GP Vivas · child-and-youth-health
Childhood immunisation — structured viva
Structured oral on childhood immunisation: the MMR-autism myth answered with cohort data, immune overload refuted, true versus false contraindications, live vaccine timing, febrile seizure counselling numbers, No Jab No Pay evidence, and the systems that keep coverage up.
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Study tools
Target exams
RACGP CCEFRACGP oralsMRCGP SCA
Prompt
The examiner opens: 'A parent tells you vaccines caused her nephew's autism and that her baby's immune system can't handle six antigens at once. Talk me through the consultation.' The viva branches through the evidence, contraindications, live-vaccine rules, adverse-event counselling and systems.
Stem
You are the GP. The parent is not anti-vaccine — she is frightened. [10]
References10ShowHide
- [1]Hviid A, Hansen JV, Frisch M, et al. Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccination and Autism: A Nationwide Cohort Study Ann Intern Med, 2019.PMID 30831578
- [2]Madsen KM, Hviid A, Vestergaard M, et al. A population-based study of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism N Engl J Med, 2002.PMID 12421889
- [3]Farrington CP, Miller E, Taylor B MMR and autism: further evidence against a causal association Vaccine, 2001.PMID 11395196
- [4]Di Pietrantonj C, Rivetti A, Marchione P, et al. Vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella in children Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2020.PMID 32309885
- [5]DeStefano F, Price CS, Weintraub ES Increasing exposure to antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides in vaccines is not associated with risk of autism J Pediatr, 2013.PMID 23545349
- [6]Sun Y, Christensen J, Hviid A, et al. Risk of febrile seizures and epilepsy after vaccination with diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliovirus, and Haemophilus influenzae type B JAMA, 2012.PMID 22357833
- [7]James JM, Burks AW, Roberson PK, et al. Safe administration of the measles vaccine to children allergic to eggs N Engl J Med, 1995.PMID 7708070
- [8]Beard F, Hendry AJ, Gidding HF, et al. Impact of Australia's No Jab, No Pay policy on vaccination uptake - a before-after study in two national birth cohorts Lancet Reg Health West Pac, 2025.PMID 39720421
- [9]Hillan A, Pung L, Ridderhof S, et al. Public health audit of vaccine cold chain management in general practice and community pharmacy in Western Australia Aust N Z J Public Health, 2024.PMID 39003884
- [10]Levi BH Addressing parents' concerns about childhood immunizations: a tutorial for primary care providers Pediatrics, 2007.PMID 17606557