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Hi All,
I'm curious to know if anyone has ever successfully split up the MMR shot for their 12 month olds in Australia?
I keep hearing of parents who have done this, but they've all been overseas. We have been getting irritated and hostile responses from GPs (3 separate doctors so far), they all say, (a) it cannot be done and (b) no one manufactures measles or mumps vaccines anymore anyway. Rubella is available on its own, though.
Has anyone had any luck? Please tell me yes...
TIA
Neuri
why do you need them split?
I have never heard of this.
kristy
i know janie looked into it, will send her over!
Yep, LOOKED into it, but haven't actually come across anyone who's managed to do it LOL! DS hasn't had his 12 month jabs yet, mostly because he has been too sick over the cooler months to do it, and partly because we haven't decided which ones to give him yet :rolleyes:
Oh no Janie! Don't tell me that :(
Kristy J- it's to do with the alleged link between the combo of MMR and developing Autism and Crohns disease. There is no hard evidence at the moment, but we've had a personal experience in our family.
I've just got off the phone with clinic #4 and they have no idea :wall:
My DD has had her Meningococcal and Influenza B at 12 months, no worries. But I witheld MMR to see if someone could split it up for me.
Ok, so I have just got off the phone with the NSW Dept of Health: Immunisation Info and they say it can be done depeneding on if your GP can find those vaccines in stock from their supplier. So it takes the GP to actually inquire on your behalf and sadly, not all GPs will do this for you.
If anyone comes across someone who will, please let us know!!
thanks
neuri
GL Neuri. If you find someone, can you please post it as I'm sure others will be interested.
Hi Neuri i have this information that might help. This is just from my researching.
Merck make monovalent mumps and monovalent measles. (That is, seperate injections)
Monovalent mumps is called Mumpsvax
Monovalent Measles is called Attenuvax
Perhaps if you contacted Merck yourself to see who they supply to in Australia, then phone the supplier and find a local-ish Dr who uses them and then you have done all the running around, you just need to present to the info the the GP and they can order them. You could also ask Merk if it is possible for your GP to order directly through them.
HEre are some contact details for Merck Australia, if you have no luck there you can find contact details for Merck USA by searching.
Tel: (02) 9795 9500
Toll free number: 1800 023 135
Medical Information Toll free number: 1800 645 712
Not sure if any of this will help, but certainly worth a shot. Let us know how you get on. ;)
Falguni, you're a legend.
I've tried 5 other pharmaceutical companies just now and they all said they don't make it. Here's hoping I get lucky with Merck!
Will certainly let everyone know how I go.
thanks,
neuri
ETA: Sorry guys, Merck doesn't do them apparently and they say they don't do them combines either and doesn't know of anyone else in Australia that does.
Neuri, perhaps contact Merck in the US? I have heard before that the vaccines have to be imported. It wouldn't be cheap I don't think, but could be worth it if this is the path you really want to take. GL hun.
My next bet would be to email Dr Bob Sears on his website thevaccinebook . I emailed him with questions regarding the meningococcol vac, and he emailed me back. He supports seperating the MMR so would be able to tell you where he sources it from........
ETA- he is based in the USA ;)
Hai all,
I'm beginning to question if this is all worth it. At least I can't say I didn't try! One doctor I spoke to was all, "why are you questioning something that's been in place for 30 years now with no ill effects? If it wasn't safe the government wouldn't do it."
I mean, when we weigh up the pros and cons, it doesn't seem a likely prospect that the combined MMR will lead to nasty things, but you know what? Having the choice to vaccinate how I want to vaccinate my own child is important to me and I think it's big enough of a deal to kick up a fuss.
Well I emailed Dr. Bob as suggested but I think it's a long shot if I get a reply. I'll chase up overseas pharmaceutical companies this evening as they're all shut right now. I got one bleary sounding security guy in the UK saying to me, "Love, all I can help you wish right now is a cup of tea as it's currently 3 in the morning."
LOL.
Neuri
HI Neuri,
IMO i think that if you could get your hands on the immunisations, you should be able to get ANY GP to give the immunisation....
Very often things are bought on special order esp some of the travelers inj and all that needs to be done really is to get your hands on it. (easier said than done obviously!)
