Can we talk about MMR vaccine?

The_Jen626

So far we have done all the vac's for DD, and she hasn't had any negative reactions that we've noticed(just sleepy for a day afterwards).  We did not do the swine flu shot, or the regular flu shot, for DD or either of us.  I am 99% sure I won't do a chicken pox vac, because what I have read so far doesn't convince me it's needed.  I am pro-vaccine generally, I think that they are a great idea and much needed.  I got my pertissus shot right after birth.

When I spoke with our Pedi about vaccines, she said something along the lines of "all the ones before 12 months are completely fine and non-controversial.  We can discuss the MMR as it gets closer to that time, I'm completely comfortable giving that shot at 18 months or 24 months if you prefer".  Well I just realized that my DD is 10 months old, and I have about 90 days to make a decision.

So, my question is this, if you wouldn't mind sharing.

Did you/will you get the MMR at 12 months?  18 months?  24 months?  Skipping altogether?  What factors helped you to make this decision?  Does your Pedi support your choice?

I've heard there are different "options" for the MMR shot, and that one might be better/safer than the other version.  Did this impact your decision at all?

Thanks ladies!

CA2006

We did it at 12 months. DS's pedi recommends vaccinating on schedule, so we did.  I never had an issue with this vaccine, nor did DH.  We didn't really think twice about it to be honest.

carrie4g

I did the delayed vaccine schedule per the dr sears schedule but then the MMR can't be split up. Measles is a big concern as there was an outbreak in S. Calif.  I did that vaccine at 19 months and just did the MMR by itself and not with other vaccines and it was totally fine.

carrie4g

I should say that they don't manufacture the MMR separately anymore (at least it is difficult to locate it).  The MMR was the pesky one that was in the study linking vaccines to autism but that has now been debunked.

AlisaS

On schedule, no issues.

mysticporter

We got the MMR at 12 months, but delayed varicella (chix pox) as they are both live viruses.  DD has gotten all of the recommended vaccines but rotavirus, just done an alternate schedule.  Basically, we won't give her any of the vaccines that tend to be associated with fever in the same visit (I don't remember which as far as the inactive vaccines, our pediatrician guided us there), we won't give her more than one combo in the same visit, and we won't give her more than one live vaccine in the same visit.  We do it that way (even though it means going back to the doctor more often) because we have some concerns over her potentially reacting badly to two different shots at the same time...she had quite a bad fever after her very first "round" of shots, and doing it this way we haven't had an issue since.

Pesky

AlisaS:

On schedule, no issues.

Ditto.

makclair

We do all vaccines on schedule. DS got both varicella and MMR at 12 months, and had no problems with reactions.

In my practice I generally do Varicella, Hep A and Prevnar at 12 months, and then MMR, Hib and DTAP at 15 months so that I can split up the live vaccines since they do have a higher occurance of rash/fever.  That is the only reason I split them up (plus i feel bad giving 4 at one visit and then 2 at the next when I could make it more even.) 

Shauna07

The MMR is fine to get at 12 months or later if you wish to wait.  The MMR scare is over, as mentioned in the media -- the Dr responsible (Andrew Wakefield) for the data suggesting that the MMR causes autism has admitted he produced false data for his publications. 

https://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Doctor-At-Centre-Of-MMR-Controversy-Failed-In-His-Duties-GMC-Rules/Article/201001415537552?lpos=UK_News_Top_Stories_Header_0&lid=ARTICLE_15537552_Doctor_At_Centre_Of_MMR_Controversy_Failed_In_His_Duties,_GMC_Rules

 

 

Halo79RN

dc received it at 12m. niether had side effects.  some kids do get a mild/mod fever afterwards... and some after the mmr/varicella get a fine red rash all over about 10d after the injection.  but it's not contageous, not bothersome, and usually goes away within a couple of days.

Halo79RN

makclair:

We do all vaccines on schedule. DS got both varicella and MMR at 12 months, and had no problems with reactions.

In my practice I generally do Varicella, Hep A and Prevnar at 12 months, and then MMR, Hib and DTAP at 15 months so that I can split up the live vaccines since they do have a higher occurance of rash/fever.  That is the only reason I split them up (plus i feel bad giving 4 at one visit and then 2 at the next when I could make it more even.) 

our pedis did this as well only at the time dd received it, the mmr and varicella were in one injection. ds's were split. (different pedi, but it also may be related to changes in manufacturing???)

SBMBride406

Our pedi routinely does MMR at 15 months, varicella at 18 months. We did MMR at 15 months and DS had a highly unusual arthritic reaction (basically, he refused to bear weight on one of his legs...he could, but it seemed to be painful in the joint, only on the leg he had the vaccine). It didn't improve until he was hospitalized for an unrelated issue (pneumonia) and given IV steroids, followed by a course of oral steroids. At the end of the day, that all sucked but I'm glad he's immunized...that reaction was nothing compared to getting the measles!

