MMR concerns

the risks of catching the disease should outweigh anything ...... my uncle was blinded by measles, my friends daughter died of whooping cough at 8 weeks old , and my other uncle was crippled by polio, there is absolutely NO proof that the injections have any effect on development ...... whereas the incidence of measles is rising, and imagine how you'd feel, if your child caught german measles and gave it to an expectant mother whos child was born disabled ...... please have him vaccinated ...... they are as safe as they can possibly be, and far safer than catching the diseases they are there to prevent

have a word with your health visitor, thats what she's there for, tell her of your concerns, and hopefully she can put your mind at rest.

Lynda xx

I know how worrying it can be, but personally I think there is no link between delayed development/ASD and the MMR, I think its just coincidence that these conditions become most apparent around the same time as the vaccinations are carried out. All three of my girls have had the MMR and the booster. I'm not being blase but felt that even if it became clear that there was a link between the two, I would rather have my children alive and have to cope with their problems than have them in a grave because they weren't immunised.

I'm sure though that if you have a child with ASD or developmental delay already it makes my argument seem very silly indeed - whatever you decide for your child will be the right decision.

I did not allow my 4 to have the MMR. When questioned by the Dr about it I told him, with 2 of my cousins being severely autistic and my hubby's brother being aspergers, the risk of something going wrong was too high.
Now I don't think the MMR causes any problems, but if there is an underlying problem there, it could bring it to the fore. My Doctor at the time agreed with me.


To me it does.
As it is my youngest is ?ADD/Aspergers. I dread to think what could have happened if he had had the MMR. HE is now 4 and can get horrendus tantrums which makes him unknowingly to him violent. (I have the bruises to prove it, took me a while to persuade the Dr. that it wasn't my hubby beating me.). He has ripped a door of it's hinges and does not understand why none of his siblings will play with him. He doesn't sleep, he doesn't like any routine upset, so glad I home ed as the school won't touch him. As loving and caring as he may be. I would not wish his disorder on any parent. The biggest problem about ASD? Getting a diagnosis and dealing with people who just think that your kids are either mad or downright badly behaved. I have had people come up to me and ask why my son isn't in a home! Which is especially upsetting as he behaves when we go shopping (as a rule).
I wouldn't change him for the world, but I sure as hel wish he wasn't ASD.

As for vaccine damage, I knew of 2 severely disabled children from the dtp vaccine (now passed on) and a friend of mine had the MEN C at 19 and has been ill with heart problems ever since.
I think that to me it is a case of get all the information you can and make your own decision. What may seem best in the short term may not be best in the long run. I think that parents should make up their own minds without all this..."govt knows best"...and parents to be should be informed, but not pressured.

I had all my 5 children vaccinated for everything and am glad I did. what would I do now if I had to choose ? probably the same but I would get as much info as I could and together with my partner choose what we thought was right for our child.
I'm glad I dont have to go through it again.

Up until 2yrs ago I would have tottally agreed with you,as I said i worked with a lady braindamaged by measles & also had (have)a cousin left blind in 1 eye,I'm totally aware that there remains no cure for measles just the vaccine to prevent it.However Ash's speech development was normal for his age up until he had his MMR,it didn't just come to a standstill but he actually stopped using the sounds&words he had been using prior to the jab.Lots of hard work & many frustrating times for him later his speech is still not "perfect",but he can now make himself understood 95%of the time compared to 6months ago 95%you couldn't understand.as you say "they are as safe as they can possibly be"~i feel the same but "as safe...."isnt 100% & without that i feel like I'm playing a game of russian roullette with my boys development.
have chatted to H/V ,practise nurse & speech therapist & a midwife,all reluctant to say "go for it".apparently the pre-school jab is not so much a booster but there to "catch the 6% of children that didn't respond to the 1st jab."
Yes I would feel more guilty than can imagine if Ash got measles & had problems with it,more so if he passed the disease onto someone elses baby,but i think the guilt of taking him for a jab that i feel could've caused him problems 1st time round would be far harder to bear.
Not looking for someone to make the decision for me & health pro's have been my 1st port of call,just wondering what other peoples experiences have been.

i do understand your reasons, these diseases scare me though ...... i know they can test for immunity to rubella, as they did that after i had my son, and i wasn't immune, can they test for the others too, to see if he has immunity, if so, and he's immune, then maybe he doesn't actually need it?

Lynda xx

I'm waiting on a phonecall from someone who can hopefully tell me if theres a blood test available,was really impressed that my surgery's nurse took my concerns seriously & admitted to not having the knowledge to advise me 1 way or the other.
p.s sorry if i came across too defensive to you~really difficult to get point across on computer,never know how someones going to translate your words~I often read back something i've posted & read so many different ways it can be taken.

no it's ok i do understand ..... honest

i'd be surprised if there wasn't a test, i had my rubella one 18 years ago, and i'm sure science has moved on since then lol

Lynda xx

I had my kids immunised, and am glad I did, but I understand your concerns, not sure what I would do in your situation (((hugs)))

all 3 of mine have had the MMR, my son has ASD and i am 100% sure it is not due to the MMR whatsoever, we are 99% sure that my OH has aspergers and truly feel that things are genetic.

SS

I was worried when I had my two children immunised, each time I asked the nurse 'if it was your child...' and they always say 'yes', they've had their child done. When the professionals say 'We're not sure...' - as in your case, then I'd be hesitant.

It's a horrid situation for you, the likehood is that the reduction in speech is just a coincidence (has anything else happened that could hamper his speech?). We try to do the best we can and in my opinion you have done the right thing. If bad things happen we try to find a 'cause' or something to 'blame' when really (I think) these things would happen anyway, no matter what action we've taken.
Someone dear to me died recently and their parents have been blaming themselves, but I believe that the outcome would be the same no matter what actions the parents had taken. I may not be right but you can't live your life blaming yourself for something that's not your fault.
I'm another one who thinks things like dyslexia and autism have a genetic base (looks at her own family tree!)

When my son was due the MMR, my mother in law tried to insist otherwise. Her friend's daughter has two sons who are profoundly autistic, their symptoms having manifested themselves just after their innoculations. I'm glad I insisted otherwise, I also believe there is NO evidence to suggest the MMR is responsible.

What concerns me is the poor up take in so called trendy London areas where there have now been outbreaks. Because of the high immigrant population where my son was born I was also offered the BCG at 2 weeks. Glad we took that too, given that it is no longer offered in schools.

Measles is on the up, in adults as well as kids. We had a few cases recently and all staff who came into contact had to have their blood tested for antibodies and if they didn't have them were signed off for 18 days and offered immunisation.

I had misgvings about the MMR but my Dr and practice nurse were great, they listened and didn't make me feel silly for asking.
In the end I did it, and don't regret it. Its such a personal decision, but you can only do what feels right for you as a family.

Sadly, a teenager died from measles recently and there was a case 2 years ago.