MMR or single vaccines???

[jockey]

What do you guys do? I have opted for single vaccines for both my kids. The problem here in the UK is we cant get hold of the mumps vaccine. My GP thinks it would be a great idea if I can get it next time I am in Orlando, does anyone know of a place near Orlando that does single vaccines

 

[ToTLaugher]

Do you know the reason you can't get the mumps vaccine there? (Just curious)

I am actually figuring out what to do for my DS. He is due for his 2nd round of MMR, but he developed a very bad case of ITP with the first round. I don't want that happening again. We are looking into testing him to see if the 1st round provided the protection he needs. If not we think we are going to use the single vaccines.

As far as trying to get the vaccine while in Florida, you might trying googling doctor offices near where you are staying to see if they could do it for you. I am not sure if single vaccines are commonly kept in the offices or if that is one they need to plan ahead for.

 

[dizneechic]

I too have a child who was dx with ITP following his 1st MMR vaccine, he is now medically exempted even though now 6 years later we may finally be in remission.

In the US it's uncommon for dr's to carry the individual vaccines for any of our combo vax's but they can order them. Many children's hospitals will also keep them in stock. The best thing to do would be to pre arrange a visit somewhere and go in for the vax, this way no matter where you decide to you they are ready and have the medical authorization from your UK Dr to provide your child the vax.

As for the pp who's child also has ITP here's what my hemo says about individual vs combo vax's. He feels the combo while a bigger "hit" to the system is only 1 hit and therefor your only at risk once vs breaking out the vax into individual portions while the hit may be smaller your put the child at risk 3 times to complete the series. Often times ITP recurs (body gets confused again) when the immune system is taxed (cold, virus, vaccine, etc) so the less "hits" to the system the better. I'm not sure I agree with him but he's one of the top ITP specialists so maybe he knows what he;'s saying. But as noted above we are currently medically exempted because my sons ITP is chronic and it's been 6.5 years now, but when the day comes we would probably go for the combo but nothing else at the time. It's a tough call...

 

[CJ's Mommy]

Unfortunately, that may be hard to find. My doctor informed me at my son's 15 month check up that the drug companies are no longer making the individual vaccines for MMR. I had planned on doing that for my son, but he said since he only had enough for the first dose, he wouldn't want to do it because he wouldn't be able to order the second doses.

He had a letter posted in the exam room from some organization stating all of this info. Can't remember who now.

So I left there without giving him the MMR or the separated shots. I am just going to wait until he is 2 I think.

 

[dizneechic]

My doctor informed me at my son's 15 month check up that the drug companies are no longer making the individual vaccines for MMR.

They still make it, they have to because in some circumstances people can be reactive to one component but not the other 2 so would be vaccinated for those 2 but not the one they are reactive to. It will be difficult though for a pediatrician to get (not to mention very expensive and not covered by insurance when broken out) and in those circumstances thy would need to see a specialist and most likely go to a childrens hospital for the vaccination, but it's still out there, just by no means easily accessible anymore and somewhat cost prohibitive.

We considered breaking out the vax for my other 2 kids, but instead delayed them receiving dose 1 until they were 5 (considering the reaction my 1st ds had). We were told it would take 2 months for the individual doses to arrive and be out of pocket about $100 per shot (rough estimate) because insurance wouldn't pick up the cost broken out because it wasn't medically necessary for that particular child (although we could fight it to be covered that way for my ITPer). Any who, it could be done and is still out there, just not very accessible anymore.

 

[Erica09M]

We don't vax, but if we did I would not do combos. If it didn't come individually, we wouldn't get it. Even then we'd be on a selective schedule and spaced out.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

Merck is no longer manufacturing single antigen mumps, measles or rubella vaccines for distribution in the US. It is going to be very difficult to find them.

 

[jockey]

I think Rouvax is the company who supply MMR and the single vaccine to the UK , I think they are a french company. It was really hard for us getting these a few years ago for our DS as he had n egg allergy and he had suffered a reaction to vaccines in the past so we needed them done at a hospital, thankfully we got a consultant who was on our wave length...al the other said just give him the MMR.... I think as parents we should have a choice.

It's a private clinic that we go to for the vaccines and they say that they are availabale in the USA but at the moment the mumps vaccine is not being supplied to the UK market and has not been available for over a year. I knopw mumps is not the worst of the 3 and I will be glad the have both had measles and Rubella, I think we will have DS tested to see if he needs the boosters again, hopefully he will not!

