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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have not let her have the meningitis vaccine?

241 replies

jadorecakesnbiscuits · 19/10/2015 07:53

My daughter is 15 weeks and she goes for her second lot of vaccinations today, with her first lot I was happy for her to have them all apart from the new meningitis because it had only been around for about 4 weeks when she had her first lot and I didn't like how I had to give her calpol as it would cause a spike in her temp, also I just don't trust it.

Now I'm starting to wonder if I was a dick for not letting her have it? I'm not anti vax at all I just don't like this one and what it would do to my baby, has anyone else refused this vaccine? The nurse tried to argue with me and I'm anxious she's going to pressure me again today!

OP posts:

Ricardian · 19/10/2015 11:46

everything I've read suggests it's only been around for two years not ten

It's been licensed for two years. It's been used in trials, including large-scale trials, for ten years.

Frazzled2207 · 19/10/2015 11:47

OP
Really pleased you've got it sorted.
Hopefully your baby won't feel the effects at all, mine was slightly sleepier but no complaints there.

TaliZorah · 19/10/2015 11:48

Ricardian that's not the same as being used routinely in other countries as someone suggested. Obviously it wasn't invented two years ago, however as its only been used publicly for two years I personally am wary of it.

Sirzy · 19/10/2015 11:51

But for it to have got to the stage of being used publically it has been intensely trailed and tested. They are not going offer it widely without knowing that it is going to be highly effective and for the vast majority of people safe.

Now of course they can't guarantee nobody will react, but then they can't with any vaccination. The only vaccine reaction I have had is to a vaccination which has been around for many many years (tetanus)

Original poster

jadorecakesnbiscuits · 19/10/2015 11:52

I will update the thread with how she is over the next few hours after the doses of calpol for anyone else having doubts about their child having the vaccine because there must be others out there that felt like me. She had her calpol straight away and apart from a couple of dirty looks she seems ok, she had them nearly 2 hours ago

OP posts:

TaliZorah · 19/10/2015 11:55

I know that, but as we have a history of allergies and my DS nearly died at birth I'm wary of anything new until it's been around decades. DS had an "extremely low" risk of what happened at birth but it happened.

Again I'm not anti vaccination I just don't personally think it's right (this vaccine) for DS. I was just offering OP another perspective

popalot · 19/10/2015 11:59

My ds had both parts of the vaccine and he was fine. Didn't even get a temp.

Sirzy · 19/10/2015 11:59

I would have thought the being so ill would be all the more reason to try to prevent a serious illness.

I can't understand why this vaccine would be any different to any other.

sugar21 · 19/10/2015 12:04

Thanks OP glad you have made your decision. Hope your dc do not suffer any side effects.
Obviously I am biased about vaccination but really wouldnt want anyone's dc to get this terrible illness.

TaliZorah · 19/10/2015 12:05

Sirzy because statistically he should have been fine at birth. I'm scared of him being the "unlucky" one again and having a reaction.

The only reason he survived was because I'd had a cesarean, out of choice (I was at a higher risk for assisted birth so I had asked for one. No official medical reason). I had to watch him being resuscitated while I couldn't move and was still being stitched. I've lost a lot of faith in the health care profession as I repeatedly told them my son wasn't moving in the last week and was fobbed off.

I am petrified of him being the one who is the horrible statistic again. I'd feel safer if the vaccine had been around longer and we had more stats on how many cases it prevented, how many people reacted and so on.

Blackpoollassy · 19/10/2015 12:05

sugar so sorry for your loss.
Your post has made me book in my baby privately just now for her vaccine. I've been meaning to do it for weeks but never quite got around to it. thank you

OP well done, sure your baby will be fine

Defenderwife · 19/10/2015 12:08

I'm sorry but I have very strong feelings on vaccinations. And yeah i do believe that parents who do not vaccinate are morons. Why else would they purposefully risk their children becoming seriously ill. Do they use car seats, sterilise bottles, etc yes they do because there is a risk of an accident or infection. Vaccinations are exactly the same. Protection in case something happens.

Sirzy · 19/10/2015 12:09

What about the statistic of his getting meningitis though which is much more likely than a severe adverse reaction?

