Can't Separate MMR Vaccine-Delay Instead?

[miss_honeyb]

After researching delayed immunization schedules, I decided have my DS (13 months) get the MMR in separate doses:

1yr - Mumps
2yrs - Rubella
3yrs - Measles

However, my doc says they can't get the MMR separately. So, at what age do you think he should get the whole MMR vaccine?

p.s. - I don't think skipping it all together is an option for us at this point.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by miss_honeyb

After researching delayed immunization schedules, I decided have my DS (13 months) get the MMR in separate doses:

1yr - Mumps
2yrs - Rubella
3yrs - Measles

However, my doc says they can't get the MMR separately. So, at what age do you think he should get the whole MMR vaccine?

p.s. - I don't think skipping it all together is an option for us at this point.

My personal opinion is to let him reach adulthood so that he can decide for himself when/if he wants to get it. I realize that's not an answer you were looking for here, so sorry if that wasn't very helpful.

[Emmeline II]

I would check in your tribe for another Dr. or pharmacy that could do it for you.


I don't vax so I haven't looked into it too deeply.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

I would check in your tribe for another Dr. or pharmacy that could do it for you.


I don't vax so I haven't looked into it too deeply.

I believe the manufacturer stopped producing it separately. Too many people were asking for it separate, and they were probably losing money when people decided to get only one or two of the components. Of course, I'm just speculating with that last part.

[artgoddess]

not in your area, but this article from 6 months ago seems as though it is possible. http://www.wtsp.com/news/health/stor...87473&catid=12

maybe your ped doesn't want to order a case of each separate?

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by emma1325

I believe the manufacturer stopped producing it separately. Too many people were asking for it separate, and they were probably losing money when people decided to get only one or two of the components. Of course, I'm just speculating with that last part.

I heard something about that but wasn't sure that there was only one manufacturer; also, there may still be stock out there though it may not be around when the OP needs it.

[roxyrox]

Why would you get Mumps and Rubella before Measles? Both are really really mild in children. Mumps is often asymptomatic and Rubella is really only dangerous if you contract it while pregnant. Measles is the "worst" disease of the three..would you not want to get that first?

I think there is an online pharmacy in the US you can order singles from. I am not in the US and can't remember the name but I have seen people here link to it. Singles are definitely still being produced - they are freely available in the UK and elsewhere.

[bellydancemommy]

My doctors office told me today that they don't seperate...that they don't make them that way. makes me angry if they are lying. I'm going to do some calling around. I am not doing any vax at the moment but, I asked if they would seperate and thats what they told me. arrrrrghhh. Good luck with what you find out! Robyn

[Jadzia]

http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/03/a...to-market.html

[Marnica]

Merck...the only manufacturer of monovalent vaccines for measles mumps and rubella stopped productionj of these in December. There may be pharmacies that still have the monovalent vaccines in the country which is why some places will tell you they have them and some won't. It just depends on how much they had stock piled before they stopped production. They are not making new batches anymore though

http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/p...erckcombo.html

[mamakah]

Originally Posted by emma1325

My personal opinion is to let him reach adulthood so that he can decide for himself when/if he wants to get it. I realize that's not an answer you were looking for here, so sorry if that wasn't very helpful.

I agree. These illnesses are not serious in children. I have a problem with pharmecutical (ah spelling?) telling me what my options are for my child. The MMR is a scary shot for diseases that (in my opinion) are not nearly as terrifying. I would definately delay rather than give in and get it before you feel comfortable. There is a saying here on the vax forum "you can always get a shot, but once the shot has been given, there is no undoing it."
By the way, yes, Merck has discontinued the separate shots. grrrrrr.

[miss_honeyb]

Originally Posted by roxyrox

Why would you get Mumps and Rubella before Measles? Both are really really mild in children. Mumps is often asymptomatic and Rubella is really only dangerous if you contract it while pregnant. Measles is the "worst" disease of the three..would you not want to get that first?