Also another suggestion, could you speak to your CMH centre and see if they would be able to/willing to administer the immunisations for you. I think that this could be a good way of approaching it, if you manage to get your hands on the immunisations that is.
HTH and GL
Just found this on a UK newspaper article:
:
Parents worried about the MMR jab could soon have no alternative but to give it to their babies because supplies of the single injection vaccine for mumps are running out.
Clinics say stocks are running low and they have been told they will not receive new supplies for up to 12 months after the world's only manufacturer - American pharmaceutical giant Merck - halted production.
Mumpsvax is used to vaccinate children whose parents opt out of the triple measles, mumps and rubella jab which was once suspected of links to autism and bowel disease.
Yesterday suppliers confirmed the shortage of Mumpsvax was worrying some parents who still do not trust MMR.
Pharmacist Barry Mickle, of London-based medical supplier Jolinda, said his company had run out of Mumpsvax a month ago.
He added: 'My understanding is that Merck is not manufacturing Mumpsvax at the moment until 2009, so it could be a year before UK clinics will have any.'
krysalyss, that is a worry.
I agree completely that everyone should have the choice - not having the stock doenst leave you with much of a choice does it?!
We have decided that the baby will not have ny jabs until the age of two - at which time we will review circumstances (but unlikely to change our minds).
I've never known anyone to actually be able to get the shots separately.
I don't think it is good enough myself...
Neuri- i nearly fell off the couch when he emailed me back, you never know! ;)
Hi Everyone,
Yes, I don't think it's good enough either. Perhaps its time we start writing to the Dept of Health to demand that access to separate vaccines be available for those who don't wish to follow the government's prescribed immunisation schedule.
Sammiejane - I was told that I could not order the vaccs myself and that I could only get my GP to do it for me after I sourced for the GP where they were available from. If this ever happened I can't see it being a pleasant experience as my GPs have been less than helpful. If my MCN can do it, all the better! But I figure only an MD can do the ordering first.
Falguni - well I certainly fell off my chair this morning because Dr. Bob emailed me back! :o His site said he doesn't reply to personal emails from parents. so I was as surprised as you must have been.
Not good news, sadly. Dr. Bob said no one in the US is manufacturing it at the moment, though he did give me the name of a New Jersey company to ask as they were the last known ones. There may be more stock in 12 months time. I will have a go and post here if anything comes of it. Looks like American parents wanting the same option right now are fresh out of luck as well.
I'm taking my DD to see my family in Singapore at the end of the year and our family pediatrician has just informed me that he can get a hold of the vaccs there. I will dbl check that this is accurate info.
thanks for all your help,
neuri
Neuri, what a nice surprise. Like i said i was shocked!
If you can get the Vacc's in Singapore, then SOMEONE is making them and surely a GP or pharmacist could order it where ever they are getting it...... You are right on the ordering, you can't just order it yourself, imagine if we could order what we liked! :o
Good work on the investigation. Keep up the good work! ;)
When Matilda was 12 months old in 2005, I was looking into it and I spoke with my GP who said it was impossible. I told him I refused to vaccinate the MMR in one vaccination and we had a... ahem... lengthy discussion into it. Then the next month when we were at the GP for another round of tonsilitis, he said that someone had shipped the vaccine in two injections over from the UK and would let me know how to go about doing it. The next week he phoned and said that the person had decided not to vaccinate at all and I could have it if I wanted. I did want it and we did it. I had to pay $150 to the person who ordered it in initially, but it was worth it to us.
Jovie has not had the vaccination. I will be using homeopathic vaccinations for her.
oh man this news is throwing the biggest spanner in my works. I spoke to my GP a few weeks ago and he told me that he is happy to wait until DD is older and is happy and willing to split the vaccination. i stupidly assumed that he would have access to these vaccines... it never occurred to me (but now that i think of it it makes sense) that they would stop manufacture. i guess this is a further sign of the times where private business (in this case the pharmaceutical companies) and governments are becoming more and more explicitly aligned in the management of society. not happy jan.
ho hum, back to the drawing board me thinks.
neuri, I suggest trying to contact one of the autism service providers in Sydney. There is an active group of parents (of children with autism) who started a biomedical group. If anyone would know of a dr who splits the mmr they should. I believe there are drs involved in the group as well. Try Aspire Early Intervention, Center for Autism and Related Disorders inc (C.A.R.D.) or the Woodburry School. They should all have websites and could probably give you the contact info for the group. I hope that is helpful.....
