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Measles

  • 18-11-2017 9:28pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭


    Are any of you taking extra precautions with your kids due to the outbreak, especially babies who haven't had the first MMR yet?

    I haven't been doing anything differently but I'm not near the affected areas.

    I'm invited and sort of expected to go to a family thing in Dublin with my 8 month old but I'm not sure what to do. I know there are plenty of small babies in Dublin and I don't know if many of the parents there are worried? I know the risk is small but f you had the option of staying clear of the affected areas, would you?


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭✭fits


    We are definitely cagey about visiting dublin with my 11 month olds. What are the affected areas?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭waterfaerie


    fits wrote: »
    We are definitely cagey about visiting dublin with my 11 month olds. What are the affected areas?

    I think Dublin and Meath.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭catrionanic


    I live in Dublin and this is the first I’ve heard about it?!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,514 ✭✭✭bee06


    It’s been going on for the last few weeks. There has been a lot in the news about it as well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭✭fits




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭catrionanic


    Anti-vaxxers putting children and pregnant women at risk once more


  • Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,974 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    Anti-vaxxers putting children and pregnant women at risk once more

    Yup. Just got a text from my son's school on Friday saying they've one confirmed case of measles. I'm 8 months pregnant and don't have immunity to Rubella, measles etc. I've to get the MMR after the birth again, to hopefully give me immunity but my baby won't inherit any antibodies from me so worried sick about that.

    I heard some GPs are administering the first vaccine a couple of months ahead of schedule because of the outbreak - afaik some will do it at 6 months instead of 9 so they'd have some protection.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,029 ✭✭✭um7y1h83ge06nx


    My wife and I have a 3 month old, living in Limerick and would like to pop up to Dublin before Christmas to visit my brother and just have a day out.

    However we've decided to put off any plans until this blows over. Chances of her contracting measles would be slim we believe but all the same don't want to risk it unless we absolutely have to travel to the areas affected.

    Oh and feck the anti vaxxers!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭waterfaerie


    Toots wrote: »
    Yup. Just got a text from my son's school on Friday saying they've one confirmed case of measles. I'm 8 months pregnant and don't have immunity to Rubella, measles etc. I've to get the MMR after the birth again, to hopefully give me immunity but my baby won't inherit any antibodies from me so worried sick about that.

    Where is that? Do you know if it's one of the 17 already announced cases or do you think it's spreading even more?

    Hopefully you'll be ok. Can you make alternative arrangements for your son instead of sending him to the school?
    Toots wrote: »
    I heard some GPs are administering the first vaccine a couple of months ahead of schedule because of the outbreak - afaik some will do it at 6 months instead of 9 so they'd have some protection.

    Apparently if they do it early it's considered an extra dose and they still need to get the two scheduled doses, which are at 12 months and at 5 years.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 927 ✭✭✭greenttc


    Toots wrote: »

    I heard some GPs are administering the first vaccine a couple of months ahead of schedule because of the outbreak - afaik some will do it at 6 months instead of 9 so they'd have some protection.

    Is it not twelve months they get the first part of the MMR?

    Wonder why vaccines are assigned to a certain age and what effect having it earlier would have if any? And how effective is having just one of the two, is the second shot like a booster so a baby would be sufficiently covered with just the one? All questions for my gp i suppose, wish they had it covered in that HSE fact sheet.


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  • Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,974 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    It's in the Leopardstown area of Dublin. I don't know can I say any more than that, but I'd imagine the HSE might tell you - we all got letters from them. Luckily my son has had his full MMR so he's safe. I rang the hospital in a panic, and they told me that in order to be exposed, I'd need to be in the same room as the infected person for 15 minutes, so I should be ok in that regard. They've got a Christmas fair thing coming up and I'll be giving that a miss just in case.

    I'm more worried about when the baby is born, I'll be keeping her in a bubble until the outbreak is over or until she gets her vaccines :(

    The likes of public transport is what you'd want to watch because it's an enclosed space full of people you don't know.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 927 ✭✭✭greenttc





    Apparently if they do it early it's considered an extra dose and they still need to get the two scheduled doses, which are at 12 months and at 5 years.

    Ah, that goes towards answering my question somewhat. Was typing my post while you were posting yours so hadnt read it.

    My son is almost 10 months so wonder what difference two months would make. And how soon does a baby get immunity after vaccination?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭waterfaerie


    greenttc wrote: »
    Is it not twelve months they get the first part of the MMR?

