Mumsnet Talk

Where do they get the information from?

To give some background DD had what I witnessed as a severe reaction to her Men /Hib vaccine a year ago. Before my eyes she puffed up like a balloon and 24 hours later was covered in the most awful eczema, developed a skin infection that still flares up now, began wheezing, fever it was really awful.

After this I decided to put of the MMR as I was concerned and she wasn't well anyway so I thought about singles. After reading some threads on here I got Dr Halvoesen's details and we booked an appt to see him. To be frank he wasn't that informative at all and when we told him our "story" he just said he thought she could have singles and would we like the measels one now. So we went ahead and she had no side effects at all. However I was expecting him to be more sage like about the whole vaccines issue and provide me with some evidence to read up on. (Perhaps that's what the waiting room with his book on sale was for...)

I want to pursue the Rubella and Mumps (when it becomes available again) but to be honest she hasn't been in good health for so long that we just haven't got around to it. I am also very "concerned" about the swine flu vaccine as DD catches anything going and things hit her mega hard but like a lot of Mums I don't feel informed enough to go ahead with it.

Where do well- informed people get there research sources from re. vaccinations and their implications?

here is one of the sources

also here

you can find many of the original scientific surveys on Google scholar.

be careful though: a large, well-thought out study is worth many smaller ones. also there is a lot of scare-mogering about re vaccines. some people are referring to it when they say they've "researched" them.

as it goes, because your dd had a reaction to the hib vaccine does not mean she'll react to MMR. they are not the same. Moreover, if she did have a sensitivity to all vaccines, surely she'd react to the single measles one anyway?

re flu vaccine: it's not been thoroughly tested in its current form, but it has been tested, and the risks are still likely to be lower than the risks of flu (given that you've said she's susceptible)

Thanks. SP she had no reaction to the single measels no which was great. However there was something about that hib that didn't agree with her and how would I know they are "different" or they may use some of the same components, that is what I am asking if there is any way I can research into it.

All the sources I have found are hypothetical really. I did call a helpline (can't remember their name but they were v helpful) and they suggested I go for singles.

Production methods & Full ingredient lists vary, are usually possible 2 find on the Internet.
Why r U so sure it was HIb not Meningitis that she reacted to?

the nurse at our local practice is very good on telling me which vaccines hare ingredients. she'd probably know which ingredient was the most likely culprit too. have you asked at your local practice?

sorry "which vaccines have which ingredients"

In the name of limiting the number of vaccines your DD will have, you might consider not giving her the rubella vaccine at all. Rubella is a very mild childhood disease that is only dangerous for the fetus of non-immune pregnant woman. It is so mild that very often it goes unnoticed. (5 month old DS recently had it: 37.2 C (very low) fever one day, then a bit red behind the ears, then a slightly itchy rash on his forehead two days later that covered his body later in the day. The next day it was gone!)

If your DD has it on her own, great, she will be immune for life. Test her immunity at puberty and vaccinate her then if necessary.

I had long conversations with our GP (who is also a paediatric registrar specialising in oncology). Ds reacted to every jab so I was wary and reluctant although did get ds fully immunised, albeit later than the recommended ages as he was too poorly for a long time.

As a student I have access to academic journals and databases so usually use them but I would urge caution unless you're confident interpreting the info as someone else said.

Thank you everyone for your input.

Good point I am not sure if it was just the Hib she reacted to and the MenC is done at the same jab isn't it? To be frank I was a bit baffled by this vaccine. It was done at 13m and was the one in the schedule before the MMR, and I just went along like I had to all the others and had her done. I believe it is a booster of what has already present in the 3m jabs so maybe it overloaded her system. I have so may questions I suppose I will never have an answer to. I want to try though.

As far as Rubella perhaps I will hold that off till later, you are right. I am more concerned about her reaction that the illness at present absolutely.