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AIBU?

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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:
DinoSnores · 20/10/2015 21:38

I got my children vaccinated with Bexsero at the local travel clinic.

www.masta-travel-health.com/

DinoSnores · 20/10/2015 21:39

I got my children vaccinated with Bexsero at the local travel clinic.

www.masta-travel-health.com/

takemetomars · 20/10/2015 21:41

no herd immunity effect with Men B, individual protection only

Blackpoollassy · 21/10/2015 08:33

Great post takemetomars

*lachattquirit~ details here: www.citydoc.org.uk/mengititis-b-vaccine/

After sugar's post i got my baby booked in for next Friday with Citydocs.
i called the number to book as the website was a bit diffuclt to navigate

WaitroseEssentialPancetta · 21/10/2015 12:30

Thanks Blackpool lassy I'll try them.

If dd is 2.5 is there anything else she should have while we're there? We didn't have the oral syringe back then.

ConstanceMarkYaBitch · 21/10/2015 12:35

Why would you look to MN for advice on a medical matter if you're ignoring the medical professionals who were right in front of you and who have access to records/know you and your child?

If that isn't the stupidest reason to come on here, I don't know what is. MN might be a good place to get a recipe for your dinner, or chat about something in the paper, but its a really fucking stupid place to inform decisions about something like this, especially in place of actual professionals.

takemetomars · 21/10/2015 13:41

jadore, please complain about the first 'shitty' nurse you saw. Disappointing to hear that a member of my profession can behave like that

NiNoKuni · 21/10/2015 14:56

no herd immunity effect with Men B, individual protection only

How does that work? Genuinely interested!

Stormtreader · 21/10/2015 15:40

It looks like because it's caused by a bacteria, which can live in your throat etc without causing any issues, the vaccine probably wont reduce its numbers or decrease transmission rates which is where you get herd immunity from. The vaccine is just to prevent it actually getting a foothold and infecting you in the ways that are dangerous.

So basically, everyone you meet could be swarming with it with no risk except to those not vaccinated.

tumpymummy · 21/10/2015 16:35

I understand you being nervous about a new vaccine. My son was offered a meningitis vaccine for teenagers recently and I ummed and erred about whether he should have it or not. However in the end I decided that meningitis is a very scary illness and if he caught it and I hadn't vaccinated him when I had the opportunity then that would be awful. It is scary giving our kids injections when you don't know the longterm effects, but with meningitis I don't think not doing it is worth the risk. We are lucky in this country that we have the option of vaccinating. So DS had the vaccination at school and he was absolutely fine afterwards.

Ricardian · 21/10/2015 21:57

It is scary giving our kids injections when you don't know the longterm effects,

Could you point to any vaccine, ever, which has had "long term effects"? Where does the idea come from?

There is a small risk of allergic reactions to ingredients in vaccines, and for children who have related allergies that is a risk factor. There is a small risk when live vaccines are involved (which are rare these days, but I don't offhand know if there are any in the standard schedule) that immunocompromised children may have an adverse reaction to the vaccination, and that can be very serious. But the constant worrying about "longterm effects" and "waiting a bit longer": why is that a thing for vaccines?

NiNoKuni · 21/10/2015 22:11

Thanks Stormtreader! Makes sense Smile

Ricardian it's been a thing since Wakefield, hasn't it? Or thalidomide even?

MrsBojingles · 21/10/2015 22:28

My brother died from Meningitis B. I'd happily take any of the fabled long term side effects of I could have him back.

The vaccine isn't new, it's been publicly available for about 3 years. It was trailed in Brazil on hundreds of thousands of children with no major side effects.

Ricardian · 21/10/2015 22:29

it's been a thing since Wakefield

Probably.

Or thalidomide even?

Francis Kelsey only died a couple of months ago. She was 101.

hairbrushbedhair · 21/10/2015 23:12

It is a "new" vaccine (bexsero) liscensed in 2013

But it's had years of safety testing and was available prior for people without a spleen at particular risk on the NHS

There are other countries which have had menB vaccines longer, but they were deemed either not effective enough or wouldn't cover the strains we see mostly in the UK. Bexsero looks our best bet so far!

It's also possible it will cover MenC strains too meaning that could be dropped at some point in future but we don't know for sure yet so that won't be dropped anytime soon

I would definitely give this one (paid privately for DS by choice) but I wouldn't administer any fever reducing medication unless it was a very high fever that resulted, certainly wouldn't give beforehand "in case" and I would do it personally seperately to other jabs as less risk of fever needing to be reduced. As has been said MenB jab isn't any less effective with calpol - but others given at same time are. I can only assume it's cost that's led this advice as it would cost a lot more to add in another 3 seperate apps for each child hence I will be saving to do it privately for any more kids I have.

I would def give this one though.

ledgeoffseason · 22/10/2015 11:17

Just to say Flowers sugar, I'm so sorry for your loss, and you have motivated me to get it booked for dc.

I am really shocked as I am pregnant and been spending a lot of time at doctors/hospital etc - this whole thing has passed me by? Normally NHS are all over the promoting vaccines?