I think another big concern here in the UK is whether or not to give the swine flu vaccine when it becomes available next month!


Thanks for all he responses, I will google Florida docs to see if I can source one willing to give my kiddies the vaccine!

 

[RMulieri]

Merck is no longer manufacturing single antigen mumps, measles or rubella vaccines for distribution in the US. It is going to be very difficult to find them.

Correct.My Dh is a pharmacist and said the same thing so did our Pediatrician.you may find individual Drs here and there that have some, but mostly not.

 

[3boymthr]

I know you don't want to do the combined vaccine, but really if you can't find the individual vaccine you definitely should consider the combined. As someone who had the mumps as a toddler, trust me you don't want to mess with it. My eyesight suffers as a result. And yes, I'm young enough to have had the MMR. My brother who is 2 yrs older than me had the MMR.

 

[princessmom29]

I personally think that you are better off vaccinating on schedule with a combo vac. I have seen personally what can happen when you don't. My cousin almost died at 11 months b/c he contracted measels from an older child whose mother chose to delay his vaccination. The child who's vac was delayed was in ICU for a while as well.

 

[jockey]

Thanks everyone for all the replies. I totally agree it is importnat to vaccinate and especially on time. My DD has already had her measles jab last week so we have to wait a few weeks before she can get Rubella. I really hope they start to get the mumps vaccine in by the time she needs it

3boymthr - I did not realise that mumps could affect the eyes thanks so much for your reply. I will also look if the vaccine is available in Europe, even if it means a short trip it will be worth it. Because me DD has alrady had one of the vaccines I don't think we can give her MMR too

 

[mickeyplanner08]

Actually, you can get a MMR vaccine after any of the other single antigens. Once you have one dose of measles vaccine, about 95-98% of people will make protection against that disease. Another dose of measles vaccine may "catch" a few of those that do not convert, but for most of us, one dose would be enough. So, if you had a dose and made protection, the second dose is not a "booster" it is just extra. (This is only the case for live vaccines-mumps, measles, rubella-not for things like tetanus). It is not cost effective, however, to draw blood and check immunity levels for everyone, so they recommend 2 doses. A second dose of any of those vaccines will not harm you, you cannot overdose, and if you had no reaction to the first dose, you are highly unlikely to have a reaction to a second dose.

Long and short, if the only way to get a mumps vaccine is by getting a MMR after having a measles and rubella, you can safely do that!

 

[Zeebs]

Thanks everyone for all the replies. I totally agree it is importnat to vaccinate and especially on time. My DD has already had her measles jab last week so we have to wait a few weeks before she can get Rubella. I really hope they start to get the mumps vaccine in by the time she needs it

3boymthr - I did not realise that mumps could affect the eyes thanks so much for your reply. I will also look if the vaccine is available in Europe, even if it means a short trip it will be worth it. Because me DD has alrady had one of the vaccines I don't think we can give her MMR too

It isn't just eyes, my brothers hearing was affected by having Mumps when he was younger, much of which wasn't picked up until much later on in his schooling which wasn't good.

I hope you get it sorted in the manner you wish to get it in.

Kirsten

 

[3boymthr]

And another little known factoid about mumps is that it can cause sterility/fertility problems not just in boys but in girls too. It kills testicles in boys and the ovaries in girls. The problems are less obvious in girls until later in life as while you can see the swelling of the testicles you can't see the swelling in the ovaries. I do have one dead ovary and had to have half the other removed as a teen. I was able to have children but had to have fertility treatments in order to ovulate. I am anticipating an early menopause.

Side effects are rare but they do happen. Just like chicken pox and measles, mumps can also cause death. This is not a disease to dismiss - there is a reason people jumped on the vaccine when it became available.

 

[jockey]

Thanks again everyone we really appreciate all the feedback. My DH and I have agonized for years over vaccines ever since DS was due them in 2007. We really think it is important to vaccinate and ASAP, DS has had all the single vaccines but we are very concerned that the mumps vaccine is not available in Ireland for DD. We do not dismiss how severe any condition can be be but have been advised mumps is the lesser.....though after reading comments here I don't believe that. I really dont want DD to have the MMR so will make sure she gets mumps, I reckon as long as we are prepared to pay someone will be willing to supply it... eventually