TaliZorah · 19/10/2015 12:10

Defender because it's a personal decision that you have to make. Someone is not a moron for coming to a different conclusion to you. Everyone as a parent is doing their best, and we should be supporting each other not insulting those who's decisions we personally disagree with.

I vaccinate, but don't take every vaccine available. Am I a "moron" for that?

TaliZorah · 19/10/2015 12:13

Sirzy yes there's a risk of that, however for me I find the risk of him reacting more terrifying. I think because it's something I have to consent to, if I consented to something that injured him I would never forgive myself. He also has allergies anyway and a strong family history of them which also worries me.

I'm aware many people feel that way about not having the vaccine too!

QOD · 19/10/2015 12:15

Well my dd is 16 and if it were offered I'd make her have it. But I understand completely op. Dd had single dose m and r rathe than the mmr as we were right after the scares nd her cousin became seriously disabled.after.mmr and immediate exposure to chicken pox.
my issue was it being tetanus typhoid polio mmr and all, all at the same time.
I like them spread out.

So get it done now and she's that bit stronger and bigger

And wow think before you post about not vacinating unless you have a hard hat on

Sirzy · 19/10/2015 12:16

It is your choice of course but sometimes do you not need to step back and think rationally rather than seemingly letting a fear stop you doing something which could ultimately save his life?

Please at least consider discussing your concerns with a medical proffessional.

overthemill · 19/10/2015 12:17

Vaccination won't make her 'ill' just feel a bit crap and possibly have a bit if a temperature. As is so often the case, you haven't been given enough information by the Health worker. But you can google it and find out more. Vaccinations are always worth it in terms of risks of severe ill health/dying if you get the illness. Same for whooping cough measles etc

TaliZorah · 19/10/2015 12:19

Sirzy I discussed it with my HV who said there is a catch up programme for older children and if I want it when he is 14 months he can have it then. By that time I will have come to terms with his birth (I have a debrief in 2 days) and the vaccine will at least have been used a little longer so I'm planning on considering it then

Sirzy · 19/10/2015 12:25

Good, I hope the debrief helps you.

Blackpoollassy · 19/10/2015 12:31

Sorry to go slightly OT, but what makes me angry is that i can afford to pay £130 x 2 to vaccinate my 12 month old, who will miss out on the catch up programme. But i'm sure that there's many out there who cannot.

Calling people morons for not vaccinating their child may not be very nice if you simply cannot afford to do it privately.

I know the NHS is not extending the catch up programme to catch older babies/children due to risk/benefit analysis ('There are no plans for a catch-up programme for older children, because the main burden of the disease is in young babies, with a peak around 5 to 6 months of age.' www.ovg.ox.ac.uk/menb-vaccine) but that's not very reassuring if you happen to the the parent of the one who does catch it, with devastating effect.

Archfarchnad · 19/10/2015 12:33

sugar, so sorry . You might well have saved some other baby's life now by reminding parents how how important it is.

I'm pretty sure the UK has (or had in the recent past?) a pretty poor record/reputation by European standards for meningitis incidence. Our DC have been brought up in mainland Europe and when the paediatrician heard we go regularly to the UK he emphasised the importance of keeping their meningitis jabs up to date because the risk of catching it there is greater than where we live (nb: this is entirely anecdotal and not backed up by any 'research' I did). DD1 hadn't previously had the meningitis jab because it was introduced after she was born (she's now 17), but she had it done on doc's recommendation when she was about 10. I certainly didn't notice any side-effects beyond normal for any jab with either of them. DD2 had her tetanus booster last week and really had a sore arm and slight temp for a few days (nothing paracetamol couldn't cope with); curiously I found it almost comforting to see the side-effects, knowing that it was a sign the vaccine was taking effect in the body. You've absolutely made the right choice, OP.

QOD · 19/10/2015 12:36

Oh sugar
So so sorry

Witchend · 19/10/2015 12:40

My friend was one of those who campaigned for this to be available. That's because her adorable baby had meningitis at only slightly older than your dd.

Her daughter is still adorable but has lost all four limbs, she has no legs at all and arms that finish above her elbow.

Glad you've chosen to have it.

thebartenderandthethief · 19/10/2015 12:42

blackpoollassy I am 100% in agreement with your post. We can't afford it but luckily I think my mum will be happy to lend us the money to get it done.

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