    Wonder why vaccines are assigned to a certain age and what effect having it earlier would have if any? And how effective is having just one of the two, is the second shot like a booster so a baby would be sufficiently covered with just the one? All questions for my gp i suppose, wish they had it covered in that HSE fact sheet.

    It is 12 months.

    They used to just give one dose, which is why a lot of adults are susceptible because a second one wasn't scheduled for us as kids.

    Apparently, after one dose, between 5-10% of people don't have full immunity. After 2 doses, that drops to less than 1%.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 927 ✭✭✭greenttc


    greenttc wrote: »
    Ah, that goes towards answering my question somewhat. Was typing my post while you were posting yours so hadnt read it.

    My son is almost 10 months so wonder what difference two months would make. And how soon does a baby get immunity after vaccination?

    Just to answer my own questions, optimum immunity is aquired two weeks after vaccination, found this on power point slides on hse website.

    Not sure about answer to my other question still


  • Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,974 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    It is 12 months.

    They used to just give one dose, which is why a lot of adults are susceptible because a second one wasn't scheduled for us as kids.

    Apparently, after one dose, between 5-10% of people don't have full immunity. After 2 doses, that drops to less than 1%.

    That's exactly what happened to me. And apparently it should have been detected in my first pregnancy, but it wasn't.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭catrionanic


    Okay now I’m half terrified

    I wonder can it be caught in the park etc from sharing swings. Or in a playgroup when the baby puts a toy in his mouth. Or in the swimming pool?! We do all of these things regularly.

    Is there any of the mother’s immunity given from breastmilk at all?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,428 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Is it ok to state plainly and clearly that people who, in the absence of any medical reason not to vaccinate their child, choose not to vaccinate their child, are idiots? Complete and utter ones? Would it be ok to just leave this thought sitting here to set the tone for when the first complete and utter idiot arrives with links to YouTube videos, babbling something about 'well Japan something something big pharma'?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 927 ✭✭✭greenttc


    Okay now I’m half terrified

    I wonder can it be caught in the park etc from sharing swings. Or in a playgroup when the baby puts a toy in his mouth. Or in the swimming pool?! We do all of these things regularly.

    Is there any of the mother’s immunity given from breastmilk at all?

    Well i am hoping that the advice that toots got about 15 mins in the same room will apply and not just catching it off swings. Hopefully chlorine helps in pools. Playgroups.......that might be a risk.

    leopardstown is a little close for my liking....

    Might ring gp in morning to see what they say about getting vaccine early.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭catrionanic


    greenttc wrote: »
    Well i am hoping that the advice that toots got about 15 mins in the same room will apply and not just catching it off swings. Hopefully chlorine helps in pools. Playgroups.......that might be a risk.

    leopardstown is a little close for my liking....

    Might ring gp in morning to see what they say about getting vaccine early.

    Please let us know what they say! Our GP receptionist is utterly useless but the PHN is pretty good so I may ring her on Tuesday


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭waterfaerie


    Okay now I’m half terrified

    I wonder can it be caught in the park etc from sharing swings. Or in a playgroup when the baby puts a toy in his mouth. Or in the swimming pool?! We do all of these things regularly.

    Is there any of the mother’s immunity given from breastmilk at all?

    I'm sorry, I don't want to start a panic!

    I'd imagine outdoors is fine but I'd say playgroup, sharing toys and swimming pools are quite high risk (by high risk I mean assuming an infected person is there). I read that you can get it by just entering an enclosed space where an infected person has just been. I can't remember but I read that on either the HSE or the NHS website.

    One of the scary things is that symptoms don't show for days after the person has caught it so anyone could have it and not know. I've read you're most contagious between 4 days before and 4 days after you get symptoms.

    I don't know about the breastmilk. I doubt there'd be enough immunity for such a strong virus. Also, depending on your age, you might not be fully immune yourself anyway. Anyone born before 1988 has more than likely only had one dose. I'm breastfeeding as well but have only had the one.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭waterfaerie


    greenttc wrote: »
    Not sure about answer to my other question still

    I'm not sure, either. Maybe they can't give younger babies the full dose? I'm just guessing, though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭waterfaerie


    endacl wrote: »
    Is it ok to state plainly and clearly that people who, in the absence of any medical reason not to vaccinate their child, choose not to vaccinate their child, are idiots? Complete and utter ones? Would it be ok to just leave this thought sitting here to set the tone for when the first complete and utter idiot arrives with links to YouTube videos, babbling something about 'well Japan something something big pharma'?

