Single MMR
Contents
- SAVI Programme
- Autism & Bowel disease
- Benefits & effectiveness
- Risks
- Infection from the vaccines to others
- Supply problems
- Licenses
- Storage & transport
- Preparing vaccine for injection
- Antibody profile testing
- The vaccination course
- Clinical supervision & aftercare
- Booking an appointment
- SAVI clinic & mobile outreach service
- Payment Options
- The vaccination visit
- Follow-up support & audit
- What to do now
'SAVI' seeks to provide a valuable choice to parents who are anxious about the ongoing debate and rising concerns regarding the safety of the combined MMR vaccine. While re-iterating that the MMR vaccine is probably safe to the majority of children, we understand the worries caused by various scientific and observational studies that dispute its track record and link it with autism and bowel disease. Due to the fact that vaccinating children is essential to prevent them contracting serious and, sometimes, fatal illnesses, we believe that an alternative choice that is more acceptable or re-assuring to parents is worth providing. Thus, administering the inoculations as three separate injections at intervals of a few weeks or months appears to be far preferable to leaving children completely unprotected as a result of all the fears and doubts.
Because measles is the most serious of the three illnesses, we recommend that you obtain this vaccination first. The mumps vaccine is usually given second and the rubella vaccine as the third.
The minimum age of a child who is to commence the programme is 12 months. There is no upper age limit. The minimum gap or interval between each vaccine is 6 weeks. This is in line, but somewhat arbitrarily beyond, the advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that advocates a minimum three-week gap between live vaccines. This is in order for the vaccine to have sufficient time to incubate in the body, stimulate antibody production and then allow time for the immune system to settle back down to status-quo before introducing another vaccine internally. Some parents have chosen to leave a wider interval to allow longer for the child to recover from the preceding inoculation. The rising risk of actually becoming infected with the disease while waiting for the next vaccination is an issue that should be borne in mind if the gap between the vaccines is extended for long periods.
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• The causes of autism or inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. Crohns Disease) have not yet been fully elucidated. By offering the single antigen vaccination course, we are not implying that there is any proven link with these conditions and the combined MMR vaccine. We do not know of any guaranteed way to prevent these devastating illnesses.
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• The vaccines we offer have a proven track record at stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies that will protect against the relevant disease occurring or being severe. Due to individual variations in the immune system from person to person, the overall rate of antibody production is around 90% to 95%. Rates for the combined MMR are similar or indeed lower. It is important to obtain all three vaccines and not omit the rubella or mumps under the impression that they are not severe illnesses for boys or girls etc. Rubella is devastating to foetuses. Mumps can cause rare complications (such as sterility after puberty). It is important to seek booster doses of all three vaccines for full coverage long term.
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• All three vaccines are live and may produce a high temperature, general aches, rashes, runny nose or swollen glands: for a few days, soon after the injection or 7 to 21 days later when the vaccine is exerting its effects. Some very rare side effects have been seen over the decades of vaccine use. They include local swelling and redness, inflamed joints, inflammatory damage to the nervous system, the full blown disease itself and alterations in the blood cell counts. We cannot guarantee that any vaccine is absolutely safe with no side effects whatsoever. For more details please ask at your consultation. The single vaccine course is slower than the combined MMR because of the gaps between each vaccine and possible delays or scarcities in vaccine supply.
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Infection from the vaccine to others
• Please note that the vaccine strain of virus is not infectious. It will therefore not pose a risk to pregnant mothers or to individuals with a lowered immunity if they come in to contact with your child ro any other vaccine recipient.
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• The vaccinations are subject to availability. We have no control over the vaccine quantities that are manufactured or available for importation into the UK. As a result, there are occasions when the supplies run out. Please enquire about availability.
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• The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is a division of the Department of Health (DoH). It is responsible for issuing licenses for the importation, manufacture and distribution of vaccines in the UK (among other regulatory duties). All the vaccines made available by Direct Remedies Ltd are licensed for manufacture in their home countries and imported/distributed in the UK under license from the MHRA. Direct Remedies Ltd and other agents that we use are approved and licensed in this way
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• As recommended by the manufacturers, the storage and transport of the vaccines is such that they are always kept between 2 and 8 degrees centigrade. Industry standard fridges, cool boxes and ice packs are used for this purpose in order to maintain the essential cold chain.
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Preparing vaccine for injection
• The virus is contained in the form of a pellet in a vial and is supplied with fluid(usually preservative-free sterile water) to mix it with. The two components get gently mixed immediately prior to injecting the solution into your child as recommended by the manufacturers.
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The amount of antibodies in the blood is a way of assessing the immunity conferred by the vaccines. The test is not always accurate and it cannot predict the future immune status. It should not replace boosting your child’s immunity at the recommended intervals.
Some parents choose to have their child’s antibody levels checked before electing to give booster doses of vaccines at pre-school age. We do offer this service at the Sunbury Clinic only. Dr. Ratnasinghe maintains that these tests cannot predict how long the immunity would last and advises that it is safer to obtain booster doses in whichever way you prefer. By having the single vaccinations during one course your child is not committed to having the same later on. In other words the MMR could still be used for boosters if you so choose. You are indeed free to exercise your choice once again.
The test itself involves obtaining a 3 to 5 ml sample of blood from a vein. Quest Diagnostics Limited (our laboratory support) utilise an accurate ELISA technique for this measurement. The results are usually available within 5 working days and are reported in terms of a quantative amount of specific antibodies against the particular virus. The threshold level is given, below which immunity is generally thought to be inadequate.
