Child vaccination hesitancy — MMR/MMRV

PLAB 2 & PRES 3 · paediatrics · medium · 8 minutes

Candidate brief

You are a doctor in a GP practice. Mrs Rachel Byrne has brought her 12-month-old son, Adam, for his routine childhood vaccinations. She is considering postponing the vaccines after reading concerning information online. Explore her concerns, provide accurate information and agree an appropriate plan. No physical examination is required, but verbalise any safety checks you would perform.

What examiners look for

Vaccine hesitancy should be approached with curiosity, respect and accurate information. Ask what the parent has heard and address the specific concern rather than delivering a rehearsed lecture. MMR vaccination does not cause autism. Do not ridicule the parent or simply say that everything online is false. Explain both the benefits of vaccination and the possible side effects honestly. Serious vaccine reactions are rare, while measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox can cause significant complications. Always confirm the child’s date of birth and use the correct national schedule. UK mode: eligible young children receive MMRV according to the schedule introduced in January 2026. Ireland mode: eligible children receive separate MMR and varicella vaccines at 12 months, with later school-age doses according to the HSE programme. Check current illness, previous vaccine reactions, severe immunosuppression, immunosuppressive medicines, relevant allergies and recent blood products before administering a live vaccine. Obtain valid consent, provide safety-netting and keep the door open for further discussion or catch-up vaccination if the parent initially declines.

Guideline references

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