Mumps outbreak in my town

[cilantro]

At least eight confirmed cases.  My doctor is on vacation.  I hear that some docs in our practice are giving the vaccine a month early to babies Bbot's age, and some are saying no.  I hate that I can't get our specific doc's opinion on this.

Any knowledgeable people on the MMR vaccine with any thoughts?  Would you push for it?

[satsuma]

It's safe to administer early, but they don't typically count toward the series and need to be repeated. I had a friend who traveled internationally with her baby and they did this. I might push for it, especially since it takes while for there to be protection. Mumps isn't supposed to be too dangerous, unlike measles, but it sounds really painful. My parents had it as kids.

[sjh722]

I'm sorry you have to worry about this. I'm guessing you may live near my (crazy) non-vaxing cousin, who keeps posting rants on facebook. "Quit sending me pro-vax articles! I've made my decision and it doesn't affect you. I chose what was best for my family, not yours (and on and on and on for paragraphs)"...except, you know, it does affect me, and everyone else, and babies who are too young to be vaccinated, and her daughter, should she contract the mumps.

I don't have any further insights on the vaccine itself. Hope someone has good info for you.

[twinkiemom]

I also live near a mumps outbreak, a lot more than 8 cases. My kids are 14 months and are scheduled to get the MMR at their 15m well check. I called my pediatrician and asked if we could get it early and the nurse I spoke with said they are not recommending that. I am a little annoyed about it though, I wish they would just let them have it. I am sure I could push for it but bot sure if I should or not.

[satsuma]

Apr 18, 2014 13:01:44 GMT -5 @246baje said:

Apr 18, 2014 12:41:18 GMT -5 twinkiemom said:

I also live near a mumps outbreak, a lot more than 8 cases. My kids are 14 months and are scheduled to get the MMR at their 15m well check. I called my pediatrician and asked if we could get it early and the nurse I spoke with said they are not recommending that. I am a little annoyed about it though, I wish they would just let them have it. I am sure I could push for it but bot sure if I should or not.

This is odd. Many pedis give the vax at 12 months so 14 months should not be an issue. 

I don't have an informed opinion on giving it to a newborn however. 

I don't think you can give it to a newborn, but Cilantro's kiddo is 11 months. Close enough. 

[redblue]

We were thinking of giving DS the MMR vaccine early so we could travel to Europe. He would have been around 11 months old. His Dr advised us that he would still have to get the shot again at 12 months as that is the age that the CDC recommends. We just decided to postpone our trip until after his 12 month shots as I really did not want him to get an extra injection just for travel. He is already like a pincushion due to the Synagis shots.

[orangeblossom]

Do not get it early. It will not count when the time is right for it to be counted as given (e.g. school and what not). It's a live vaccine, which is why it should be given at one year of age, not before.

[amaristella]

This is probably where I would start. www.cdc.gov/mumps/about/

Normally I'd just say to go get any adults in your child's life a booster. Caveat MMR is a live vaccine and those recently vaccinated can shed those illnesses. I think it's a rare thing to have happen, but for all we know that's where the new outbreaks keep coming from. So, I'd put in a call to your own doctor (or do you and LO share a doc and that's who is out of town?) and maybe see about getting your own titers checked, especially if LO doesn't spend a lot of time around other people or children. I have no idea about mumps, but with some other illnesses, it's the adults who haven't had a shot in a good long while who usually spread things.

So, depending on how worried you are about the potential complications I might just go with a different option of following the CDC's prevention advice. Hand washing, etc.

[undecidedowl]

Apr 19, 2014 3:05:32 GMT -5 amaristella said:

This is probably where I would start. www.cdc.gov/mumps/about/

Normally I'd just say to go get any adults in your child's life a booster. Caveat MMR is a live vaccine and those recently vaccinated can shed those illnesses. I think it's a rare thing to have happen, but for all we know that's where the new outbreaks keep coming from. So, I'd put in a call to your own doctor (or do you and LO share a doc and that's who is out of town?) and maybe see about getting your own titers checked, especially if LO doesn't spend a lot of time around other people or children. I have no idea about mumps, but with some other illnesses, it's the adults who haven't had a shot in a good long while who usually spread things.

So, depending on how worried you are about the potential complications I might just go with a different option of following the CDC's prevention advice. Hand washing, etc.

I don't believe this article says anything about the vaccine causing mumps. It references vaccinated people who contracted mumps and how contagious they may be despite being asymptomatic.

[sillygoosegirl]

My sister works in public health and was encouraging me to get an MMR booster because of the outbreak. Apparently they are finding that the version of the vaccine we got as children wasn't all that effective. So might be worth re-vaccinating the adults in the house too.