I booked it for £195 total, threefivetwo clinic in belfast (clinic held at kingsbridge hospital) if that info helps anyone.

I found this thread so helpful and useful - what mn is so great for - so thanks all.

sugar21 · 22/10/2015 11:58

ledgeofseason I'm happy that you have found this thread helpful, even though it isn't mine. Someone upthread asked me to keep posting to give my story so pleased that I could contribute
Another idiot sent me a pm saying I was attention seeking! Thing is I really dont want anyone to go through my experience when it is preventable. If I had researched vaccines more thoroughly I would have been better informed and would have paid to get dd a course of jabs. But, hindsight is a wonderful thing and we all use it.
Thanks for the flowers and I hope your dc are well.

bumbleymummy · 22/10/2015 12:00

I hope you reported that PM sugar!

sugar21 · 22/10/2015 12:08

bumbleymummy I did but having sent a pm back using inappropiate language I probably got reported myself although mn haven't mailed me. I have a good vocabulary of insults beginning with b and f Smile

giddywithglee · 22/10/2015 12:28

I haven't read all the responses and I am sure you have had a lot of grief for this! Just to say that we paid to have our children vaccinated with the Men B vaccine, and the side effects were manageable, just a bit of grumpiness and my youngest had a temp for a day or two. As another person said, it's not a new vaccine, it just hasn't been made available (mostly because the government was haggling on price!).

I wanted to explain why we had them vaccinated, though.

My niece died from septacemia caused by meningitis B. She was 4. She had a sore leg at teatime, was taken to hospital vomiting and fell unconscious in the car in the early hours of the morning, and by lunchtime her heart had stopped and they were unable to resuscitate her. I was at the hospital with her parents as the crash team were thundering down the corridor, and I held my wailing sister-in-law in my arms as they told her that they couldn't save her little girl. I went in to kiss her goodbye before I took them home and she was purple. That image will stay with me forever.

As a parent you have so many tough decisions to make and can only do your best. If you have concerns about the vaccine why not check out the information on the Meningitis Now website? I think you can probably speak to someone there if you have any questions about it, too.

nutmegandginger · 22/10/2015 12:43

I am another person who has paid privately for the vaccine, because my baby (now 11 months) is too old to get it on the NHS. It costs a fortune, but once I knew that the vaccine was being rolled out for younger babies, and read the statistics about MenB being the biggest killer of under 5s, I couldn't live with the thought of how I'd feel if I didn't get it for her and she were to get meningitis. If it hadn't been for the publicity about it around the time when the NHS were trying to negotiate a lower price (and said they weren't going to give it, and then backtracked) then I wouldn't have known about the vaccine, so although I'm irritated that my dd won't get it on the NHS, I'm grateful for the publicity which meant I knew that it existed.

I'm not generally a worrier, but meningitis is one of the things that really scares me. It's the speed with which it kills and maims, and the difficulty of diagnosing it in time especially with a young baby. I did a baby first aid course and the man running it really drilled into us how serious the disease is and the importance of calling 999 immediately if you suspect your child has it, because the window to save them is so small.

My baby has now had 2 doses, and had no side effects to either one, not even a raised temperature. In fact she hardly cried, and the whole thing was much less of a big deal than her earlier routine jabs had been. The second time she had a cold, but as she didn't have a temperature the pharmacist said it was no problem giving it to her.

I am so sorry for your losses sugar and giddy.

Jeffreythegiraffe · 22/10/2015 12:44

Oh my goodness Giddy I'm so so sorry. Utterly tragic. Flowers

Lilipot15 · 22/10/2015 13:39

Giddy, how awful. Your poor family.
But I'm sure your story will help others decide to get the jab.
And Sugar, what a horrible PM to receive. Don't give it any more thought now you have reported it.

Anotherusername1 · 22/10/2015 14:16

Just to answer the question about why governments fund vaccines. It's not out of the goodness of their hearts. It is because it is cheaper to vaccinate children (and adults) (and deal with the odd case of vaccine damage - which does exist by the way and there are laws to deal with it) than treat sick children and have their parents out of the workplace looking after them. It is an economic argument - saves the NHS and employers money.

For me it comes down to: is the illness worse than the possible side-effects? If yes, vaccinate. If not, consider if it's the best thing for my child. And no I don't care about herd immunity because if I am the one with the vaccine damaged child you won't help me, you'll be judgmental in shops and restaurants and use the disabled loo and give me nasty looks when I use the disabled bay outside a supermarket. I'll do what's right for my child and you can do what's right for yours.

But when it comes to meningitis, it's a no-brainer. Vaccinate.

Doublebubblebubble · 22/10/2015 14:25

My ds is 6 days old and he will be getting it when its offered. Febrile convulsions run in my family so I am fearful of any spike in temperature but this is manageable and DEFINITELY better than ACTUAL MENINGITIS - I, at 22 had a meningitis scare and it was legitimately the worst experience IN. MY. lIFE. I cannot imagine a tiny baby having to go through a lumbar puncture... Get the vax!