both of them have said very clearly that it was obvious there was something wrong with their child before they had the MMR. I have recently read something that says autism is hereditry. I'm not sure whether that has helped. I have just had my son vaccinated at two years old, not for any other reason apart from the fact that everytime we went to get the jab he was ill and the advice we received was that he must be 100 per cent well.
It is a very difficult decision I know I've been there,

Jools

[choysis]

Dear Jools,

Thank you for your letter. I decided to give my son the MMR jab even though I had doubts. Fortunately, he's fine. There are too many new drugs, too many new studies that it's very difficult to know what to do with our children.

Choysis

[capital]

There was one study that was poorly designed, with only a handful of subjects who were all hand picked that started this whole debate, causing such a concern among parents that there have now been many many retroactive studies in many contries, looking at hundreds of children and there has not been shown to be a link. This Dr. Wakefeild wasn't even able to reproduce his own study results. I don't have the link right now, but there is quite a lot of info on the health canda website. Just look at the source of the website and ask your self if it is likely to be credible. There is A LOT of misinformationon vaccines on the internet.

HERE is a link to health canada where they did a literature review of the studies that are out there on this topic one of these should work

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/.../dr2708ea.html

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/.../dr2708ea.html