MMR Reassurance

Updated on January 26, 2015
R.M. asks from Evanston, IL
30 answers

My children (6, 9) received their first MMRs on Thursday with my 10 year old receiving his second (first was when he was 1 yr old)... No reactions until today when my 10 year old woke up with a fever (102) and headache which he describes as his head feeling heavy. He also has gas. In his baby book I had written that he had a fever when he received it at 1 also. I stopped vaxing 8 years ago when my middle daughter had a bad reaction to the DtaP but with this measles outbreak my husband and I talked about it and I decided hesitantly to get them their MMR shots. Now getting online today to look up his symptoms I have myself completely freaked out and regretting it... Horror stories and stories about brain damage eye etc. Can some mamas whose kids have had the MMR and been ok give me some reassurance that I made the right decision? :(

ETA I did text my Dr who said these are common reactions, but am also looking for others' experiences. TIA!

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T.N.

answers from Albany on

All 3 of my kids had minor reactions to most vacs, a little fever, soreness at injection sight, etc.

http://www.immunize.org/cdc/schedules/

Please keep in mind, it is not in the best interest of the United States Government to routinely poison its own children.

Use common sense while sifting through "information" you find from googling. Follow the AMA guidlines, and be aware that the entire WORLD looks to the AMA for medical legitimacy.

:)

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

My kids usually have a minor fever after they have their shots. All three of them.

You did make the right decision. He'll be fine in a day or so. Think of it this way, a day with a fever is nothing compared to getting the measles!

Ignore the anti-vac stuff. It's all fake science.

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M.M.

answers from Boston on

Please ignore the anti-vax garbage out on the internet. All vaccines have their side effects ...I also agree that MMR is pretty important one ...a few possible side effects are better that the risks and possible complications of catching these illnesses. My son has had his MMR shots and he is FINE. I too have had my MMR shots over the years (yes, despite contracting mumps in 1967 after receiving an ineffective mumps vaccine and I did "share" it with other members of my family at the time -but that's another story)
So, yes, you did good vaccinating......
Hope he feels better

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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Good job mom!!! You are protecting your kids and others!!

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R.B.

answers from San Francisco on

You are simply suffering from a case of Cyberchondria. Been there, done that.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2449801/Cyberch...

I had all of my kids vaccinated, they are all fine. Your son will be too.

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A.L.

answers from Atlanta on

Both of our kids (almost 13 and 9 1/2) have had the full vaccinations against MMR and neither of them had any reactions. I echo the other posters who have said that researching symptoms on the internet will not give you any helpful information and will only cause panic. Think of it this way: who is going to post an account about how their child had NO reaction or problem to the shots? It's a non-story, just like your local paper isn't going to run a story about how a fire alarm inspection at the town hall went without any incident. So the only information you are likely to find regarding these symptoms in reaction to a vaccination is about the extremely rare times when something bad happens. All the statistical reports about the rarity of bad reactions also isn't likely to reassure you in this moment because your brain is probably going to focus on the 1-in-a-100,000 bad occurrence. So I'd recommend not doing more research. If our accounts of our kids being fine is a reassurance, great.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Please re-read Anne L's very excellent advice until you feel better.

The fact of the matter is that she is right--people who post with problems are the minority-- no one is going to go online to say "I had typical side effects and feel fine a few days later"... it's only going to be horror stories.

I'll also say that one bad reaction is sometimes just that. My son's four year DTap left his thigh hot, red and enormous for about a week. His next Dtap was unremarkable, he was fine. Just please, stay off the internet unless you are looking at the CDC/Mayo clinic sites and yes, stay in touch with the advice nurse if there's anything alarming. I have to say, I find that asking "what are the signs he needs to be brought in" is better for me in reassuring me what is within norms and what are outlying health concerns.

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D.B.

answers from Boston on

The fever and other reactions are common. But the fear reaction is based on a whole lot of unsubstantiated claims on the internet - honestly, brain damage?

Not vaccinating is so incredibly risky. I'm the sort who believes medications should be given infrequently and as a last resort, but good heavens I absolutely vaccinated my son. I think a flu vaccine is optional for many people if they don't have compromised immune systems (although most people do have it to some degree), but not vaccinating against measles, DPT and everything else is incredibly unwise. All these nearly-eradicated diseases, with long-lasting side effects in others who are exposed, are coming back. Many pediatricians are telling anti-vaxxer parents that they cannot bring their children into the offices and risk the health of other patients.

