'Single' MMR at Private GP Services
(available at Springfield Hospital only)

As doctors and mothers ourselves (nine children between us), we are confident of the safety of the MMR vaccination and have given it to our children aged 13 months and at pre-school.

However, we appreciate that many parents have had concerns about the vaccination since the publication of Professor Wakefield's work which suggested an association between the MMR vaccine, Autism and Crohn's Disease. Parents have only been afforded two choices in the NHS: to vaccinate or not to. There are many parents who are deciding to opt against the MMR and leaving their children vulnerable to serious illnesses. Those parents who have tried to access the single vaccines have found it impossible to source it, this has only heightened their concerns.

For this reason, we have decided to offer the single vaccines not only for the benefit of each child but also to increase the immunity levels in the community at large.

Please Note: There has been a worldwide shortage of mumps vaccine, but supplies are now returning to normal.

Common misconceptions:

The MMR overloads the immune system.
There has not been the same concerns given to the six vaccines that babies are given aged 2,3 and 4 months when they receive diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, HIB and meningitis C.

Single vaccines are a lower dosage and do not contain the same strains.
The vaccines we import contain the same strains of virus and come in the same dosages that make up the MMR vaccine. They are imported from reputable manufacturers from Europe, N.America, Australia and India.

Do the vaccines contain mercury?
No Nor do they contain thiomersal. These are not components of live vaccines.

Is the Cold Chain compromised?
The appropriate transportation and storage requirements are adhered to both by the importers and by ourselves when we receive the vaccines.

The vaccines do not have a product license and are unsafe.
It is true, they are not licensed by the Medicines Control Agency. However, we have used the Rubella and Measles vaccine separately in the past but not the Mumps vaccine. There seems to be no reason to think it is any less effective in the single, rather than combined, form. They are produced by reputable companies and appropriately transported and stored.

Do you need the preschool booster?
Yes, it is important to have this either in the safe MMR form or as single vaccines.

How far apart between single vaccines and in what order?
The ideal is 3 months apart. However this is not set in stone and is only suggested as it allows a complete immune response to each vaccine. Any further apart and there is a risk of contracting the other diseases.
The preferred order in our practice is Measles first, then Rubella and then Mumps. However, due to inconsistent supplies of the vaccines, we will discuss this with you and plan an individualised programme for each child so that they have all 3 vaccines completed within 6 months.

Cost of each vaccine?
The cost of the consultation plus the vaccine is £95.00 for measles and rubella and app. £165.00* for mumps. Please bring the vaccine record book with you so we can complete the vaccination record. We will give parents a letter for their GP of the vaccination details so that the medical records are kept up to date.

* Due to the worldwide shortage of the mumps vaccine, supplies and costs have been difficult to confirm. Our supplies are now returning to normal, but because of the shortage, and lack of confirmation on prices, the price for the mumps vaccine is a guide price only.

If you are unconvinced as to the safety of the MMR and would like your child to have the single vaccines, then please telephone us on 01245 234093 for further details.