I know that some people while unsuccessful in splitting the mmr are getting their drs to stagger the vaccines rather than getting all 3 at once. One line of thought is that the vaccines overload the immune system in children who perhaps have weaker immune systems. I certainly don't know if this is true...just sharing what I have heard others do;)
Hallo all,
Just an update for interested parties-
I haven't been able to get in contact with the Singapore ped, but will keep trying. As for that New Jersey pharmacy that Dr. Bob Sears recommended (he emailed again to ask if I contacted them yet). Well, they say they have none in stock, probably will not have any more for a year and that even if they did, they would not authorise shipping it overseas as it has to be kept cold and they say they cannot guarantee the quality of the vaccine because of that.
Oh well. I'm still for vaccinating, but on my own terms. If all else fails, I guess we could give it to DD at age 3 which is when most of us would have had it back in the day.
Christy - wow you were lucky! And don't you love the whole spiel they feel they have to give you when u discuss anything concerning deviating from the govt's schedule. One doctor said to me, "do you know what GOOGLE is? Here let me show you..." She then sat there for the whole consult on the internet.
Cassius - tell me about it! Absolutely annoying when doctors give u incorrect information only to find out later that its virtually impossible.
Lbeth - thanks for that tip re. the parents groups. If anyone would have info re. different vacc methods, It would be them. I shall try them as well.
neuri
Hi Ladies
Just popping on to tag this thread...this is something I'm really interested in...hope you have some luck soon.
Hi Ladies,
Same as Ellie, I'm keen to keep an eye on this thread. As someone who works with pregnant women and their children on a daily basis I have always been a big encourager (is that a word?!) of splitting the MMR. I was so surprised to hear recently that it is difficult, or nearly impossible, to get the MMR separated in Australia. I was aware of the need to order the separate vaccines from overseas but didn't know that it was so hard to do!
Hope there's some progress soon!
Just a thought:
Have you tried the childrens hospital??
You would think they would have supplies of things like that due to high levels of allergies these days.
Forgot to say:
My little girl had a suspected severe reaction to her 6 mth injections. She was developing "normally" until her jabs and became really sick and stopped developing.
She now has Cerebal palsey, intellectual disability and autistic tendencies. I dont know how much of it is contributed to the jabs and how much of it is due to her natural parents neglect and I guess I will never know but when I have kids of my own I will be considering jabs very carfully.
If you want the seperate jabs push it and search as much as you can but if you can't and you decide to get it as it is, at least you tried to do what you think is right for your child and that is all you can do.
Anyone had any luck yet?
Has anyone thought to try Japan? They stopped MMR a few years back and now only do separate jabs...just a thought and not sure if you could import it from there but do know it is available there cos that is how their schedule is done.
oh how i wish that were the case here! i just understand the difficulty in providing this service. as it stands, I guess i will wait until the 4 year old shots before i give them to DD.
but i have heard that the childrens here in melbourne can do it, but this info came from a family with high incidence of autism, so not sure if available to the general public.
we are heading to italy soon so i might check with the family over there (we have a couple of drs in the mix so they might know....will let you know how it goes...).
otherwise i will just keep checking this thread...:)
I have a few friends who have split the MMR in New York but their drs have informed them that supplies of the separate shots are very low and running out.
Hi,
If anyone is interested in getting the SINGLE MEASLES ONLY vaccine, ATTENUVAX please let me know. There is one pharmacy in WA that still has the license to import it but they can only get them in batches of 10. They are AUD 140.
I have researched heaps and it can be purchased online from the States for USD600, buit you need permit approval from TGA....so costly and timely.
If more than 8 people want it then we can split the cost and get the batch of 10. Cheaper than getting it from the States.
I have been looking for this for the last 8 months and hope other mums want it.....to make my bill a little cheaper at the end.