Get off the internet, talk to your pediatrician, and if you don't like those answers, get a second opinion. But don't just fail to vaccinate based on junk you read on the internet. The diseases are far more serious than the occasional reaction to the vaccine, and so many others are put at risk.

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M.W.

answers from San Francisco on

My grandfather suffered from TB years ago which meant my grandmother and mother suffered along with him as he was quarantined at a hospital miles away for months and months. It is still a lingering painful story that is in our family history.

We are very pro vaccine yet that doesn't mean I don't have fears. But I can't let the "what ifs" and fears keep me from doing what is best for my family and my world community.

Our kids have had no major reactions to vaccines...maybe an occasional mild fever, soreness at injection spot and sleepiness but that is it. Better that than full fledged TB or measles etc.

I try to have faith in science and that our doctors are really doing what they spent thousands of hours studying and paying tuition for...keeping you,me,my kids and humanity healthy.

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M.P.

answers from Asheville on

The reaction sounds pretty common. Listen to your doctor. You did the right thing. And a word of advice- don't go looking for medical answers on the internet. Esp if you are already worried about vaccinations in general. It's the best place for worst case scenarios. Your son will be fine.

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

Kids will have a reaction to any vaccine. The fever and aches are his body fighting the DEAD virus. His body is building antibodies to the disease. He should be fine in a few days.

I am of the generation before vaccines. I was a baby during the last polio outbreak. Most parents don't realize the long lasting effects measels can have on a person. Red measels can cause a very high fever which can cause brain damage. Many children of my generation who got measels became blind or had a form of mental retardation as a result of the high fever. These kids were born normal.
Since most of the kids born in the '60's and after were vaccinated many doctors have never seen measels and parents do not realize the side effects of typical childhood illnesses. I undertand the hesitance to vaccinate I believe vaccines are a gift.

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R..

answers from San Antonio on

Over they years my children have had various mild reactions to their vaccines. From swollen red hot to the touch injection sites, fevers (brought down with Tylenol or Motrin), being tired, mild headaches, etc.

They are 10 and 7...both are totally "normal" typical kids no long lasting side effects. No major reactions or anything that even required a call to the doctor's office.

I applaud you and your husband for giving them the benefits of being vaccinated against some nasty viruses.

Remember vaccines take a couple of weeks, typically two, to be fully effective. So if they did come down with measles (I understand southern California is having an outbreak) they were exposed before the vaccine or while it was still not fully effective. They cannot catch it from the shot, they are dead viruses.

Stay calm and give it another 24 to 48 hours and all will be fine. Big hugs!!

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E.T.

answers from Rochester on

Very common side effects. Stay off the internet. Only the horror stories get posted.

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

i'm not anti-vax by any means. i AM vaccine-skeptical, in that i don't think every single shiny new vaccine that comes on the market needs to be leapt upon. for the first couple of decades we're all guinea pigs, make no mistake.
but the MMR is a pretty important one. you'll hear that it's 100% safe and no one ever has bad reactions, which is not true. i do know 1, possibly 2 kids who had vaccine damage from the MMR, 1 of them severe.
but that's 2 kids out of thousands. i'm an older gal, and i teach and have been in homeschool co-ops for years, and a lot of kids have passed before my eyes.
i say you made the right decision. the MMR is one of the ones i would not skip. there's a tipping point of efficacy versus risk that i find unacceptable in a lot of the modern vaccines, but the MMR has such a high rate of effectiveness with a relatively low risk that there's no way i'd skip it. keep a close eye on him, treat the symptoms, and stay calm, mama. chances are excellent that he's going to be just fine in a day or two.
khairete
S.

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K.W.

answers from Seattle on

A fever is an indication that the immune system is working on something. It's a good sign. And congratulations on getting them vaccinated.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Having a 102 temperature would give anyone a bad headache. I would give him Motrin or Advil to reduce the fever and I bet his headache will feel better.

It could be just a coincidence but I think it is not uncommon to have a fever after shots.

