MMR
Sharon took Imogen to Addenbrooke's for her Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunisation today.
She was originally scheduled to have it at our GP surgery in Royston a couple of months ago (around about her 13th month), but when they got there Sharon pointed out that Immie is allergic to dairy and therefore probably eggs, and that the MMR vaccine contains egg (because, like many vaccines, egg is used in the manufacturing process), the nurse and GPs decided that it should be done at the hospital just in case she had an allergic reaction.
So, a few weeks later, she had an appointment arranged but had been ill (one of these winter viruses going round) leading up to it so we had to cancel and rearrange again, hence the fact that she's having it now, at just over 15 months.
I didn't go myself since I was at work, but Sharon filled me in on the details. Apparently the doctor checked Imogen over first to ensure she was fit and well and didn't have any breathing problems beforehand, which she really didn't like at all and screamed the place down trying to escape (now that she's very mobile, and surprisingly strong). Then a nurse came in as well to help with the actual injection, holding her arm still while it was given, and again she was most unhappy! She calmed down quite quickly though, particularly once Sharon handed over a purse for her to play with. Obviously money is the answer to her unhappiness!
The doctor then stayed with them for fifteen minutes observing, since that is the most likely time for a bad allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock etc.), but thankfully there were no problems. They had to stay for a few hours though, and Immie was checked firstly on the hour and then again at just under three hours, at which point she was given the all clear and they could come home.
Bit clingy for the rest of the day, but bedtime was fairly normal and hopefully she won't develop any reaction over the next couple of weeks. Apparently it can make eczema worse for a little while, so we'll keep an eye out for that as well as the various types of rash they say can develop.
As it turns out, the doctor at Addenbrooke's said she hasn't seen any major reactions since the vaccine was changed a few (five?) years ago, and although they have tried telling GPs that there's no reason to send toddlers with allergies to the hospital for the injection, most still feel happier doing so, just in case (better safe than sorry where these things are concerned, if you're going to have a nasty reaction then hospital is the place to be!).
So, everything's gone well, and hopefully it will continue to stay that way.
She was originally scheduled to have it at our GP surgery in Royston a couple of months ago (around about her 13th month), but when they got there Sharon pointed out that Immie is allergic to dairy and therefore probably eggs, and that the MMR vaccine contains egg (because, like many vaccines, egg is used in the manufacturing process), the nurse and GPs decided that it should be done at the hospital just in case she had an allergic reaction.
So, a few weeks later, she had an appointment arranged but had been ill (one of these winter viruses going round) leading up to it so we had to cancel and rearrange again, hence the fact that she's having it now, at just over 15 months.
I didn't go myself since I was at work, but Sharon filled me in on the details. Apparently the doctor checked Imogen over first to ensure she was fit and well and didn't have any breathing problems beforehand, which she really didn't like at all and screamed the place down trying to escape (now that she's very mobile, and surprisingly strong). Then a nurse came in as well to help with the actual injection, holding her arm still while it was given, and again she was most unhappy! She calmed down quite quickly though, particularly once Sharon handed over a purse for her to play with. Obviously money is the answer to her unhappiness!
The doctor then stayed with them for fifteen minutes observing, since that is the most likely time for a bad allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock etc.), but thankfully there were no problems. They had to stay for a few hours though, and Immie was checked firstly on the hour and then again at just under three hours, at which point she was given the all clear and they could come home.
Bit clingy for the rest of the day, but bedtime was fairly normal and hopefully she won't develop any reaction over the next couple of weeks. Apparently it can make eczema worse for a little while, so we'll keep an eye out for that as well as the various types of rash they say can develop.
As it turns out, the doctor at Addenbrooke's said she hasn't seen any major reactions since the vaccine was changed a few (five?) years ago, and although they have tried telling GPs that there's no reason to send toddlers with allergies to the hospital for the injection, most still feel happier doing so, just in case (better safe than sorry where these things are concerned, if you're going to have a nasty reaction then hospital is the place to be!).
So, everything's gone well, and hopefully it will continue to stay that way.
posted by Richard Warren at 8:31 PM
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