General Chat

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It seems less and less parents in the South East are taking up the MMR vaccine. The guy on the radio has implied that this will mean we will soon see epidemics of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles) With modern day medications one would hope that if this were the case we wouldn’t see a large rise in infant mortality. I can only feel sympathy for those parents of young children having to make the decisions. With so much conflicting medical opinion it is a minefield. What do others think about the situation?

I think it was inevitable when it became obvious that parents didn't want the triple vaccine. It isn't that they don't want their children vaccinated but they want it in single doses and not a triple whammy. All of mine had it but I can't say I'm happy about the triple vaccine and I think the choice is pretty hard when there's so much conflicting information and 'evidence'. All comes down to cost in the end, just like everything else. Wonder what the 'cost' of an epidemic of these diseases will be? Daisy

Years ago we had a bus driver who drove the local. When I had my first child he practically begged me to get him vaccinated, as his own daughter has contracted measles before she was old enough to be immunised and suffered the worst consequenses as a result. Twenty one years on we still see her being wheeled around the local shops. I wouldn't wish her disabilities on anyone, nor the guilt her parents have had to suffer. Although I'm not 100% sure, I believe our children here are no longer allowed to start childcare or school without up to date immunisation records. Rebs x

Hi Gwynne I agree about the Rubella for boys, not quite sure why they should have to have it, perhaps someone else will know Rebs It would be interesting to know what would happen if upto date immunization records were needed before children could start school One can almost see schools being sued if a child catches one of the diseases from some one else at that school. Daisy I agree, the cost of coping with an epedemic would be high. Dee xx

I know the reasons given for not having the triple vaccine and I am glad I am not a parent having to make those decisions today. all those diseases can have horrific consequences and if I w ere a parent who had denied my child the triple vaccine I would feel so guilty if they were disabled as a result of catching measles or anything. Equally would i feel guilty if I had them vaccinated and they had an adverse reaction to it. I think the single vaccs should be available on NHS and parents should be allowed to decide. Better still would be if they could find a test that would ascertain if the child was likely to have an adverse reaction to any of them. The problem is that they don't seem to be able to prove one was or another if the jab does cause autism. I suspect like everything else it all boils down to cost. I would hate to see a measles epidemic like we used to get though, my daughter was very poorly with measles when she was 5, luckily she didn't have an adverse reaction. Poor parents they are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Ann Glos

Hi Dee, I was browbeaten into my eldest son having the MMR but with the other 2 boys I held out and consequently they haven`t had it. I am made to feel bad each time the youngest is ill by certain Dr`s within our local GP practise. I read a few weeks ago that more vaccinations are on the cards and can`t help being worried by the amount being given to such young babies in one go. Just my opinion :) Diane

Some neighbours of ours had a perfectly normal daughter whose physical and mental development was severely impaired by vaccination. She's a lovely child (now around 8), but cannot walk unaided, can't speak and has severely impaired sight. It's so tragic when that happens. Her younger brother, however, was vaccinated and has never had a problem. I don't see why separate vaccinations can't be given, if that's what parents want. It may cost more, but so what if it lessens the risks? My MiL had badly impaired sight for the rest of her life, having contracted measles and suffered very badly from it at the age of 3. I believe it's important for children to have ALL the vaccinations (unless there is a medical reason why not). Even if they themselves are unlikely to be harmed by a communicable disease, they could get it and pass it on to someone else who could be harmed. There are huge numbers of people living in this country now who were born abroad and never had vaccinations as children. Many of these communicable diseases are relatively mild during childhood but can be devastating if caught in adulthood. I've never had chickenpox or mumps, and I certainly wouldn't want them now. CB >|<

Hi Gwynne, how's you? In regards to the rubella for the boys, as I understand it they are vaccinated against it because they can still pass it on to pregnant woman. German measles is at it's most dangerous before the rash appears, so being immunised lessens the severity should they contract it.

