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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think about getting the Men B vaccine privately for DD (4)?

95 replies

cinnamongirl1976 · 17/02/2017 18:55

Just that, really. It's expensive but we could probably afford it. I'd love to know the thoughts of others who have had it done privately ... I do know that the risk of her getting it is actually quite small, but it is still a risk and if it did happen I'm not sure I could ever forgive myself. I would really like others' opinions on this, especially as I think DH is less sure about it than I am (and I cannot do this if he isn't 100% about it).

OP posts:
Cguk81 · 17/02/2017 19:34

I've had my DS (3) vaccinated privately. My DD got it free on the NHS as it had been introduced by then. Both were fine other than my DS having a sore leg a few hours later. If you can afford it, do it!

HeteronormativeHaybales · 17/02/2017 19:34

FWIW the baby was grumpy after hers and a little hot after the first one but otherwise fine, no discernible effects by dose no. 3. The older ones had sore arms for a bit, and, very bizarrely, the 8yo struggled very much to sleep that night (not because of the sore arm, and usually he's out like a light), but that was all in terms of side effects. We did space the baby's 6 in 1 and men B out because of the risk of fever, but that won't be an issue for a 4yo.

SoMuchPain · 17/02/2017 19:38

Yes yes & yes. Please do it. Got my 20 month old (at the time) and 4 year old done. 20 month old missed out by 4 months. Sore arms and leg for the toddler but otherwise ok. £90 per jab at Superdrug. Think I'll have to get the 20 month old done a 3rd time

Fizbo · 17/02/2017 19:40

My 3 year old had it done I listed the amount of people I personally knew who had been diagnosed with Meningitis. It was 6! 1 sadly died at 14, the youngest has been left deaf and the others were very seriously ill in intensive care. I knew then that I had to do it as the risk seemed too high. Many of my friends/colleagues have paid to have it, one family with 2 little ones used their holiday fund and didn't go away last year to fund it. No one has ever said they regretted it.

Teddy1970 · 17/02/2017 19:41

Is Men B not part of the usual vaccination programe? Or am I getting confused with Men C?...sorry for my stupidity.

Rainshowers · 17/02/2017 19:41

I paid for me DD to be vaccinated. We got it done at boot so I got the points on my advantage card too!

ShelaghTurner · 17/02/2017 19:43

Got mine done last summer when they were 8 and 4. Absolutely worth it if you can stretch to it. It can hit so suddenly and have devastating consequences. I'm just sorry that this isn't available to everyone because of cost.

witsender · 17/02/2017 19:45

We got both ours done at Boots, they would have been 5 and 3 at the time.

Count2three · 17/02/2017 19:47

Another one here for 2 DC's. Meningitis B has always terrified me so I couldn't get it done quick enough.

Stinkeroo · 17/02/2017 19:48

Please do it if you can.

We did for our 3 year old, no side effects, no regrets.

DorothyBastard · 17/02/2017 19:52

I paid for my DD. My DS had meningitis and septacemia at 8 months, which caused endocarditis and he went into heart failure, having open heart surgery at 10 months old. I posted about it at the time. If you can afford it, I personally believe it is worth it.

Yura · 17/02/2017 20:01

We've done it for our then 3 year old. it was his main birthday present (at 3 he didn't mind getting only small presents otherwise)

Frazzled2207 · 17/02/2017 20:05

I did it

Teddy - yes it is but only for babies born after 1st May 2015 so older children haven't routinely had it

fuxxake · 17/02/2017 20:09

We paid for it for DD1, DD2 got it under NHS. Like pp have said, expensive but peace of mind, it may be a small risk but the consequences are so severe in most cases I didn't want to chance it.

Teddy1970 · 17/02/2017 20:13

Thank you...my eldest was born in 2012, would she have had any Meningitis vaccination at all? Sorry for the slight derailment and my daft questions OP!

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 17/02/2017 20:19

We paid for both our DSs to be vaccinated (age 4 and 7). It wasn't pleasant - they both had very sore arms and temperatures afterwards (neither have ever reacted to a vaccination before). They are getting their second dose next week.

We were in two minds about it for ages. It is a lot of money - we had to dip into our savings. Then the sibling of a child at DS2's nursery was hospitalised with it. I booked them in for the next day.

Twig45 · 17/02/2017 20:23

Moonduke - I wanted to get chicken pox as well as men c but was told it only lasts 5- 10years so decided it was better for them to get it as a toddler than teenager is that what others were told?

Moomoomango · 17/02/2017 20:30

We've had it done for our children recently. Do it - I said to myself I'd never forgive myself if I had the chance to protect my child from men b and didn't

Applebite · 17/02/2017 20:34

My DC was born in time to have it with the 8 week jabs, but all my friends with older kids have paid for it. Yes the chances of getting it are low, but it's such a vile thing if they do :(

CheshireDing · 17/02/2017 20:36

We did it for our 4 year old and 2 year old, yes it cost a fortune (went to Boots so at least I got Boots points Grin ) but after long discussions with DH we agreed it was worth it.

DH is a Nurse so was very "for it", I just needed time to mull over the options/situation/was it worth it etc.

Glad we have done it but was horrible when the pair of them got so upset when we went for the second vaccination and they recognised the shop ! (despite how much we tried to be positive about a "booster" to make them stay healthy). Think they have forgiven us now though Grin

Snowflakes1122 · 17/02/2017 20:37

We did for all 3. Well worth all the cost.

Musicinthe00ssucks · 17/02/2017 20:42

My parents paid for both of my DDs (4 and 2 at the time) we had it done at Boots. It was near enough £400 for all 4 jabs. My parents consider it money extremely well spent. They knew a family where the daughter lost her legs and one arm and a kidney to meningitis. I'm obviously not trying to spread fear, I'm just highlighting why my parents (and me and DH) viewed it as so important.

Grandmasterglitch · 17/02/2017 20:43

My DS mossed the cut off for the NHS jabs by a month and we didn't see why he shouldn't be protected just because he was born a month before some of his peers. I think ultimately it came down to if he had contacted it, I'd have known we had the chance to have stopped that happening but didn't act. I couldn't have that on my conscience. My DS is the most valuable thing in my life so I do all I can do protect him. I am lucky that we could afford the jabs and we only have one child so it wasn't like we were looking at a huge bill (although it was big enough! ) I feel for people who are in a difficult financial situation who can't afford the jabs. In my opnion, if you can afford it then I don't see why you wouldn't have it done.

StylishDuck · 17/02/2017 20:44

Yes I got DD done at 18 months. Because she was under 2 we had to go to a GP and she needs to go back after a year for a 3rd booster so it will cost us over £400 in total but I absolutely do not regret getting it done. Especially since any other babies we have will now be eligible to get it on the NHS. I couldn't with any conscience allow one child to be protected and one not. Just go for it.

RiversrunWoodville · 17/02/2017 20:44

We did for our almost 2 year old she was just a couple of months too old to get the NHS one and I just couldn't risk it. First jab nothing but a sore arm second one a temperature and bit of vomiting for a day but well worth it for the peace of mind.

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