I was under the impression that it has more to do with the dangers of the vaccine than the dangers of the disease.

So, these diseases are mild in children, but most children don't get them anymore! So are they mild in adults?? I'm pretty sure one of my parent's friends became sterile after getting Mumps as an adult man.

I obviously need to do more research. : There's just so much I need to research, I'm overwhelmed. :

I guess since I can't get them separately, we'll just hold off until 3 years and reevaluate at that time.

Thanks for the help!!

[shuttlt]

Given that we're talking about seperate/delayed vaccination here, a question occured to me. Are the seperated MMR vaxes from the same sources, the same factories, the same method of producing the vaccine, the same risk of contamination etc... as the combined one? A long time ago, before I hung out here, I got the impression... probably from Wakefield and his patent for using the white blood cells of infected mice to derive vaccine from the milk of pregnant goats... that the source of the single vaxes was iffy, or at least more so than the regular MMR. Is this fair?

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by miss_honeyb

I'm pretty sure one of my parent's friends became sterile after getting Mumps as an adult man.

It's possible for this to happen, but not likely; your son could make this decision as an adult. And though adults are more likely to have difficulty with those diseases it is not a forgone conclusion.

Mumps isn't the only disease that can cause orchitis:


http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/777456-overview

[anewmama]

Merck makes the singles Measles, Mumps and Rubella vax. Maybe there is another manufacturer but I am not aware of it. Merck has STOPPED making measles and has done so officially. It has suspended making Mumps and Rubella for now but I have not yet seem them announce that they are officially stopping those two.

Many doctors won't separate them, even when they were all available. You used to be able to get them from Hopewell Pharmacy. Call their 800 number and they have recorded message on supplies for Mumps and Rubella. They do NOT have measles.

I was able to find measles through Passport Health (google and you will find their locations). I am supposed to give my daughter the singles measles tomorrow but having major second thoughts. I found they had 6 doses at a town 3 hours from here and we are going to make the drive. I felt pressured into doing it in some ways as I know that these are pretty much the last doses. My daughter is 2 weeks shy of 2 years old. I would NOT do it any younger, even with the doses being their last. This office had 6 left, one reserved for me. And now, I think none are left as word has gotten out. I believe that other parts of the country might have them.


If I elect to boost the single measles, then my only option will be the full MMR later on (maybe 4-5) if I want to boost the measles. That is all I would do and just hope that with one dose of Rubella she will be immune. Or, if they resume making singles of Rubella and Mumps, I might do Rubella alone.

How prevalent IS rubella these days... what are her chances of getting it naturally?


I understand the idea behind waiting until your child decides as an adult. But I am not sure I agree with it. As a parent, you have to make decisions for your child, including the unpleasant ones. If you decide to not do it because you have made the medical decision based on your best judgement and they DO decide to do it later as an adult, that's great. But if someone is just deferring the pain of making the decision and letting them do it later, then it seems a bit of a cop out for taking the responsibility of a choice but rather a decision to just be passive in it. But perhaps I am misunderstanding this recommendation.

[mamakah]

Originally Posted by anewmama

Merck makes the singles Measles, Mumps and Rubella vax. Maybe there is another manufacturer but I am not aware of it. Merck has STOPPED making measles and has done so officially. It has suspended making Mumps and Rubella for now but I have not yet seem them announce that they are officially stopping those two.

Many doctors won't separate them, even when they were all available. You used to be able to get them from Hopewell Pharmacy. Call their 800 number and they have recorded message on supplies for Mumps and Rubella. They do NOT have measles.

I was able to find measles through Passport Health (google and you will find their locations). I am supposed to give my daughter the singles measles tomorrow but having major second thoughts. I found they had 6 doses at a town 3 hours from here and we are going to make the drive. I felt pressured into doing it in some ways as I know that these are pretty much the last doses. My daughter is 2 weeks shy of 2 years old. I would NOT do it any younger, even with the doses being their last. This office had 6 left, one reserved for me. And now, I think none are left as word has gotten out. I believe that other parts of the country might have them.