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L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

You need to call you doctor's office if you are this worried. Googling information about vaccinations is just opening up a can of worms. Remember, you cannot believe everything you read on the internet. Folks who have gone to medical school and have years of experience in practice are the ones who can alleviate your concerns. I had a horrible reaction to the flu vaccine once and told my doctor. She convinced me to keep getting the shot because I have asthma and have had pneumonia, twice. My children both had mild fevers with DtaP, but then were fine.

Children die of the measles. You did the right thing.

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B.K.

answers from Chicago on

Thank you for vaccinating! Look at all the vaccinated people walking around today who are fine. Don't scare yourself on the internet. (Your son could have the flu. It might not be a reaction.)

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V.S.

answers from Reading on

My children have never missed a vaccine and are perfectly healthy. I feel for the children who cannot be vaccinated due to age or illness - they are so vulnerable. What you're describing is normal.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

My kids are fully vaccinated, with the exception of the yearly flu shot. My youngest always gets a fever when he gets a vaccine, it is part of his autoimmune issues. We wait till it hits and then treat with Tylenol if needed. He is fine in a couple of days.

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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

My DD had a reaction to a different vax, but just a mild fever. She had NO reaction to the MMR. Frankly, my grandfather had polio in his 30s and suffered the rest of his life, so we are pro-vax. I split them out as often as possible (not available for MMR) even if it means more visits over time. I would keep an eye on him and also bear in mind that right now is cold and flu season. My DD recently had a fever for 2 days, just because it's going around. FYI, my DD has had 2 MMR. One before her first birthday (travel) and one before she started school (because the first one didn't count). She's fine.

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B.B.

answers from Missoula on

Yep, normal reaction. I have two fully-vaxxed and very healthy kids; fevers are common after immunizations--his immune system is doing its job. You made the right decision for your family and for the families of infants who are too young to be vaccinated and those with compromised immune systems who can't be vaccinated. Good work.

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A.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Two fully vaccinated kids here, 4 and 7. My 7 year old had a little fever a few times, both of them will occasionally be a little sleepy or run down for a day or so. Both are very healthy.
There are mothers in developing countries who would do anything to get their kids the protection that some parents in the US scorn. Frankly, it kind of pisses me off. It's the ultimate first world conceit to refuse a readily available public health benefit because it is the trendy thing to do. I mean, if Jenny McCarthy thinks it is the thing to do....

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C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

My two kids are fully vaccinated, including Gardisil (for the one who is old enough), and the flu (every year without fail). After most of their vaccinations, they ran a little fever, or maybe felt a little headachy or "off". That always subsided over the course of a day, and I can rest assured that they're safe from these communicable diseases. You did the right thing for your kids. It will be okay!

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

This sounds perfectly normal in my experience. We usually gave Tylenol before we left the house to get the shots and then again later that day but I would have expected this reaction if our guys got shots.

Updated

This sounds perfectly normal in my experience. We usually gave Tylenol before we left the house to get the shots and then again later that day but I would have expected this reaction if our guys got shots.

3 moms found this helpful

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

Better a side effect like low fever or soreness or headache than the symptoms and potentially debilitating effects of the actual diseases.

A little Tylenol and your kids will be just fine. Good job for protecting your children. Please get them back on a vaccination schedule.

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L.J.

answers from New Orleans on

My son was 15 1/2 months and got one of the vaccines(forgot which one) and flu shot anyway 7-9 hours later he was burning up witg 102 fever. Called the after hour nurse which just told me to rotate motrin and tylenol. The next morning I called the doctor's office and asked the nurse, if the flu shot or the other shot was causing this high of a fever, she said she didn't think so and if he wasn't better by tomorrow then bring him in. During that day his fever was finally breaking. In a way it may been the shots or not who knows.

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M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Thank you for vaccinating them - and congratulations!!

A fever means its working. Should be fine. Pop some Tylenol in him and let him rest a little, he'll be fine!!

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D.H.

answers from Louisville on

Years ago, my youngest had to get an MMR early - cause a teen worker at the daycare had measles. (when she found out, she told everyone - yet the crazy health dept did NOTHING for another week - then posted on the door one morning that your child could not stay w/o a current MMR -- doc even called the dept saying he was not due - he had to have it or not attend - stupid rule since he was still covered on prior immunizations). None of mine had any issues - and grand hasn't had any issues.

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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

The good news is that they are all old enough to tell you exactly how how they are feeling.

You can't un-do it so I'd just keep an eye on him.

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