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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Reassure me about bacterial meningitis

112 replies

Kiddiewinks2008 · 17/02/2016 19:53

Having read about that poor little girl Sad in the news plus now Matt Dawsons son too, am having a bit of a freak out about it. Should I be considering the vaccinations for my DCs aged 4&8?
Is it very rare? Realised that I don't know enough about it at all. Can i do anything to minimise risk of getting it?
Aibu to be worried but it seems to be in the media a lot

OP posts:
PinotAndPlaydough · 17/02/2016 21:32

I would get my two vaccinated but we just can't afford it. I am in a birth group with the mum of Fayet the little girl who died on Valentine's Day and it's really bought it home. I'm tempted to pay for my two on the credit card.
I really hope the government take notice of this petition, it just doesn't seem fair that preventing this disease seems to be a lottery of date of birth or wealth.

PinotAndPlaydough · 17/02/2016 21:33

Sorry that should read 'mum of Faye'

HandsoffGary · 17/02/2016 21:36

Our Facebook mums community group had a thread running about where was reasonable and the cheapest seems to be Boots Travel Clinics. Cheaper than I paid.

www.boots.com/en/Meningitis-B-Vaccination-Service_1773757/

HandsoffGary · 17/02/2016 21:40

If you are told that there is short stock then shop around, most travel clinics and most private GP (every town will have one) will stock these vaccinations.

Imnotacelebgetmeouttahere · 17/02/2016 21:43

Def get it where possible - my son had bacterial meningitis at 11weeks and it was the single most terrifying time of my life. I am sharing the petition left, right and centre....Flowers

HandsoffGary · 17/02/2016 21:47

Just checked, Boots are saying temporarily out of stock but you can register for when new stocks arrive, the private GP practise are advertising that they are taking bookings now. So shop around is still my advice.

My DD had both vaccines and had no ill affects.

arethereanyleftatall · 17/02/2016 21:48

I got both my girls privately vaccinated, and to be honest it's been a load off my mind.
It's an illness that scares me hugely, even though it's rare.
I'm so sorry for you sugar x x

sugar21 · 17/02/2016 21:52

Thank you for Flowers

KitchenNightmare99 · 17/02/2016 22:02

Can you just make an appointment your GP and ask for it. DS is 21 months and just missed the vaccine in his routine set 😔 I would def pay for it. So sorry sugar xx

bumbleymummy · 17/02/2016 22:23

You might find this helpful:

Meningitis figures

ShamefulPlaceMarker · 17/02/2016 22:27

Why is it suddenly in the news? I thought the vaccine had been running since september?

sugar21 · 17/02/2016 22:38

Its in the news because my dd and the little girl on tv died
They were too old to have the jab.

Funinthesun15 · 17/02/2016 22:39

I wouldn't hesitate to get it done.

My nephew was minutes away from death with it.

SouthWestmom · 17/02/2016 22:45

Reassurance: my son had bacterial meningitis. The nhs picked up on it very very quickly, had him on iv antibiotics and he made a full recovery.

However, I think the symptoms / warning signs appear to have been overshadowed by the rash and I am always cautious around headaches, cold hands and feet, vagueness, temperature etc with the dc.

Sugar I am so so sorry about your Daisy and you are brilliant to keep talking about the symptoms and the vaccination. I hope it is some comfort to know that people are listening to you.

ShamefulPlaceMarker · 17/02/2016 22:47

Aw, thanks sugar. Flowers so very sorry for what you and your family have been through.
My husband had meningities about 10yrs ago, nearly killed him. He works in close proximity to other people. I've always been vigilant but under the impression that there was never anything I could do about it. Thanks to the petition on fb I have become aware of the new vaccine.
My children are out of the age range now (6&2) but I'll be hoping I can sort it out financially for them.

Haudyerwheesht · 17/02/2016 22:49

I'm so sorry you lost little Daisy.

I've just emailed a private gp practice to see what the situation is and will beg, borrow or steal to get the kids vaccinated once it's possible.

Yes pp I agree re the rash being seen as the defining feature - I always say NEVER WAIT for the rash to appear.

It all happens so quick though that sadly sometimes there's no time to do very much at all.

sugar21 · 17/02/2016 22:51

Thanks Noeuf My Daisy didn't have the rash until the last stages. So awareness of the other symptoms are vital

sugar21 · 17/02/2016 22:52

Thanks everybody

Funinthesun15 · 17/02/2016 22:56

My Daisy didn't have the rash until the last stages. So awareness of the other symptoms are vital

I completely agree.

My DNephew had no rash at all.

Flowers for you sugar

landrover · 17/02/2016 23:25

Have them vaccinated. My daughter dies at 14 months, 14 years ago now. No rash, but saw several doctors and 2 different hospitals who all missed the signs and thought I was paranoid. It makes me very angry when they now say that we should be vigilant as parents. Just wish somebody would tell that to the doctors who still believe that every ill toddler has a "virus"

landrover · 17/02/2016 23:27

Plateofcrumbs, telling people that it is a rare illness is completely irrelevant when a person that has lost a child is reading it.

minipie · 17/02/2016 23:32

The vaccine manufacturers have told all private clinics to keep stock for completing the course for children whio have already had one or more jabs, as they cannot keep up with demand.

New patients won't be able to get vaccinated until June at the earliest, it would appear Sad

trulyscrumptious33 · 17/02/2016 23:34

I've been in touch with a few private practices and it is supposed to be available again in June.

lougle · 17/02/2016 23:37

The incidence of Meningitis B is really tiny. Devastating, make no mistake, but only 101 babies under 1 yr, 139 1-4 year old and just 36 5-9 year old. Tiny, tiny numbers.

BillThePony · 17/02/2016 23:50

Is the meningitis jab they get in 6 form the same one, I think dd had hers at school last month

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