Childhood Vaccines

Dear Parents

This service seeks to give parents informed choice in the difficult decisions you have to make in trying to prevent your child from getting measles, mumps and rubella. We know you want the best for your child. We realise that you recognise the general importance of childhood immunisations, but have been concerned about the reported risks of the combined MMR vaccine.

We are able to offer a single measles, mumps and rubella vaccination schedule.

Along with the majority of doctors, health visitors and nurses who deal with immunisation issues, we support the continued use of the combined MMR vaccine. However, we realise that the publicity about it has been such that some parents do not wish to accept the combined vaccine and are prepared to pay for the option to have single vaccines. We support your right to have this choice.

Single measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are currently not manufactured in Britain. They are imported from continental Europe and the United States of America. All the vaccines are produced by highly reputable, multi national pharmaceutical companies. The importation process is under the auspices of the Medicines Control Agency. The vaccines are currently categorised as “unlicensed medicines” in Britain, and have to be ordered under a “named patient” basis.

There is no longer any requirement which determines the order in which the vaccines should be given. There is a world wide shortage of mumps vaccine and supplies of this vaccine therefore maybe intermittent. There has to be a minimal interval of 3 weeks between each vaccine and so we suggest that approximately a month between each vaccine is reasonable, depending on the practicalities of vaccine and appointment availability.

It is important to realise that MMR vaccines, whether given singly or with the combined preparation, need to be given twice in childhood to ensure adequate protection into adult life. Currently the second combined MMR vaccine is given between the ages of 3 and 5. However the minimum required interval between the two is only 3 months.

Before deciding that you wish to have single vaccines against measles, mumps and rubella, we would encourage you to read the information available on the Department of Health website (www.doh.gov.uk/mmr.htm).

Appointments for the Single Vaccine Programme can be made by contacting the Health Screening Department on 0121 440 8402.

The Cost

You will be asked to pay for each vaccination by cash or cheque when it is given.

Rubella - £110 Measles - £110 Mumps - £150

In 2008 new regulations in USA have made it more difficult to access the only source of Mumps vaccines. Future supplies may be intermittent.

Vaccinations will be given at a medical centre in Edgbaston - The Karis Medical Centre, Waterworks Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9AL (this is near Five Ways and just off the Hagley Road at Monument Road).

Informing your General Practitioner

The Department of Health places an obligation on General Practitioners to encourage children to be immunised. This involves submitting information about the immunisations that your child has been given. We will enter all the relevant details of the single vaccines in your “Red Book”. We would ask you to pass this information on to your G.P. when each course has been completed.

(This Vaccine service is not intended for those who are already registered with the Karis Medical Centre, Edgbaston for NHS medical care)

Mumps for young adults

There have been many more cases of Mumps infection recently (in 2005 it reached epidemic levels), and these have occurred especially in the 19 – 23 yr old age group. As well as causing a debilitating illness there are some serious complications from Mumps infection. Meningitis can be as common as 1 in 200 cases, pancreatitis 1 in 30 cases, but 1 in 5 older males get swollen painful testicles (orchitis) with a possible risk of subsequent infertility.

The NHS has been targeting the16 to 23 yr old age group, with the aim of ensuring that they have had 2 doses of vaccine, but it is only offering the combined Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

You can have the single Mumps vaccine, which is imported from USA.

Cost £150

Appointments can be made by phoning 0121 440 8402.

You will be asked to pay for each vaccination by cash or cheque when it is given. (Unfortunately there is no facility for accepting credit or debit cards.)

Vaccinations will be given at a medical centre in Edgbaston - The Karis Medical Centre, Waterworks Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9AL (this is near Five Ways and just off the Haley Road at Monument Road).

(This Vaccine service is not intended for those who are already registered with the Karis Medical Centre, Edgbaston for NHS medical care)

Issue 040308/1