My email is rjkrogyy@ hotmail. com.
WIll be on holidays for 3 weeks so might not check this for messages....
Hope this info helps, i read that quite a few mums were interested in getting the separate MMR vaccines...
Regards,
Renate
Hi,
If anyone is interested in getting the SINGLE MEASLES ONLY vaccine, ATTENUVAX please let me know. There is one pharmacy in WA that still has the license to import it but they can only get them in batches of 10. They are AUD 140.
I have researched heaps and it can be purchased online from the States for USD600, buit you need permit approval from TGA....so costly and timely.
If more than 8 people want it then we can split the cost and get the batch of 10. Cheaper than getting it from the States :p.
I have been looking for this for the last 8 months and hope other mums want it.....to make my bill a little cheaper at the end.
My email is rjkrogyy@ hotmail. com.
WIll be on holidays for 3 weeks so might not check this for messages....
Hope this info helps, i read that quite a few mums were interested in getting the separate MMR vaccines...
Regards,
Renate
hi,
If anyone is interested in Getting the Measles only vaccine in australia please let me know. After much research i have found a pharmacy in WA that can import it, but only in a batch of 10. I want 2, so I need 8 more people on their list before they can get it in. Please tell me if you are interested, I am DESPERATE to get this but cannot afford the price of 10.
Thanks and hope this answers other questions about the availability of this in AU.
Renate
hi,
I have read a few threads with some mums wanting to get separate MMR shots. I got my little one just the Rubella, only one available separately in Aus and wanting to get the measles and mumps from overseas, but they come in batches if 10. A pharmacy in WA has the licence to import them. I want 2, so if anyone wants to join in to make up the rest please let me know rjkroggy at hot mail com
I really want to get the separate but cannot affort the lot of 10. I have tried to post this a few times before but for some reason it doesnt show up...Annoying!
Please let me know. THanks,
Renate
hi,
My son took his seperate jabs in Singapore from Japan Green Clinic. Kids in Japan take seperate jab, so the supply of the jabs comes from Japan.
The only clinics that do separate jabs now in SG are.
1. Japan Green Clinic
2. KinderClinic (This was my kid's PD when we were in SG)
3. Raffles Hosptial/Clinic (That is what I heard)
I think all the supply comes through the Japan Green Clinic.
We are now in Melbourne, I am looking for Separate jabs for my 4 year old daughter. I read we can do seperate Jabs for rubella? Do all PD do that? If we can do the rubella jab here, it will be good. If there is no choice for the other jabs, we will go back sg for the rest of the course.
regards,
angelia
Hi,
Any GP can give you the prescription for rubella and then administer it - if they are willing that is.....-
As far as sing goes, we just went there a month ago and called around at different expat clinics and hosp and they couldnt do it separate....maybe in japan only nowadays, they seem to be keeping their schedule as is. Pity we havent got the choice here.
I opted to not give the MM component seeing as it is unavailable, and at over 2 they are not life threatening. I mean i had them all as a kid and i survived, so im sure if my daughter gets them she will too.
It would be good to be given the option, even if we had to pay.
Renate
Kroggies- You should post a seperate thread looking for people. Interested parties may not pop in here. But you might find more see it in a thread on its own. Good luck.
Hi there,:
I know this a few months down the track but I am about to embark on the journey of trying to get the vaccines separately for my little girl, just turned 1. I come from an educational background, I'm a teacher and concerned about getting the MMR!
Any luck with importing the vaccines? If you're still looking for people to make up the 10, let me know. (jtrangmar@hotmail.com)
Hi sorry I know this thread is quite old, but I know my doctor said I couldn't even get the rubella vacine by itself, I asked the chemist and no problem. I had to get the script from the dr though, kind of funny going to the chemist, they tell you what you need, get the script from the doctor, go get the vaccine from the chemist, back to the Doctor to get the Jab. Anyway ask the chemist.
On the thought of phamacies supplying the individual immunisations, if your regular chemist cant do it try a ' compound pharmacy'. They are hard to find but I have recently started using one to make my daughters medication because she is allergic to one component of the original meds she takes.
Hope this helps