immunisations - how much worse are side effects now meningitis and rotavirus are included?

[worrierandwine]

I guess this is for the mums who have an older child who didn't have the meningitis and rotavirus and also a child who has but all feedback appreciated.
Someone who puts everything on Facebook has just posted how much worse her DS3 is suffering with 1st imms compared with her other 2 sons. Worried about DD2 having them now I know every child is different and I wouldn't ever not take her but I'm dreading it even more now! Please tell me it's not so bad !

[RockCrushesLizard]

I've heard this too, from my 2nd time around NCT group, who are in the midst of them. A bit apprehensive...

[pilou]

Yes, it was worse for DC2 with the extra jabs. Very squealy and grumpy for the rest of the day, fine by the next day. But manageable and so much better to have the extra jabs than not.

[Duckstar]

It's the Men B which has more reported side effects. That's why advice now is to have calpol as soon as they have jab and then 2 more doses 4/6 hrs apart. Even with the side effects it is far safer for children to be immunised.

My eldest was hospitalised with rotavirus - it was the worst week of my life. My other 2 got the immunisation - any side effects were nothing in comparison.

[AStreetcarNamedBob]

Yes the Men B which is given at 8 and 16 weeks is quite nasty.

I have 3 children - the first 2 sailed through all the jabs but my last baby theyve not added men b. When he had the 8 week jabs he got a terrible fever even with calpol. They recommend now giving calpol ASAP after the jab even before the fever appears.

He just had the 12 week ones last week and was fine with them as the men b isn't jn that. Not looking forward to 16 weeks tho

[outputgap]

3 kids here too, with the last the only one having men b as a baby. I can't say I noticed any difference but as Bob says, the recommendations about taking calpol pre-emptively are new and due to the higher likelihood of a fever. (The older ones had men b privately and it gave them sore legs.)

But yes, it is not so bad! It's great to have that vaccine for free.

[worrierandwine]

I agree the alternative doesn't bear thinking about but I'm a horrendous worrier when it comes to their health, especially with fever. I'm petrified of the possibility of the seizures they can get with the high temperature. I know the doctors say they're common but I watched a programme once where a little girl had permanent brain damage and severe epilepsy as a result of a febrile convulsion. Thanks for all the feedback .

[orangebird69]

My ds had no side effects from Rota and had a temperature with Men B for one night. Just stock up with calpol and you'll be fine. It's better than the alternative.

[Strawclutching]

No side effects at all here.

[GiraffesAndButterflies]

Mine slept really well after his first jabs, no other side effects after the second batch.

He hated the Calpol and endeavoured to spit it out both time, didn't seem to affect his fever though.

My 3yo on the other hand just had the preschool booster and went on about it for days .... ("My arm REALLY hurts Mummy. Which arm was it again?" )

[ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay]

It is worse. But it's a day or two at the most. Have calpol ready, lots of cuddles and they will be fine. Please do not consider not vaccinating. A few days of feeling poorly is better than the very real and serious risk of meningitis.

[welshweasel]

Mine didn't turn a hair for the first two lots. The final set gave him very swollen legs for a few days and he had a few hours of being unhappy and screaming. No fever with any of them and certainly nothing that would make me think twice about vaccinating in the future.

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

No side effects here.

[sleeplessbunny]

My dc both had the men b separately (before it was available on NHS) and suffered from a sore limb for about 24hrs afterwards, managed with calpol. I think that is the main additional side effect.

[worrierandwine]

Thanks for the replies everyone. DD2 is quite a "warm" baby anyway so that's why I worry about her temp getting too high. I would never consider the alternative though, as a few of you have said, a high temp for the protection they get is a small price to pay. I always have calpol in for her sister so I'll just make sure to keep dosing her regularly.

[Paintedhandprints]

Ds2 has only had his 1st set of jabs so far but he didn't seem to have any side affects other than tender/sore legs. I gave 2 doses of calpol after but I dont think he needed it.
All children are different of course.

[willhazboz]

My dd2 had the first set of jabs at 3! She eventually settled (ie stopped screaming at the top of her lungs) at 7 but I had to wake her 15 mins later for her next calpol (I was told 4hrs) and so she screamed until about 10 minutes ago. Dh is in work and I haven't eaten since 11am. By contrast dd1 had a scream when she had the jab had a bottle and was sleepy for the rest of the day. Think she had rotavirus aswell though. Definitely worth it though! Considering getting dd1 the jab privately as she is just a tiny bit too old. It's quite expensive though!

[fabulous01]

Mine had no side effects. Calpol given immediately after appointment. Yes they slept a bit and were a bit teary as if remembering the jabs but nothing else.

[bumbleymummy]

If you're worried, why don't you have them separately? I know quite a few mums who have given the MenB at a different time because fever is more likely with it. (That's why they recommend calpol before it - it doesn't impact immune response to MenB vaccine whereas it's not usually recommended before other vaccines).

[HopperBusTicket]

I have a 5yo and a 10mo. I am not aware that the rotavirus vaccine has serious side effects. We were just told to be careful with his nappies so that no one caught it from them. We were given information about the possible side effects of the Men B vaccine which are more likely when they have the first dose (at 8 weeks). The vaccination is likely to cause a fever so You are advised to give a dose of Calpol straight away (I took a bottle to the surgery but you could give some as soon as you get home) and then two further doses. This is not standard advice for Calpol in such young babies but is because they know the cause of the fever (whereas only two doses of Calpol are usually advised for young babies because it's important to understand why they have a high temperature.

Neither of my boys have had serious side effects from any of their vaccinations. Yes it's not much fun but far far better than the diseases they are designed to protect against. My husband contracted bacterial meningitis at university (before I knew him) and nearly died. I am happy they have introduced the Men B vaccine.