Yeah, I agree to an extent Gwynne. But not every country is diligent and conscientious in regards to immunisation, and with international travel being easily available these days perhaps we all need to take responsibility to an extent. Personally, I've never had an issue with having my children vaccinated against any of the childhood nasties. The youngest has also been immunised against hep C and menningacoccal (whatever strain) because the health system offered it through the schools. Something I wish had been on offer when the two boys were at school.

Both of my children were vaccinated with all routine vaccinations when younger. However, I do believe that parents should have the option of either combined or single jabs. It's the only way that we'll get the percentage of immunisations we need to avoid an epidemic that can cause serious consequences. Off subject here Rebs 'angelo' pmsl ;-) Juliexx *the true angelic one ;-)

Get over it Julie. pmsl!!! I'm designing an irish dance dress for my girl. It's a work of art, a masterpiece, and it's taking as long to finish as the Sistine Chapel, hence Rebelangelo. lol Rebs x *apologises to Dee for hijacking thread*

Rebs I share your concerns about international travel My OH travels to some really remote places and could easily bring back something that we thought we had seen eradicated over here. Dee xx

as a mother of a child who we nearly lost though chicken pox (no vaccine available in uk) i think all children should be vaccinated, Mine have and dispite this my daughter went on to catch german measles docs said she was lucky to have been vaccinated beacause she caught a lower dose. I know it is a hard decision to make but the consequences are horrendous not only to their children but unvaccinated children put others at risk. Lisa xx

I'm not sure why people are so anti-rubella for males. It can cause swelling of the brain, regardless of gender. It's rare, but so is the chance of contracting rubella at the same time as becoming pregnant. Anyone with a compromised immune system or a condition that leaves them unable to be vaccinated is likely to develop severe versions of any disease. They get protection from everyone around them being vaccinated. There's a term for it that I've forgotten. Collective immunity? Something like that! The reason the MMR was introduced was because parents were not bothering to complete the course of six injections for the separate jabs. The same for the combined tetanus, polio, diphtheria and whooping cough vaccines. Given the increase in foreign travel, it is likely that there will be an outbreak of something sooner or later. People have forgotten, or never knew, that these diseases kill or cripple and that's why the government implemented a widespread childhood vaccination scheme. It will take a few dead or disabled babies to hit the headlines to see an increase in uptake.

My daughter opted out of the MMR with her little boy he was milk intolerant and she had read somewhere it could cause a reaction. She asked the doctor and he wasn't at all helpful so she didn't want to take the risk. instead it cost a fortune and a long journey to have them done seperatley. She has had her little girl done with the MMR and little boy has now had a MMR booster. Thing is they done't give you a lot of confidence, just rant at you what you should do. Perhaps if they sat down and talked to you about it more would have their children immunised. Germaine x

According to the British Medical Association's 'Family Health Encyclopedia' - Measles can impair sight in severe cases, and it can cause encephalitis in approx. one case per thousand, which itself can cause seizures, coma, mental impairment and, sometimes, death. In pregnancy, measles gives approx. a 20% change of foetal death. Mumps can occasionally cause meningitis and, rarely pancreatitis. in boys and men, it can sometimes cause sterility. Chickenpox can result in pneumonia in adult cases or, occasionally, encephalitis. With Rubella (German measles), it is more likely to be a danger to unborn babies if the mother contracts it during the first four months of pregnancy. It can also result in a type of arthritis in adults, which is usually short-lived.

Camberwell, my daughter had encephalitisdue to chicken pox and was very ill, 2.5 years later she contracted german measles and had a re lapse, very upsetting when your daughter can't remember her brothers name..She has been in and out of hospital and suffered so much for a 9 year old. It took 5.5 years for her to be discharged and boy did we celebrate that day. Luckily she has been able to attend school and do all the things children her age can. We are very very proud of her but know how close we came to loosing her and i for one would never wish that experince on any one. Incidently she also had mumps so if it had not been for vaccintions who knows what would have happened. Lisa xx

I do hope that they don't return as they are seriously dangerous diseases. My father can't hear because of German Measles!! xx

Gwynne, if there's a family tendency to react badly to vaccinations then that's different, but the majority of people don't have adverse reactions.