Health Tips and Vaccine Safety with Lauren Feder, M.D.

Lauren Feder, M.D. is a physician, homeopath, lecturer, and writer. Her website, www.drfeder.com is a content rich homeopathic resource. DrFeder.com includes homeopathic and natural parenting information, remedies, books and videos. She is in private practice in Beverly Hills, California where she specializes in homeopathic medicine for children and adults. Lauren is the mother of two boys.

Disclaimer: The medical opinions stated here are for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.

Question:

Our 10 month old boy is expected to receive his first round of MMR vaccinations in two months. We are considering breaking the vaccine up into 3 seperate shots. Any thoughts? Article continues below

Answer:

ypically, the MMR vaccine is a trivalent vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. There have been studies that have come from Andrew Wakefield, M.D. director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Study Group in England that have suggested the possible link between persistent measles infection (either from the natural disease or the vaccine) and chronic inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS). There have also been many references linking autism to the MMR vaccine as well.

In addition, a researcher in Sweden found a significant relationship that people who naturally contracted measles and mumps in close succession could develop IBS. Questions have been raised to the fact that if we are offering the MMR as a single shot, would the interaction of both measles and mumps viruses contribute to the increase in bowel problems?

Although there is no proof of MMR's direct link to IBS, parents who have decided to vaccinate their children against MMR are actively seeking out alternatives, namely giving the vaccine as 3 separate shots (monovalent). This needs to be discussed with your pediatrician ahead of time so it can be ordered.

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