    I agree with you but I was really hoping the thread wouldn't go down this route.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,049 ✭✭✭CelticRambler


    To answer the various questions raised above about immunity and transmission:

    1) Yes, babies inherit measles immunity from their mothers (while in the womb and through early breastfeeding)

    2) This immunity persists until around 10 months of age, at which point it drops off quite rapidly, which is why this it the time chosen to give the first vaccine

    3a) because everyone's different, some babies (20%) will have less/no immunity at 9-10 months and might benefit from an early vaccine in the case of an outbreak
    3b) because everyone's different, some babies (5%) will still have very good immunity at 12 months and get no benefit from the vaccine
    3c) because of those two "unknowns" a vaccine given earlier than 12 months is not counted and the baby still needs a "first" vaccine at/after 12 months, and every child vaccinated at/after 12 months should get a second vaccine at some point before they're 5 years old.

    4) The virus is spread by coughed-out water droplets. These float around in the air, whether you can see them or not, in the same way as the fog in a bathroom after someone's had a hot shower, and remain infectious for about two hours.

    5) The risk of catching the disease from a contagious child isn't as simple as "OK/not OK" and believing in safe times like 15 minutes is not helpful. The risk of catching the disease from an infected person starts at 0 minutes in their presence and it all depends on whether they are actually contagious, whether they've coughed out the germs and whether the unvaccinated person has breathed them in.

    6) Any activity that brings children physically close together will increase the risk. Some examples ...
    (a) Playgroups/crêches/classrooms are probably the worst because there are lots of children breathing the same heated, moist air.
    (b) Swimming pools also have a lot of heated, moist air that helps the virus droplets survive and children in communal areas coughing because of chlorine irritating their airways
    (c) Outdoor playgrounds on a windy day are low risk for children that are playing on their own, on swings for example. But if there are children queued up to go on a slide, or piled onto a roundabout, and one coughs into the face of another then the disease can be passed on easily enough (this is probably how the Disney epidemic started - children in queues)
    (d) Giving an infected child a lift in your car will be a risk to other children while the child is in the car with them - but not the next day
    (e) Going to mixed adult-and-child events (e.g. the zoo, shopping, eating out) are a medium risk, as the children will tend to be physically separated from each other by their parents, and these environments tend to have better ventilation/less stagnant air. Obviously that doesn't apply if all the children are put at the same table at a wedding!
    (f) Going to the cinema is high risk because (duh! :cool:) children's movies attract a lot of children, who will share the same airspace for 80-90 minutes or more.

    Other than the links above, more info can be found on the CDC website


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭✭fits


    I was vaccinated as a baby and caught it when I was four years old. I was terribly ill but not hospitalized. My mum is still a bit traumatized by it. My lads are eleven months and I’m still breastfeeding maybe that helps or maybe not. My GP wouldn’t give vaccine before twelve months


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,449 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    greenttc wrote: »
    Wonder why vaccines are assigned to a certain age and what effect having it earlier would have if any? And how effective is having just one of the two, is the second shot like a booster so a baby would be sufficiently covered with just the one? All questions for my gp i suppose, wish they had it covered in that HSE fact sheet.

    Vaccines are assigned a certain age or in some cases weight, because that is how the clinical trials were designed.

    The medical trial gives the patients the exact same assigned dose at the same age and then test immunity levels later. So then we know from the results, this exact dose works at this exact age. This is why delaying vaccines generally is not recommended, unless there is a reason it can’t be given at the recommended time. There is a huge body of test data behind showing this particular scenario is effective.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭yellow hen


    Toots wrote: »
    Yup. Just got a text from my son's school on Friday saying they've one confirmed case of measles. I'm 8 months pregnant and don't have immunity to Rubella, measles etc. I've to get the MMR after the birth again, to hopefully give me immunity but my baby won't inherit any antibodies from me so worried sick about that.

    I heard some GPs are administering the first vaccine a couple of months ahead of schedule because of the outbreak - afaik some will do it at 6 months instead of 9 so they'd have some protection.

    I am so annoyed on your behalf. When will people wake up and learn the importance of vaccinating their children against potentially fatal diseases. I hope you get to enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,391 ✭✭✭fro9etb8j5qsl2


    Yikes haven't been on here in a while but just came on to post something else and saw this thread. Toots I'm raging on your behalf! We are due to take our 2.5 year old for allergy testing next week and I'm a bit iffy about bringing the 8 month old now :eek: Visit to ikea will definitely have to be cancelled.