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• There is no compulsory order in which the vaccines should be given but Measles vaccines should be obtained first whenever possible. The minimum age for these vaccines is 12 months, there is no upper age limit. The gap is a minimum of 6 weeks between each vaccine, in order to ensure the body has recovered from the previous vaccine and not leave it unnecessarily long before the next one. You are however free to keep a longer gap if you prefer.
All three vaccines should then be boosted by leaving at least a 3 month gap. It is usual to seek boosters just prior to your child starting full time primary school. This is the same or similar to the schedule if you were getting the combined MMR from your GP.
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Clinical supervision and aftercare
• Dr. Ratnasinghe, Consultant Paediatrician, personally ensures that all the above procedures and processes are maintained according to his high standards and strong commitment. He always administers the first vaccine personally. Subsequent vaccines are either given by him or a qualified children’s nurse. He also provides 24 hour support to address any concerns after the vaccines: on 07974 383 471.
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When you contact us and make a request we shall post the application pack to you promptly. It will contain the “SAVI: Integrated Care Plan”. This is an all-inclusive document that includes the relevant information, application form and authorisation signature. After the vaccinations it will also contain the consent signatures and vaccine records.
Alternatively you can download and print the application forms directly by clicking on the button marked "Reg Forms and Info Sheets" on the left.
- Read the Information section carefully and satisfy yourself that it is fully understood. Please direct any queries to us by telephone or e-mail. Any difficult clinical or technical questions will be passed on to Dr. Ratnasinghe.
- Fill in the Application section and sign the authorisation section which will allow us to process your child’s appointment and ensure vaccines are ordered in.
- Please leave the last page blank to be filled and signed during each clinic visit when you are sure you wish to give your child the vaccination.
- Post the whole document with all pages to: Direct Remedies Ltd, 2 Burgoyne Rd, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 7PW and include the registration fee plus first vaccine fee by cheque payable to ‘ Direct Remedies Ltd’.
- Your appointment will then be booked with direct discussion with you, usually by telephone to ensure it is mutually acceptable.
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Consistent with our principles of informed choice and quality service, your appointment is a consultation as well as an inoculation session. Dr. Ratnasinghe provides the service personally at your first visit. This gives you the opportunity to discuss the issues with a caring expert and an experienced parent all in one. The Consultant will go through the information and address any outstanding queries with you. After the discussion, you are invited to formally consent to the vaccination in writing. He shall ensure that your child is medically fit to be vaccinated. A mild cold or cough is not going to pose a problem. The vaccine itself is administered either into the outside of the upper thigh or in older children, into the upper arm. Please remember to bring your child's "red, yellow or blue book" (personal health record) so that a note may be made of the inoculation to inform your GP or health visitor. He or she will be observed for a further few minutes after the vaccine, while all the documentation is completed. A record of the vaccine details as well as a receipt of your payment will be handed to you for safekeeping.
On your second and third visit your child may be seen by either Dr. Ratnasinghe or one of his support nurses. The nurses are all specialist children’s nurses with appropriate qualifications, experience and registrations. The Consultant will always be in the vicinity if needed. The same process of obtaining informed consent as well as ensuring your child is fit shall be followed for each visit in order to optimise safety and the quality of care.
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'SAVI' clinic and mobile outreach service.
The 'SAVI' clinic is located at 2 Burgoyne road, Sunbury-On-Thames, Middlesex TW16 7PW . It is at the top of the M3 mortorway close to the Sunbury Cross roundabout. The nearest railway link is the Sunbury mainline station. They are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. Please contact us for available times.
Alternatively, your child's inoculation can be obtained closer to where you live by utilising our outreach service. Dr. Ratnasinghe, usually with support staff, will conduct clinics at a venue close by with mobile-vaccine-fridges, vaccines, inoculation, resuscitation and other equipment to provide you with all the benefits of our Sunbury clinic. There usually needs to be a minimum of 10 children to be vaccinated in your vicinity to make this feasible. There is an extra charge for the transportation and other expenses. The cost and inconvenience of travelling to a clinic that is many miles away, with child, buggy and luggage makes this aspect of 'SAVI' particularly appealing!
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We can only accept cheques for the registration fee plus first vaccine fee. Cheques will not be accepted for additional vaccinations or consultation payments.
We can however accept cash and all major credit/debit cards (except American Express).
Note: For the following outreach clinics:- Manchester, Exeter, Brighton, Peterborough, Dartford, Aberdeen, Bristol and Borehamwood; payment by credit card must be made prior to the clinic date as there are no card processing facilities at these clinics.
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The consultant is very keen to monitor the safety of the vaccines used and to provide support for any concerns that arise from the recognised rare complications of vaccinations. We would therefore like to encourage you to please report any suspected side-effects as soon as possible. Please call directly on 07974 383 471 (24 Hrs). This number is also useful to speak directly with Dr.Ratnasinghe should you have any urgent queries on suspected side effects.
We conduct regular audits of safety and efficacy of treatments as well as the quality of services. You may receive communication at some point in the future asking you if you would like to participate in this process. It helps us shape future projects and may even benefit the general public when it pertains to the issues behind the MMR vaccine.
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If you have decided to proceed with 'SAVI':
Contact us on the above number to clarify any details and to obtain a copy of the “SAVI: Integrated Care Plan”. Alternatively you may download and print the documents directly from this website by clicking the button above.
Read all the information carefully and fill the
Application section as fully as you can. Leave
the last page blank for it to be completed during
each vaccination visit.
Sign the authorisation section thus allowing us to process the application and order the vaccines for your child.
Post the whole completed document with
a cheque made payable to Direct Remedies
Ltd.
Please bring your child's personal health record (Red/Yellow/Blue book) for the vaccination appointment.
If any additional outreach information is required
(e.g. venues and times) please contact us.
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Best wishes from us all!
