This below information is provided by Dr Cheang Hon Kit, Consultant Paediatrician/Neonatalogist of a private hospital in Penang.

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

(Reference note: The actions mentioned in the bullet form are some of the things that a baby/child is able to do at the different ages. Those marked in bold are warning signs that you may wish to refer to your respective paediatrician if you observe them.)

6 weeks old

* Smiles
* Stares at faces
* Startles to sudden noise

3 months old

*
Holds rattle placed in hand
*
Eyes follow moving person/object
*
Vocalises & laughs

6 months old

* Sits with support
* Rolls prone to supine
* Reaches out to grasp
* Turns to voice

*

Warning : Hand preference

Persistence of fisting

12 months old

* Walks holding furniture
* Bangs 2 objects held in hands
* Waves bye-bye
* Papa/mama specific

*

Warning : Unable to sit or bear weight

Absence of babbling

18 months old

* Walks unsupported
* Scribbles
* Feeds self with spoon
* 3 words other than papa/mama

*

Warning : Inability to stand without support

Inability to understand simple commands

2 years old

* Kicks ball
* Imitates vertical line
* Combines 2 different words

*

Warning : Unable to speak in short sentences

3 years old

*
Pedals tricycle
*
Copies circle
*
Dresses with help
*
Names 4 pictures

4 years old

* Hops
* Copies cross and square
* Brushes teeth without help
* Recognise 4 colours

5 years old

* Walks down stairs one foot per step
* Draws man with 6 parts
* Dramatic group play
* Define 6 words

According to my child’s schedule, the MMR is a one time jab which consist of Mumps, Measles and Rubella (German Measles). Usually this vaccine comes in a glass nebsules and only one injection.

For MMR, the recommended age to jab is between 12 - 15 mths. Most hospitals recommend 15 months.

At 5 yrs old, a child has to be jabbed again a booster dose. After that, no more jabs. So, MMR is a one dose jab.

But a majority of children weren’t given the MMR when they were small and there is a risk of an outbreak. Thus, the Government is paying millions of ringgit to get every child jab.

Right now, my two older children, age 14 yrs and 12 yrs are going to get another jab because I cannot prove to the Government Healthcare that I had given them the jab when they were 5 yrs old. My paed told me that at their age, they can take another booster dose.

From the pattern found in the UK (paed said) bigger children contract measles. Not because the jab earlier was ineffective but probably, the virus has gotten smarter.

As for taking separate jabs of MMR, I cannot fathom the wisdom behind it. Firstly, the vaccine producer made them in one shot. It saves our babies the pain of 3 jabs. Secondly, MMR has been MMR and not M, M and R. All 3 of these infections have their own danger. Measles if not treated early can lead to death. Mumps sometime affects the testicles of male children. Rubella - it is deadly to fetus.

Previously, the risk of MMR was because they used mercury/thimoresal as the preservative in the vaccine. But now, it has been phased out. It is wise to ask your doctor about this and also find out the name of company manufacturing the vaccine. As I know, there are good and expensive drugs and there are cheaper alternatives. So, also good to find out whether one is getting the latest and best one available.

I heard that MMR is available free in district clinic too.

My paediatrician has provided a link for further readings on the MMR issue.

As said earlier, those reports of autism has not been proven so, rest assured that it is safe to go ahead with the vacine.

They have done a lot of research on the combined MMR vacines so , it is safe-lah! After all, isn’t it better? The kids don’t have to suffer 3X!

Yes, when we were young , measles, mumps etc is the common childhood disease but today, we have the option of immunisation in the form of vacines and these disease may cause serious problems . Sure, even after vacines, kids may still get it, but if they do, at least it won’t be serious. In our goverment effort to get rid of this disease, goverment hospitals is now giving free MMR jab these days. Yeah! I think we should follows every shot recommended by the hospital

Luckily, chicken pox is a once in a life-time thing. Otherwise, I don’t think I can go through another one again ever! I got the virus 4 months after I delivered J Y. (Two months before that, I got an appendicitis operation)….It was terrible…I got fever for two days before dh discover some red ‘benjol’ spots on my body. I have to leave JY at my mom’s place for 2 weeks plus….it’s like the saddest days of my life. I cried for a few days because I missed my baby so much and also because of the persistent headaches that occured. I also looked the ugliest at that time….My face hit the worst…Every one day is like forever…sometimes, I so tak sabar-sabar towards the end , I start to ‘kopek’ the dried crust. So, I really don’t want my children to go through such a terrible ordeal…. definetely not at my age lar. I heard younger children will go through easier period with this virus, that’s why dh also thinks no need to go for the chicken pox jab yet. But I think I will still send JY for the immunisation.
I’m a Kiasu mom, but I think I will have no qualms in having my son vaccinated when he is due for the MMR jab.

As there is no scientific evidence, which supports the correlation between MMR vaccine and autism. The MMR vaccine, just like any other immunization shots is administered to prevent children from being exposed to potentially deadly and serious diseases.

If we choose not to give our child the MMR jab, that would make him more susceptible to measles. Measles outbreak have recently been found occurring in the UK and Germany following an increase in the number of parents who chose not to give their children the MMR vaccine. Discontinuing a vaccine program based on unproven theories would not be in anyone’s best interest I believe. Splitting the vaccine into three doses would mean more discomfort for the children too.

Just imagine if the rubella vaccine was to be delayed, approximately 4 million children would be vulnerable to rubella for an additional 6 to 12 months. This would potentially allow congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) to occur through transmission of rubella from infected children to pregnant women. Ironically, infection of pregnant woman with “wild” rubella virus is one of the few known causes of autism. Thus, by preventing rubella infection of pregnant women, MMR vaccine also prevents autism.