    Jesus people are idiots sometimes. Whatever about risking their own childs health, to risk other immunocompromised people, babies and pregnant women is the height of ignorance and selfishness. I remember reading a piece written by Roald Dahl about his daughter who died from measles complications and it really has stuck with me. Why would anyone risk that :confused:


  • Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,974 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    yellow hen wrote: »
    I am so annoyed on your behalf. When will people wake up and learn the importance of vaccinating their children against potentially fatal diseases. I hope you get to enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy.

    I'm pretty annoyed about it too. I'm a bit paranoid about catching stuff when pregnant anyway, and this has just made it worse. Have my 30 week check up at the GP this week and am dreading sitting in the waiting room in a potential cloud of disease. Also worried for my little girl when she's born, because she'll have no immunity at all, but I'm going to ask the GP would it be possible to give her a dose of vaccine very early because of this. Off to buy surgical masks and gloves now!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,049 ✭✭✭CelticRambler


    Toots wrote: »
    Also worried for my little girl when she's born, because she'll have no immunity at all, but I'm going to ask the GP would it be possible to give her a dose of vaccine very early because of this.

    Toots, when you say you've no immunity, do you mean that you never had the MMR vaccine and you never had measles as a child? Or have you been tested and know that you've no antibodies?

    It'd be much better for you to ask your GP if there's any measles vaccine that you can have while you're still pregnant (though you're running out of time) ; I very much doubt that any GP would give the vaccine to a baby under 6 months, as that's going against the guidelines and if anything happened, the GP would be responsible.


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  • Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,974 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    Toots, when you say you've no immunity, do you mean that you never had the MMR vaccine and you never had measles as a child? Or have you been tested and know that you've no antibodies?

    It'd be much better for you to ask your GP if there's any measles vaccine that you can have while you're still pregnant (though you're running out of time) ; I very much doubt that any GP would give the vaccine to a baby under 6 months, as that's going against the guidelines and if anything happened, the GP would be responsible.

    I was born before they started giving the second dose, so I had the one at 1 year but that was it. And I never had measles as a kid, and my pregnancy bloods confirmed that I've no antibodies. Apparently this should have been detected on my first pregnancy and I should have been given the MMR booster after the birth of my son, but it was missed, so I had no idea it was an issue until I got a call from the hospital after my booking blood tests. I asked was there anything I could get at all while I was pregnant, but the MMR isn't safe to administer during pregnancy at all, so there's no way I can get it. I'll be given it in the hospital after I give birth.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 189 ✭✭jakeypooh


    Would you guys advise to avoid ikea with an 1 year old due to this?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 508 ✭✭✭smaoifs


    jakeypooh wrote:
    Would you guys advise to avoid ikea with an 1 year old due to this?

    Has there been any advisories issued on where the outbreaks are? I know sometimes you'll hear on the news that a person with measles had travelled on a particular plane or bus. Would they go as far as saying public areas or shopping centres that the sick person had been to?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 446 ✭✭Anne_cordelia


    jakeypooh wrote: »
    Would you guys advise to avoid ikea with an 1 year old due to this?

    I wouldn’t avoid based on this. I feel like there is a lot of hysteria on this thread tbh. Yes measles is very serious but life goes on and personally I wouldn’t live in fear. No matter what you do, you could potentially encounter someone with an infectious disease and not know it so no point in stressing about it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 927 ✭✭✭greenttc


    I feel like there is a lot of hysteria on this thread tbh.

    I think it is very unfair of you to diminish the concerns of parents with very young unvaccinated babies and non immune pregnant ladies by saying we have created a lot of hysteria. I think it was quite a rational discussion with valid questions and informative answers and i for one am grateful to have learned what i did.


  • Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,948 Mod ✭✭✭✭Neyite


    jakeypooh wrote: »
    Would you guys advise to avoid ikea with an 1 year old due to this?

    I'd do a Teresa Mannion on it tbh. Different if it's an unavoidable journey with the baby but otherwise, no. Tiny risk I know but would you ever forgive yourself if they got it while you brought them out on a non urgent shopping trip.


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  • Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,948 Mod ✭✭✭✭Neyite


    smaoifs wrote: »
    Has there been any advisories issued on where the outbreaks are? I know sometimes you'll hear on the news that a person with measles had travelled on a particular plane or bus. Would they go as far as saying public areas or shopping centres that the sick person had been to?

