MMR Vaccine question?

[WeLoveLilo05]

Does anyone know if this is true:

When my DD has the first round of the vaccination she had a reaction to it, have a fever of 103.7 for 2 days, was lethargic for a whole week after her fever broke.
So I told my ped this and he suggested we space out her vaccines, I asked if they could give her the MMR in separate doses and he said they pharmaceutical company no longer makes it that way, it is in one shot.

I was talking to my hair dresser yesterday and she had said they still make it in separate doses, they just didn't order it that way from the pharmaceutical company.

Anyone have a clue?
Thanks!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I do believe that they are no longer making it separate. If your child already had a dose of MMR and got sick then I would not get the booster. (this goes for all vaccines imo) I would have her titers tested first. If she has immunity then she does not need the booster. You can also get titer testing for chicken pox as well. I am all for vaccines but no need to overload a child if it is not needed. Good luck!

 

[PrincessInOz]

How old was your child when she got the first shot for the MMR? In Australia, they now provide the MMR at 12 months. 20 or 30 years ago, the recommended age was 18 months. At 12 months, the reaction that you've described seems to be more commonly experienced here as well.

I personally waited until my son was 15 months (stronger immune system, better able to cope with the live virus) before giving him the first shot of the MMR, no reaction.

I don't know if it is the same in the US, but we are also 'told' that they don't provide the individual vaccines separately anymore. This is not quite true. We can order the individual vaccines - we just need to get the script from the doctor and get the pharmacist to order it in - and then pay for all the vaccines individually. If this is your preference, then I would ask questions in the event that this is also the case in the US.

As a consequence, my son's second MMR shot was also delayed by 3 months from the norm. We had no issues with that shot either.

 

[wdwmom2]

At the present, separate Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccines are not available. There is rumor that Merck may start production of individual vaccines, but at this time, that is just a rumor.

Here is an interesting read from Dr. Sears on the subject. http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/

Also, was your child truly lethargic, or just laying around and not acting himself? At the pediatric office I work at, a truly lethargic child would be sent straight to the ER. Here is a good description of lethargy, again from Dr. Sears, that best describes lethargy. http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T086800.asp

OP, hope your little one sails through the remaining childhood immunizations with no reactions!!