Chicken Pox and MMR Shots Together?

Updated on April 09, 2010
J.B. asks from Fairfax, VA
10 answers

Our pediatrician recommended that a few weeks before we travel by air that our daughter should receive the Chicken Pox and MMR shots together. She will only be 14 months at the time of her shots. I have scheduled an appt to have her get the shots about 2 weeks prior to travel. My questions are: That seems like a lot of vaccine to be given at once (the Chicken Pox and MMR), have any mothers had given their sons or daughters this shot combined before, if so did they experience any reactions? Or have you separated the vaccine shots out, so that your toddler had a chicken pox shot then in a few weeks came back for the MMR?

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L.N.

answers from New York on

i blieve MMR vaccine needs to be a given a month prior to traveling for it to 'kick in.'
also i would split the MMR, as well as give chicken pox some other time (i have never had my kids get chicken pox, just opted out of that one). are you going overseas? if yes, i suggest delay the trip for another month and give the shot in two starting sometimes next week.
ps Anne-marie F: one cannot avoid the autism/vaccine issue. it is a scary thought for millions of parents. the two always go together whether founded or unfounded.

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T.C.

answers from Colorado Springs on

I agree with the poster who said that she wouldn't vaccinate so close to travel. Also, did you know that the Chicken Pox and the Ruebella portion of the MMR vaccination contain aborted fetal cell lines in them? They are harvested using an aborted baby. (There are several fetal cell lines from multiple abortions, the particular baby is indicated by a letter/number combo, like PER-6 or RA-273 or WI-38 (the number indicates the number of abortions needed to make it work (the 273 is the 27th abortion, 3rd tissue explant). Most people do not know this, but you can look at the package insert to find that information. There are several vaccines made this way, with a few aborted babies. Here is a chart that shows which are made this way, as well as a list of alternative, if available: http://www.cogforlife.org/fetalvaccines.htm
I know that some people won't care about this, but I was shocked when I first learned. I wish I had known earlier. Here is an article that explains how the cell lines were harvested, that the abortions were used intentionally for this purpose, etc. http://www.cogforlife.org/fetalvaccinetruth.htm It takes infomation from the FDA, the CDC, the various doctors involved, among other sources.
I do hope you find this helpful. I think awareness needs to be raised on this issue so that people can make an informed decision. We have had doctors tell us that this is a lie. But, when they actually researched the issue, they came back to us and apologized, stating that they never knew. Yet, the information is right there in the package insert for the vaccines.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

I would be hesitant to give ANY vaccines that close to a travel date. If your daughter reacts, you may have to cancel your trip...... (PS> I would NOT do them together either. That is a LOT of foreign substances for a little body to handle.)

We've taken our kids on a few trips without vaccines. Bahamas, Mexico, California, Florida, Wisconsin Dells, etc. They were infants (2 months) all the way up to age 4 1/2 with these trips and were FINE without any vaccines!

2 moms found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

IMHO no pediatrician is an omnipotent God whom you should "trust" regardless of your own judgment or common sense. He/she is there to provide you with information; however, you must make the decision on behalf of the best interests of your individual child. Some adverse reactions are life-long and the ped is not going to be there to hold your hand through it all.

Whatever you decide - good luck. And have a safe and wonderful trip!

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J.K.

answers from Cleveland on

My son got his chicken pox and MMR vaccines at the same visit, but he was 18 months old. He had absolutely no side effects from receiving the shots.

Two weeks prior to traveling will give you enough time to observe any reaction she may have. I don't see any reason why you should have to separate the vaccines, and I think you will feel better knowing that your daughter will be protected against those diseases when you travel.

Good luck with your decision!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Columbus on

If you do not trust your pediatrician, you should get a new one. They made the recomendation, and you should be able to follow it. The recent uproar about vacines is unfounded. There is no link between autism and vacines, and the real risk to your child is not having the protection that these vacines provide.

1 mom found this helpful
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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

We space out all of our vaccines. I am not concerned about Autism, but I feel that it is easier on my child AND if there is a reaction you know what it was for.
Our ped says it's fine to give them all together, but is respectful of our decision not to.

We also would have waited longer to get the MMR shot, if we didn't have to travel, I feel that traveling, especially overseas, definitely increases your risk of exposure, so I felt good about the risk-benefit in favor of getting the vaccines.
If I had had to choose I would get the MMR shot and forgo chicken pox, which is usually mild in small children.

Everyone has to make these decision for themselves. You doctor can give you an opinion, but if that goes against what you believe is best for your child, do some research and make up your own mind. It's your right.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

People need to get off the autism/vaccination issue. Especially since it was not even a part of this post. The concern many people have with vaccinations is not autism at all, but the high volume of toxic substances injected into our kids. Yes, we are exposed to chemicals daily, but injecting chemicals into the body is a far cry from merely being exposed to cleaning products, etc.

Now....J., I apologize for my soap box moment but I get irked when people make assumtions and don't even answer the questions asked.

I would separate them. It IS alot of vaccine to be given at one time and if you waited with the Chicken Pox vaccine, you will be fine.

I applaud you for asking this question. We have a great pediatrician but I am not going to blindly follow his every word and there is no reason for you to get a new practitioner just because you feel the need to question his judgement. Whatever you decide, I say.....great job mom! :)

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S.D.

answers from Topeka on

I vaccinate all 3 of my kids the recommended guidlines I did however opt out of the Hep A my 1 yr old she can wait till she is in preschool for that one this is a new vaccine that came out I belive last school yr.When my 2nd child was little I was able to opt out of another vaccince becasue the DR felt it wasn't in her catergory to have it since she isn't in a daycare there is alot of vaccines but what would I do as a parent if my child became deathly ill from someone who traveled from a 3rd world country that brought in their disease or diseases on their flight or train ride here to the US or others from the US that brought it back form else where.I don't give Tylenol to reduce the shot it is a prick I know what it feels like and besides that I breastfeed my babies right before the natural pain reliver my kids flinch but don't cry no fever swelling or tenderness to the injection site no side effects that I can remeber I would if they had any.It is up to us parents to do what we think is right for our children yes I worry about Autism it is always in the back of my mind I have a great pediatrician and trust her she has children of her own and i'm sure she has the same concerns as any other parent.Chemicals are everywhere either injected or inhaled as we breath toxins in our food water supply medications cleaning products the list goes on and on I do wish that thye find out the links to Autism and like disorders I do belive that genetics plays a huge role in Autism.Children whom aren't ever vaccinated have autism so how'd they get it?If vaccines caused Autism.A family member on my husbands side is a chiropracter never vaccinated their children and their son has been diagnosed with Autism.

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M.C.

answers from Nashville on

Our pediatrician also combines those vaccines. So, both of my children got it that way. We really saw no difference from any other shot appointment. We always gave our babies a dose of Motrin about 20 minutes before the shot and then a dose of Tylenol as soon as we left the office and we continued with the Motrin through the rest of the shot day and before bed on shot night. That really seemed to minimize their discomfort and shot site pain. The only time I ever experienced a shot reaction was with my firstborn. She was about 9mths old and had gone for her well visit and shots. When we got home, I placed her in the warm bath. Well, little did I know that warm water can sometimes really irritate the heck out of a fresh shot site. =0( It was terrible and we wound up in the ER..........where they just gave her motrin and held an ice pack on her little thigh. LOL........my kids are now 6 and almost 4 and I never ever ever give them a bath the night they've gotten a shot. It scarred me for life. LOL

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