    They aren't announcing specific locations - presumably due to potential panic. Upthread a boardsie got a text it was in her child's school. Nothing on the media about the location of a confirmed case. They are being very vague.


  • Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,974 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    I was asking my GP about it yesterday, and so far the confirmed cases are in Meath and North Dublin - that's as specific as they've been told. Apparently there are a couple of others "pending" but the HSE won't release the location unless a case is confirmed - if a child is suspected of having measles the GP is obliged to report it and then there are tests carried out (I think it's swabs) to confirm if it's definitely measles or not.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 446 ✭✭Anne_cordelia


    greenttc wrote: »
    I think it is very unfair of you to diminish the concerns of parents with very young unvaccinated babies and non immune pregnant ladies by saying we have created a lot of hysteria. I think it was quite a rational discussion with valid questions and informative answers and i for one am grateful to have learned what i did.
    I have a very young unvaccinated baby (unvaccinated because of age). I’m not going to stay indoors until she’s 12 months and a week just in case. I was answering a question with my opinion.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 13,197 Mod ✭✭✭✭JupiterKid


    The anti-vaxxers anger me somewhat. They are clearly putting their children and other babies and children at risk when there are vaccines available to protect them from potentially serious illness.

    I had measles when I was about 6 in the early 1980s. All the kids in my area got it. I remember being very unwell, feverish and covered in spots. The MMR was not yet available in Ireland at the time but I do know I was given the DPT vaccine as a baby and also for polio with a tetanus booster at about 9 years of age. My former American colleague got the MMR as a baby in the mid 1970s (she's the same age as me) so it must have come late to Ireland. There are so many vaccines you can get and I would recommend most of these - especially Hep B and Hep C for young adults.

    I just can't understand the warped mentality of anti-vaxxers. The risks associated with side effects of vaccines are tiny, really tiny compared to the risks of contracting the diseases. Did you know mumps can make a young boy sterile for life? Rubella in a young woman can significantly risk her child being seriously disabled. Measles can kill.

    Vaccinate. It's for the best. And to those parents concerned, avoid the areas where an outbreak has occurred. The reason for these sad outbreaks are that not enough people are vaccinating their kids. The vaccination rate needs to be over 90% to keep the diseases at bay. Their selfishness of those parents who won't vaccinate their children is staggering.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 927 ✭✭✭greenttc


    Neyite wrote: »
    I'd do a Teresa Mannion on it tbh. Different if it's an unavoidable journey with the baby but otherwise, no. Tiny risk I know but would you ever forgive yourself if they got it while you brought them out on a non urgent shopping trip.

    Ha, love the teresa mannion analogy!! It describes exactly how I am approaching it, will be doing all normal walks and park trips and food shopping etc which has to be done but wont be bringing him to the likes of window shopping in dundrum or browsing in ikea which would just be satisfying my own entertainment needs and had no other real function. If I really needed to get something though I would just go. Suppose we just have to be sensible about it!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 513 ✭✭✭waterfaerie


    I wouldn’t avoid based on this. I feel like there is a lot of hysteria on this thread tbh. Yes measles is very serious but life goes on and personally I wouldn’t live in fear. No matter what you do, you could potentially encounter someone with an infectious disease and not know it so no point in stressing about it.
    I have a very young unvaccinated baby (unvaccinated because of age). I’m not going to stay indoors until she’s 12 months and a week just in case. I was answering a question with my opinion.

    Nobody here is suggesting staying indoors until the babies are 12 months. That would be hysterical.

    We are discussing whether it's best to avoid affected areas if there is no real need to visit them. Yes, the risk is probably extremely small but, if it's a non essential outing, why take any risk at all?

    In my case, my trip to Dublin would involve seeing a family member and their kids who are visiting from overseas. I only see them every few years. It's not essential but I'd love to see them, hence why I'm torn and don't know what to do.

    On the one hand, it seems silly not to see them because of such a small risk but on the other hand, my daughter's life is more important and I sort of feel people who have just been travelling may be even higher risk, given that the measles outbreak has come from Europe. Also, it's a long drive so it would mean an overnight stay in an area where measles is currently spreading.

    I need to decide today. I'm leaning towards staying put but feeling a bit guilty about it. :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭catrionanic


    I spoke to the nurse in our local surgery, who spoke to some specialist in the HSE, who said they don’t recommend giving the MMR any earlier than 12 months.

