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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:
Plateofcrumbs · 18/02/2016 01:26

landrover I am sure knowing it is rare provides not one single crumb of comfort to anyone who has had a child snatched away from them by this awful illness. I cannot begin to imagine the loss you and sugar have experienced, my heart goes out to you.

mathanxiety · 18/02/2016 05:32

Sugar and Landrover Flowers

I had it when I was 11. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Please vaccinate. It is a scandal that the vaccine isn't available/is rationed.

Topsy34 · 18/02/2016 06:05

lougle but isn't that too many?
Only 101 in that age group.....101 too many i o

Tiny numbers, completely agree but still 101 too many.

I usually sit on the fence with vaccines, but meningitis vaccines are one I wouldn't miss

Idefix · 18/02/2016 06:15

Bill your daughter will have been vaccinated for meningitis strains A,C,W,Y
These strains are more common amongst young adult populations especially those who spend prolonged periods in close proximity such as university and military training environments.

MiniCooperLover · 18/02/2016 06:39

We had our DS (4) done over Christmas. Our Dr said he'd been given enough by the makers to give the second injection but otherwise he was having to run a waiting list.

Twig45 · 18/02/2016 07:05

Yeh it is very scary but remember there are a few types of meningitis and kids are already vaccinated against some eg HIB and this new vaccine that started in September only covers type b so you could pay for it and you child still gets a type that is not vaccinated against.

Plateofcrumbs · 18/02/2016 07:09

Of course every single case is one too many, and there is a case for lobbying the government to do a 'catch up' programme of vaccination, which would undoubtedly save lives.

However for anyone with a child who is not eligible for the NHS vaccine and is now worried about whether they will be able to access it privately, it helps to put the risk into perspective. For many people the cost of the private vaccine (even if you could find a stockist) is absolutely huge and they need to be able to make an informed choice.

Noodledoodledoo · 18/02/2016 07:17

I think the fact it doesn't protect against all strains really needs to be pushed as well. Our little ones are only protected from certain strains so we still need to be vigilant for Meningitis symptoms, my concern is people don't fully understand this and will become complacent.

The manufacturers aren't rationing the vaccine they can only physically make so much and as others have said the doctors need to ensure they have the full course for those who have started it.

bumbleymummy · 18/02/2016 07:58

I agree, plateofcrumbs. When the JCVI were considering whether or not to introduce it to the schedule, the fact that cases of MenB have been reducing over the past 10/15 years anyway and questions about the effectiveness of the vaccine came up. While every case is, of course, tragic, it does help to keep it in perspective. For those of us with older children who aren't eligible, there are actually fewer cases now than there were when they were in the more 'at risk' age brackets.

I do agree with others that people should be made aware of the other, earlier symptoms rather than thinking it isn't meningitis if there isn't a rash.

sstewart2016 · 18/02/2016 08:07

On my local Facebook group, they've now got the petition to go to parliment! Not sure if it's this one or another one but either way it's such a good thing.
So sorry for your loss Sugar x

CollectiveGuffaw · 18/02/2016 08:15

I have a 3 year old an a 1 year old who both missed the vaccine.

I can't afford to get them both done at the same time.

Can anyone tell me if it would be OK to get them done 'in stages?' A few months apart?

Thanks

nellyflora · 18/02/2016 08:27

We had ours done privately. I have seen children die from it (paediatric icu nurse) so was not worth the risk of not doing it.

HeadDreamer · 18/02/2016 08:29

collective you get them a month apart I think. DD1 did it at 3 and DD2 as baby. The older got 2 shots and the younger 3. It has to be done according to a schedule.

But you can't get it privately now. There isn't any available except for people already started the vaccination and is only missing the second and/or third jabs.

CollectiveGuffaw · 18/02/2016 08:40

Thanks.

I'm in Northern Ireland, so it's available privately here and there doesn't seem to be a shortage.

HeadDreamer · 18/02/2016 08:48

collective if it is still available, ring the clinic up and ask what the vaccination schedule is. It is worth it if you can find the money!

RideTheLightning · 18/02/2016 08:51

Has anyone had any luck with getting the vaccine privately in Wales?

Twig45 · 18/02/2016 09:00

We have to remember the same amount of children (150) died of chicken pox last year as they did of meningitis b so should we be paying for chicken pox vaccine as well ?

lougle · 18/02/2016 09:07

Topsy34, of course the best rate of Meningitis is 0, but we do need some proportional response to the risk. Your child is far more likely to die of cancer or an accident of some sort than meningitis.

How much of your time do you spend worrying about your child developing cancer? It should be close to 0 because cancer is very rare in children. Yet it accounts for between 13-24% of all childhood deaths. Because dying in childhood is very rare. Not as rare as we'd like, but rare.

bumbleymummy · 18/02/2016 09:23

Twig, where did you get that figure for number of deaths from CP? From what I've read, there are ~20 deaths from CP each year and they are typically in immunocompronised adults, not children, as you have stated.

HandsoffGary · 18/02/2016 09:32

You can still get still done privately but need to shop around. The clinic I got my DD vaccinated for Mem B just before Christmas is still taking booking.

Where there are waiting lists its worth adding your child, it may only be a short wait as the deliveries of the vaccine are in 100's not 10's.

Twig45 · 18/02/2016 09:52

Sorry might be an American figure but my friends child died of chicken pox years ago and I hVe seen 2 deaths when I was a hospital nurse so I'm more scared of complications of chicken pox than meningitis

lougle · 18/02/2016 09:56

Chicken pox is 20-25 deaths per year with 75% of those deaths in immunocompromised adults.

Twig45 · 18/02/2016 10:00

Thanks for that lougle I think after seeing these two kids die that were not immunocommpomised I have always worried- I'll go back to worrying bout childrrns cancer and meningitis b!

sugar21 · 18/02/2016 10:04

lougle seems you are a doctor so I want to say the Junior Doctors have my full support. Even though my dd was one of the tiny numbers that left us, the drs were magnificent in their dedication and compassion.

Mistigri · 18/02/2016 10:11

We discussed the vaccine with GP before my DD started weekly boarding (I was aware that some strains of meningitis are more common among young adults living in close proximity). She advised against as DD isn't in the high risk group for this strain.