MMR VACCINE POST ALLO TRANSPLANT.

Hi, I had my SCT (BMT) in September 2020, and had all my ‘Childhood Vaccinations’ following that as recommended, and was told not to have any Live Vaccinations for some time as I had ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura). I had the Shingrix Vaccination which is two doses eight weeks apart, which is inactive without any reaction. I had been told that I should avoid large public gatherings and kept to that and wore a mask when shopping or travelling on Public Transplant. As time has gone on I have enquired about the MMR vaccination as Measles is now widely in the Public domain, I am now on the Annual Wellness Clinic routine at the Queen Elizabeth Haematology Clinic which is Nurse led, but I can direct questions to the Doctor who had seen me since my Transplant. Anyway, I enquired about the MMR Vaccination for me and I was told that in 2024 the Policy had changed with the Vaccine ‘now on our routine vaccination schedule’ at 30 months post transplant (use MMR  VaxPro or Boostrix IPV). This recommendation is from the NHS University Hospitals Birmingham Department of Haematology, Document no. BS60V0.1 Review date 20/04/2024. Obviously, everyone is different and should consult their own medical team but I hope this helps. 

Hi pwhound

My wife had her sct in August 21, was given a very detailed and comprehensive vaccine schedule. This included the MMR vaccine around 24 months post transfer, we were a little apprehensive at first but a chat with her team was all we needed to get assurance. She had the 2 doses and no problems. Just check with your team and get the assurance you need.

Regards

FULHAMBOY

Hi again pwhound 

As always I brought this up at my yearly late effects phone call (April 2026) and I was still category told I would not have the MMR……

I am in Scotland and I was told that each case is looked at on an individual case to case basis.

I am coming up to 11 years post my second Allo SCT this coming Oct and was told that the fact I had 2 Allo’s….. I carry a ‘No functioning Spleen’ card and a few other long term issues tipped my scales to no.

Hi Mike

Good to chat you you again, it realy is,a case by case basis and always,best to check with the teams regarding ANY concerns.

BTW

My wife has just celebrated her 5th re birthday on 4th August and doing great 

Great to hear - happy 5th re-birthday to her

Hi Fulhamboy

yes I just thought I would share the update on the recommendation to now have the MMR earlier, but as you say, everyone should check with their own Consultants as we are all different

Hi all, 

I’m very interested in the updates on this discussion. The MMR issue has been very much front of mind with me too. 

I am a myeloma patient a year post SCT, hampered by spinal fractures but otherwise doing pretty good. As myeloma hit just as we were about to embark on retirement I had several grand travel plans I would love to resurrect. Nothing overly exotic - time in Canada, a small ship cruise - and I was originally given the hope that after 2 years maybe MMR was an option if my counts were good. However I’m in a relatively small community where the (fantastic) MacMillan team for the area haven’t seen every cancer permutation.

i am on lenalidomide maintenance for life and have been told categorically in the last week by Aberdeen that the MMR vaccine is not a future option, it is a lifelong NO. It’s been a real slap as I’ve been doing research into the dramatic growth in measles outbreaks. Until someone comes up with a non live vaccine I don’t see an answer for our particular cohort. I am delighted for those who have been given the option.

i did call Blood Cancer UK last week on this very point and spoke to a lovely nurse who promised to do some digging and come back to me. I’m waiting to hear back. There has been a tiny, tiny study in the US giving the MMR to 2 year plus maintenance myeloma patients with very few adverse effects so maybe there is hope. My consultant’s view is that the risk of measles from the vaccine is much higher than getting measles from community infection. Maybe that balance will tip, which would be a horrible situation. Or maybe in a couple years with vaccination pushes the community risk will decrease. 

It’s not even necessarily a case of curbing travel. A British boy recently caused an outbreak in Spain. I live in a place with a fairly high number of tourists, so maybe my rural idyll isn’t necessarily any safer than anywhere else! 

This has been my head worm this week and I need to get past it. So thanks for opportunity to write it all down. 

Btw - all the other re-vaccinations over the last 6 months or so, including Shingrix, have not caused me any issues. 

Hi ElsieM and welcome to this little corner of the community......... and I Hi from up in Inverness.... the tourist hub for the Highlands..... to the point we hardly ever go into Inverness during the busy session.

The MMR thing is a quandry. Due to me having to be treated for my 2 rare T-Cell NHLs at the same time my main treatment journey from late 2013 to late 2015 was rather complicated (See my story) but I am quickly coming up to 11 years since my second Allogenic Stem Cell Transplant (yes I had 2) and I doing great.

........ but my team in Glasgow are 100% that I will not be having the MMR...... so its all about navigating this as best as I can but there are areas of the world I wouldn't go near.