Has MMR damaged our children?

eyebaglil: This is a real 'no-win' situation.

My daughter has had both rounds of MMR, my son has only had one - although he was due the second dose some months ago.

The reason he hasn't had the second dose is because I lost trust in my doctor. He told me that I could expect my son to have a slight fever and possibly a mild rash after the jab (just as my daughter had).

My son had the highest temperature he has ever had, before or since, and turned scarlet all over. If my doctor had explained that any of this was normal, and why, I'd probably still be with that practice. Instead he told me that 'educated mothers do tend to over-react'! Well, forget the snub to my 'uneducated' neighbours, explain why it's an over-reaction, you patronising chauvinist wotsit!

Add to that my days explaining why 'there is no evidence that BSE is transferable to humans' (just one reason why I'm no longer working for Her Majesty), and you've got a fine level of distrust.

I do, however, believe in immunisation - I have a friend who had polio as a child, how could I not believe in immunisation?

What I don't understand is why it has to be MMR or nothing. Why not allow separate jabs? It would build up the herd immunity (more slowly than MMR, admittedly, but more quickly than no immunisation at all). Is it money? What's the truth behind the allegations that doctors get paid for every MMR jab they administer? I don't know - it's a genuine question.

So, I'm torn. I'm pro-immunisation, but anti-MMR. And the obvious way out - separate immunisations - is not on offer. What's a caring, but over-educated mother to do?

P.S. I had measles as a child, with no apparent side-effects - though it may be the reason why Mr Magoo here is the only one in the family who doesn't have 20/20 vision. Who doesn't want a perfect child? But, myopia or autism? The choice isn't too hard, if you have to risk something...