MMR vaccine Post Reply

[Gillak]

My 1 year old has had her first MMR jab but I am wondering with all the measles epidemic news whether she should have her booster early? She just turned 1 at the weekend so not sure if it is too close together (she had her first jabs when she was a few months old). Anyone any thoughts or advice?

[wendyb]

My son had his two doses of MMR just six weeks apart. The nurse at my GP practice said six weeks was ok if they were older than 18mths otherwise I think it was either 3 months or 6 months between doses.

I'm afraid my recollection isn't great on that point as it didn't apply to us. My advice would be to ring your GP practice and ask - might be best to get a call back from a nurse so you can explain your circumstances. Given that full immunity only comes with the second jab, the NHS may have new advice about how close jabs can be given to prevent further outbreaks. As it is, Wandsworth brought the timetable for the two jabs closer together than other parts of the country because uptake fell locally to a level that increased risk.

[schnitzel]

Hello
Yes you definitely can / should have it early. In fact in Wandsworth, the booster is at 18 months (rather than pre-school as in the national immunisation guidelines) as there is a higher incidence of measles in Wandsworth.
Interestingly, at my practice the doctors had no idea about this (bet they do now though!) so it was talking to the nurses that was helpful.
I'd see a nurse to see if you can have it early.

[sw11_]

having seen the news this morning i called my GP (Battersea Rise) to ask if my 2.5y old should have her MMR booster early rather than waiting till next year.

The receptionist made out like i was being ridiculous and why would my child need the booster early - if she is up to date with her jabs then she is fine. Is that right? Is it only older children who should get the booster if they haven't had it?

[schnitzel]

You definitely can and should get the booster - doesnt surprise me though that the recep didn't know as not even the docs at my practice knew - only the nurses!!

[lemonzest]

I used to live in Southwark and MMR was given at 12 and 15 months. This was in 2011. I was extremely grateful for this as my kid was mixing in a creche environment in Belgium around that time, with large numbers of kids from eg France where there was a huge Measles outbreak at the time!

[Joeyanna]

This is in this weeks guardian, it gives information about two additional clinics set up to aid mmr vaccinations.
http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/arc ... e_MMR_jab/