MMR jab Post Reply

[Wmum]

Hello!
looking for some clarification. My son is 2 and I have been called by the GP for an mmr jab. He has already had one set and according to the little red book, the next dose isn't due until 3yrs old. I was told however at one point that Wandsworth do things differently - is that correct? I have tried to call the GP....it may be just an administrative error.
In the meantime - any thoughts?
Thanks in advance!

[Geegee007]

I understand that in my borough (Lambeth) it due to the poor uptake rate of children receiving the booster between 3-5yrs (and therefore being fully protected).
If you read the 7 page doc (link below found from a quick google) it sounds like this might also be the issue in Wandsworth (relevant info is roughly page 3), hence they advise the booster by 2yrs instead of pre-school as per your red book.

http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/committ/(S(mmnhu4ih3qozyo45zsrk0ma4))/documents/s13587/Paper%20No.11-299.pdf

On the NHS website it says that the booster can be given as soon as 3-months after the first jab if necessary.

I too was quite surprised to receive a letter inviting my then 18-month old for her booster.
I asked my old health visitor in Kent and a GP friend and they both said unless there was an outbreak then I could wait until she was over 3, which is what I've done.
She reacted so badly to the first MMR at 13-months I was loathed to put her through the same thing only 5-months later.

Hope this is helpful (I'm not a medical professional )

[Geegee007]

Link has pasted strangely. Try again

http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/committ/(S(mmnhu4ih3qozyo45zsrk0ma4))/documents/s13587/Paper%20No.11-299.pdf

[Geegee007]

Ok, so I'm not techie and it won't work. Just google Wandsworth MMR Boster and this should be the first result

image.jpg (192.34 KiB) Viewed 1834 times

[Wmum]

Ah thank you very much - I will have a read. ...

[lemonzest]

Hi there,

We lived in Southwark until my eldest (now 4) was nearly 2. She had the second MMR vaccine at 16 months. The immunisation schedules seem to vary a bit according to the population of the boroughs (she was given the BCG, whilst kids of friends in Wandsworth weren't offered it at that time, and I'm pretty sure the reasoning was that a lot of locals were travelling to/from affected areas internationally).

Hope this helps.

[kiwimummy]

they changed the schedule to bring forward the mmr in some london boroughs given the risk of the first jab not working, with more measles about.

worked for us, so both ours had their second jabs on the accelerated schedule.

[Ophelia]

Hello,

Do you know that technically your son will probably have enough immunity from the first MMR jab not to have the booster?

The booster is to catch the 5 per cent of children who don't have sufficient immunity from the first vaccine.

We did a blood test on my daughter (an antibody titer test for MMR) and found that she had enough immunity not to need the booster.....as most children have. So we don't give her the booster when she didn't need it.

Take a look at the website babyjabs, they offer single vaccines and blood tests.

I'm not some anti vaccine nut, we had a bad experience with my daughters first MMR vaccine and I didn't want to give it to her unless I had to.

[Wmum]

Thank you...
Ironically, my son is actually due a blood test to test his immunity over the next month or so (to see if he requires top up boosters for flu pre winter as he is ex premature and has some lung function issues). I didn't think, but I will now ask if this can be done at the same time!
Thanks!