We're now delaying varicella to age 2.

duchess0727

We did it at 15 months on schedule but by itself with no others.  He was supposed to also get chicken pox but they were out so he got that at 18 months.  No way I would skip it - not worth the risk plus my son couldn't go to daycare.  Splitting it was a lot of work (you have to buy it yourself here) and I really had no issue with my son getting the shot as it was. 

roshybride

We've always vaccinated on schedule. There was a measles outbreak in some daycares a year or so ago and so I didn't want to take chances.

els16

I follow my pedi recommendations. I really don't understand why anyone would not trust their recommendations. They went to school for a long time to make those decisions for me!

flyer23

DD is 2.5 years old and hasn't gotten it yet.

She's on a delayed vaccination schedule in general. We didn't start vaccinating until 15 months of age, and only do 2 shots per visit. So at each visit, we talk over the options with our doctor and make a decision based on our own research, our family situation, and our doctor's recommendation.

Simply put, MMR has not been a high priority. The three diseases it protects against are relatively mild for an otherwise healthy child like DD -- WebMD recommends home treatment for all three. Compare that to something like tetanus, which has a 20% fatality rate, even in healthy people, even with prompt and proper medical treatment.

Honestly, I see MMR as being more for the protection of other people than for the protection of DD herself. Adults are more likely to experience severe complications from measles. Mumps can result in sterility in boys. Rubella can cause birth defects if a pregnant women catches it. I do think it's important for DD to get it eventually, to protect those other susceptible groups, but I prioritize her health first.

There's also been a logistical challenge in that our state allows philosophical exemptions to vaccines for daycare, but ONLY if a shot series has not been started. DD didn't start daycare until 2 years old, so finishing off the shot series that we'd already started has been the highest priority, to avoid putting her daycare at risk of a violation. Whereas MMR is just the one shot, so it's easy to exempt out of until we're ready to do it.

I have no particular concerns about the MMR vaccine specifically. As pp's have said, the autism link has been pretty thoroughly debunked. I do have concerns about vaccinations in general, and about just how many vaccines are recommended at each visit -- hence the delayed schedule and the two-shots-per-visit rule. Her doctor is fully supportive.

madhatter2003

We did DD at 18 months and will do DS then too, that is when my pedi does it.

We will absolutely do this one. Measles is VERY common here (several outbreaks lately) and we travel a lot. My DH had mumps as a kid and it was BAD.

yellowcar

We're following the recommended schedule b/c both of my children are in a large daycare and that is what is required for them to attend. DS got MMR at 12 months.  No reaction, no drama, no problem.

A case of the chickenpox came through last year at this daycare somehow and I cannot tell you how annoyed I was.  Sure, it is some family's right to refuse a vaccine, but what about my (then) newborn who I had to carry in everyday to drop off DD?  He was too young to get the vaccine and was now exposed to a virus.  I think non-vaccinating families think primarily about their own children, but don't really consider the people that their kids come in contact with who are at risk--people who cannot be vaccinated, or have immune issues, etc.

BlairWaldorf

We'll follow the schedule.

I am one of those freaks that never developed immunity to it despite being vaccinated (rare but possible), so it's very important for those around me to be vaccinated.

jlw2505

Both of my girls have gotten all of their shots on time per my peds schedule.  I don't even recall at what age the MMR was given at this point but neither of my girls have had any reactions to the shots.  They have both gotten the seasonal flu and H1N1.  I think its very important and very safe to get all of the vax but then again, I do not believe at all that autism or anything else is related to getting the shots and the latest reports all agree with that.  The latest mumps outbreak is spreading fast in the NY area because people did not get that vax.  I know a lot of people spread the vax out so their kids are not getting so many shots at once and if that is your concern, I would take to the pedi about an alternative schedule.

CCRMSS

DD has had no vaccines thus far. 

Our plan was to do some of them after age 2...which we are now at, but we haven't gotten around to it yet.  I'm not really in a rush, as she is not in daycare at the moment (DH is home with her or MIL stays with her when he is working). Our pedi has been very supportive, and agrees that some of them are probably not necessary in our situation.  The ones i am considering are:  JUST measles (pedi can order a perscription for just that part of the MMR), chicken pox only if she does not get it by age 8ish, maybe.  Possibly polio, haven't decided yet.   There might be a couple others, but like i said, we're not really in any rush. 

 All the research I have done shows that the older the child is when they get them, the less chance of negative effects.  I'm not really concerned about Autism, but i do think that over vaccinating has a lot of other negatives that people disregard.  Some are def necessary, but not all. 

trinny

Thank you for posting!  DD's 1 yr was supposed to be next week, but we rescheduled because we were late on labs. I've been wondering what we'll do about vaccines too...

Initially I just "followed the schedule", but I do feel like I need to be involved with these decisions too.  Or at least understand and make a choice to have things done. 

We have gotten everything on schedule so far, but I will probably delay MMR until 18m, just to give DD's immune system a little more time to mature.  I need to read up on the others..!