MMR vacinations

wiz · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 9:59 pm Post subject: MMR vacinations

Hi,

I wondered if anyone knows the NZ Health departments' policy on the much debated MMR vacination topic?

After the confusion here in the UK we had our children vacinated with the single measles vaccine (privately) later to find out that the vaccine may not have been given under the correct conditions and may not have worked. A subsequent blood test would neither prove that they have protection or not!

If anyone has experience or knowledge of this matter, I would be very grateful if you could share.

Hmmm

Tanya · Posted: Mon May 17, 2004 8:49 pm Post subject:

This link talks about children born in NZ - but I hope it helps a bit

http://www.imac.auckland.ac.nz/questions/info_sheets/mmr_sheet.htm

This is the Immunisation Advisory Centre website - havne't looked through it but there maybe something in there to help you.

http://www.imac.auckland.ac.nz/

Tanya

wiz · Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 9:53 pm Post subject:

Hi Tanya,

Thanks for the reply... it sounds as if they (NZ) are in the same boat as us!

Confused

Robert · Posted: Tue May 18, 2004 11:24 pm Post subject:

Without going into the whole MMR debate (shockingly handled by the UK government IMHO), it is worth remembering that there was never any even half way decent evidence to support problems with the MMR vaccine.

What little evidence there was has been soundly debunked by well respected and totally independent authorities the world over. At present there is no reason to believe that MMR is hazardous in any way.

It is important to remember that Measles is highly infectious. If exposed, an unimmunised child has a greater than 90% chance of getting infected and about a 1 in 1000 chance of a serious complication of the illness. In parts of the UK, immunisation rates as low as 60% make an epidemic just a matter of time.

All the evidence you need is available from your GP who would be well worth consulting.

Interestingly, there are a number of children in NZ who receive no vaccines at all due to this recent scandal. This includes undoubted life-savers such as tetanus toxoid and diptheria vaccine.

wiz · Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 1:30 am Post subject:

Hi Robert,

Thanks for your reply... I guess it's really hard to make your mind up about this one...we've tried to read up on as much info as we can (on both sides of the argument) and although virtually every health professional (are you one by any chance?) tells you it's safe.(I've met a couple who have sat on the fence).. It's hard to be 100% sure.

Robert · Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 9:41 am Post subject:

Shows doesn't it!

I fully support a parent's right to choose for their child.

It is difficult as vaccination does occasionally cause problems in order to reduce a small risk. That having been said, more children die here each year learning to swim. (so many adults drown each year that there was a move to have drowning re-defined as death by natural causes!)

It is a value judgement of the risks of action being balanced against the (very slightly) larger risk of inaction. The scales are more heavily biassed in favour of some vaccinations than others and unfortunately the benefits can only really be spotted on a population scale. Even when measles was common, you hardly anyone knew someone who had been as only 1000 children per year were killed or disabled. Think of how much cash is spent to prevent far fewer deaths of children on the roads each year though and it puts it in context.