doctor today

More Information about MMR Consultations and the Pros and Cons of Single and Combined Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccinations

PLEASE NOTE WE NO LONGER OFFER SINGLE MMR VACCINATIONS SINCE MANUFACTURERS ARE NO LONGER PRODUCING THE SINGLE COMPONENTS. WE ARE THEREFORE UNABLE TO ORDER THEM.

Overview

Clinicians working at Doctor Today believe the standard combined Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine to be as safe and equally effective as the components given separately. We do accept, however, that there is a lot of anxiety and controversy surrounding the combined MMR vaccine which may persuade some parents not to vaccinate their children at all, even though this may leave them at risk of contracting the diseases concerned. We have decided to offer single vaccines to such families in the best interests of the children who may otherwise go unvaccinated. It is generally accepted that all children need to be immunised against measles and mumps (both of which can cause serious damage, including brain damage), and girls need to be immunised against rubella before puberty (to avoid serious malformations in babies later on if rubella is contracted during pregancy). Ideally, boys should also be immunised against rubella in order to prevent spread of the disease to non-immunised female contacts of child-bearing age.

What you should know about the process of single vaccinations

The optimal schedule for administering single vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella involves six injections as follows:

• A child should ideally receive the first injection at 13 months - measles is usually advised to be the first.
• There is usually at least a six week gap before the mumps vaccine is administered, followed by another 6 week gap before the rubella vaccine.
• This process is then repeated just before the child enters school, and can be done using single vaccines or the combined MMR.

This schedule is ideal, but vaccines can be commenced at any age (over 1 year old) and can be spaced however the parent decides. However, it should be noted that the child remains at significant risk of contracting these diseases until the first 3 vaccines are given. As some children do not become fully immune after one vaccination attempt, the second course is advised to ensure optimal immunity.

Availability of single vaccinations

Single vaccinations are currently not available from sources within the UK, since they are no longer licensed for general use. This is not because the single vaccines have been found to be unsafe. Rather, with the introduction of the combined MMR, the demand for single vaccines decreased and the licensing lapsed. The single vaccines therefore have to be ordered individually from abroad, and are subject to availability.

Because the vaccines are not licensed for general use, they can only be ordered on a named-patient basis. Therefore we will required the child's full name and date of birth in advance, together with the full fee for the first three vaccines. Once the vaccines are ordered you will not be able to get a refund as they cannot be used on another person. However, you are free to cancel the administration of any or all of the vaccines if you so wish. If the child does not come for administration of the vaccines before the vaccines expire, we will not be able to administer the vaccines, and they will be discarded. If you decide at a later date to proceed with the course, another set of vaccines will need to be ordered.

Mandatory initial consultation

Even if you feel you are sure that you wish to proceed with single vaccinations, a consultation with one of our health professionals is mandatory before we can agree to go ahead with the course. The fee for this consultation is £90, but is waived should you decided to proceed with the course. The consultation includes an in-depth discussion of the pros and cons of single vaccination administration, together with advisory literature. Remember that every vaccine given to a child may have side effects, irrespective of whether it is administered by itself or as part of a multiple vaccination.

At the end of the consultation you may feel that you are in a position to ask that we proceed to the next step immediately, or you may decide to go home and think about it. There is no pressure either way - if you decide to go for the combined MMR vaccination after all, we are happy to give it (cost £45), or you can ask your GP to do it on the NHS for free.

The process if you choose to proceed with single vaccines

If, after the consultation, you feel you have come to an informed decision to proceed with single vaccines, you will be asked to sign a form indicating that you accept that you have been fully counselled with regard to the possible risks of single vaccinations but nevertheless wish to proceed on your own responsibility.

Once this is completed we will order the vaccines, for which pre-payment is required (£305 for the standard 3 vaccines). This enables us to import the vaccines and store them in our secure refrigeration facility. Refunds can only be made for vaccines for which a supplier cannot be found (i.e. no stock available).

Once we have an arrival date for your vaccines, we will contact you and agree a schedule for the injections along the lines of the general plan noted above. You will informed of any side effects you should look for after each injection. You are welcome to being your child back for a free check if any side effects are experienced within the first week after an injection.

When it is time for the second course of vaccines, these will have to be pre-ordered (and pre-paid) as above, but no further consultation charges will be necessary.

Further information

Please do not hesitate to email us at enquiries@doctortoday.co.uk or call us on 020 7433 1444 if you have any further questions or wish to book an MMR consultation.