If I elect to boost the single measles, then my only option will be the full MMR later on (maybe 4-5) if I want to boost the measles. That is all I would do and just hope that with one dose of Rubella she will be immune. Or, if they resume making singles of Rubella and Mumps, I might do Rubella alone.

How prevalent IS rubella these days... what are her chances of getting it naturally?


I understand the idea behind waiting until your child decides as an adult. But I am not sure I agree with it. As a parent, you have to make decisions for your child, including the unpleasant ones. If you decide to not do it because you have made the medical decision based on your best judgement and they DO decide to do it later as an adult, that's great. But if someone is just deferring the pain of making the decision and letting them do it later, then it seems a bit of a cop out for taking the responsibility of a choice but rather a decision to just be passive in it. But perhaps I am misunderstanding this recommendation.

It is not copping out. That is assuming that a parent is giving up on the decision and passing the buck to their child. I am not afraid of my son catching measles, mumps or rubella as a child. Therefore, my ds will not get the MMR on my watch. If he gets to an age where he feels uncomfortable with my decision and is worried about his health, then he can choose to do it. Not to mention, his immune system will be stronger then and can probably handle the shot better. I don't think any of us on here would pass the decision to our child just to avoid having to make the decision!

[gbailey]

Originally Posted by sages

It is not copping out. That is assuming that a parent is giving up on the decision and passing the buck to their child. I am not afraid of my son catching measles, mumps or rubella as a child. Therefore, my ds will not get the MMR on my watch. If he gets to an age where he feels uncomfortable with my decision and is worried about his health, then he can choose to do it. Not to mention, his immune system will be stronger then and can probably handle the shot better. I don't think any of us on here would pass the decision to our child just to avoid having to make the decision!

[anewmama]

Originally Posted by sages

It is not copping out. That is assuming that a parent is giving up on the decision and passing the buck to their child. I am not afraid of my son catching measles, mumps or rubella as a child. Therefore, my ds will not get the MMR on my watch. If he gets to an age where he feels uncomfortable with my decision and is worried about his health, then he can choose to do it. Not to mention, his immune system will be stronger then and can probably handle the shot better. I don't think any of us on here would pass the decision to our child just to avoid having to make the decision!

Right. That is what I said, also. If you make the decision such as you outlined above, then it's not at all a cop out. You made an informed choice. I said that. If you decide to not do it because you have made the medical decision based on your best judgement and they DO decide to do it later as an adult, that's great.



But a post above had me wonder what was behind the recommendation to wait and I was commenting on it because they were not quite clear. All they said was

My personal opinion is to let him reach adulthood so that he can decide for himself when/if he wants to get it. I realize that's not an answer you were looking for here, so sorry if that wasn't very helpful.

Not sure I wan to assume what was leading the person to wait which is also why I said, "But perhaps I am misunderstanding this recommendation." Which is ALSO what you said, "That is assuming that a parent is giving up on the decision and passing the buck to their child. " For someone in the position as the OP, who sounds like isn't sure about things, it could send something of a mixed message if they are being advised to just defer the decision without some additional info (like you took the time to outline).


So we are saying the same thing.

[AoifesMom]

We had the same problem with our pediatrician but were able to find them broken up by going to a travel clinic. It might be worth looking into.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by anewmama

But a post above had me wonder what was behind the recommendation to wait and I was commenting on it because they were not quite clear. All they said was

Maybe I should explain why I said that, and keep in mind that I'm speaking in ideals here. To me, vaccinating is interfering with the biological norm of the child. It is altering his/her immune system artificially. I don't believe a parent should alter the immune system through injected chemicals without the child's consent...I think it is a violation of the child's right to his/her bodily integrity.

Now I'm not saying there isn't a situation in which I wouldn't go against my own ideals here...but in general, I think vaccination is a choice that should be made by an informed adult for his/her own body given the risks and unknowns of vaccines.