    I also spoke to a HSE GP, who said that the outbreak is along the Liffey and mainly amongst the travelling community?? She said she would avoid playgroups etc if it was her.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,102 ✭✭✭Digs


    I spoke to the nurse in our local surgery, who spoke to some specialist in the HSE, who said they don’t recommend giving the MMR any earlier than 12 months.

    I also spoke to a HSE GP, who said that the outbreak is along the Liffey and mainly amongst the travelling community?? She said she would avoid playgroups etc if it was her.

    I was speaking to a specialist also who works in infectious diseases, she’s an aquaintance so it was a casual chat. She said the same. The cases are in North Dublin amongst specific demographics as they haven’t the same uptake on vaccinations and GP visits etc and for the moment it’s limited to within their communities. It goes without saying she said hospital A&Es would be places to avoid at all costs unless strictly necessary. Otherwise she is carrying on as normal with her two small children.

    She was very calm about the situation (I suppose it’s her area of expertise!), chances are it may spread but she hopes to god it will encourage anti vaxxers to take notice!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 927 ✭✭✭greenttc


    Thats interesting, when I was looking up the HSE website about it last week I did notice that there was a pdf of a leaflet specifically for the travelling community and wondered why.

    Surprised that it is more common in that community, I thought they would have been quite traditional and would have accepted vaccinations for their children, but its obviously the other way around. Glad the HSE are trying to educate and create better awareness of the vaccinations importance. Even in that one demographic.

    Yeah I was talking to some medical people too and they said to just wait till 12 months to vaccinate, that will be February for us so not too far off anyway.


  • Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,948 Mod ✭✭✭✭Neyite


    greenttc wrote: »
    Thats interesting, when I was looking up the HSE website about it last week I did notice that there was a pdf of a leaflet specifically for the travelling community and wondered why.

    Surprised that it is more common in that community, I thought they would have been quite traditional and would have accepted vaccinations for their children, but its obviously the other way around. Glad the HSE are trying to educate and create better awareness of the vaccinations importance. Even in that one demographic.

    Yeah I was talking to some medical people too and they said to just wait till 12 months to vaccinate, that will be February for us so not too far off anyway.

    I'd guess the lapse in vaccinations is not down to any anti-vaxx feelings in the community but more to do with not keeping appointments or moving around to different areas and not letting the PHN or GP know their next address. And probably not understanding the importance of ensuring your child gets the free vaccines. I'd guess that any other schemes like cervical check or breast check have a poorer uptake in the travelling community compared to other demographics.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 927 ✭✭✭greenttc


    You are probably right neyite.

    God it must be awful for them, i mean we are wary of the wider population and the possibility of picking it up anywhere, they must be worried about picking it up from their own friends and family in their own communities, the very places they need support from if they had young babies etc.


  • Administrators, Business & Finance Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,974 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Toots


    Digs wrote: »
    I was speaking to a specialist also who works in infectious diseases, she’s an aquaintance so it was a casual chat. She said the same. The cases are in North Dublin amongst specific demographics as they haven’t the same uptake on vaccinations and GP visits etc and for the moment it’s limited to within their communities. It goes without saying she said hospital A&Es would be places to avoid at all costs unless strictly necessary. Otherwise she is carrying on as normal with her two small children.

    She was very calm about the situation (I suppose it’s her area of expertise!), chances are it may spread but she hopes to god it will encourage anti vaxxers to take notice!

    Yes, it was A&E (particularly in children's hospitals) that my GP mentioned would be a high risk area - mainly because a lot of parents with a kid with a high temp would take them to A&E. He just said to me that if my son needs a trip to A&E while I'm still pregnant, ask my husband or a relative to bring him. I think A&E during winter is a bit of a double edged sword because so many people show up there with the flu and other infectious stuff, you could go in with a sprained ankle and come out with the vomiting bug.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,564 ✭✭✭✭whiskeyman


    Outbreak affecting north of England now.
    Seems to have been affecting Europe over the summer also.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/uk-measles-outbreak-symptoms-nhs-treatment-leeds-liverpool-north-spots-rash-a8073726.html


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 656 ✭✭✭Shadow1983


    Sorry to bump an old thread but just have a question about the MMR. I found out today I've only had the first shot of the MMR (born in 1983). Should I try to get the 2nd shot now??

    Sorry ... edited to add that I've been in contact with someone with suspected measles, not confirmed yet however.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,872 ✭✭✭✭fits


    You should ask your GP. ( by phone).

    I got measles when I was four after getting the one vaccination shot.


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