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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it's not a "monumental waste of money"

150 replies

EmilyReallyKnowsHerStuff · 30/09/2017 23:41

I have just booked an appointment at Boots for my 2.5 year old to have the meningitis B vaccination. It's a bit of a drag in terms of the amount it's costing, but I believe it is absolutely worth it. I have read a few accounts from posters here who have sadly lost children to this disease and it makes me feel sick to my stomach.

My friend (antenatal friend, has a child the same age as mine) is very sneery about it. A monumental waste of money, apparently. The chances of her contracting it are so slim there is no point etc etc.

She's wrong, isn't she? I'm not just being paranoid and overprotective?

(On a side note, it is an absolute scandal how much this is costing. We are very fortunate that we can afford it. But what about those who cannot? It seems absolutely draconian that those who can't afford to pay for it just need to hope their child doesn't contract it )

OP posts:

Fekko · 30/09/2017 23:42

We had ds done a couple of years ago and all the nephews and nieces have been done too.

RunningOutOfCharge · 30/09/2017 23:42

So how much does it cost then?

Original poster

EmilyReallyKnowsHerStuff · 30/09/2017 23:43

£110 per dose (and she'll need two doses)

OP posts:

MummaDeeDee · 30/09/2017 23:46

If you think it's best for your child then I don't think it's a waste of money.

ButtfaceMiscreant · 30/09/2017 23:51

We got DC1 done privately at Boots as DTs were included in the NHS scheme. I wanted to be sure they were all vaccinated against the same illnesses, and I would rather pay the £90 per dose (as it was then) than have the risk of them catching it - I know there are different types etc but I would rather they be vaccinated against the strains they can be.

Nicketynac · 30/09/2017 23:54

She is right that the chances of an individual child catching Men B are very low, BUT it is up to you how to spend your money.
The highest risk of catching it (and or dying or being left disabled) are in babies and young children, with a smaller "spike" in later childhood so your child is outwith this high risk period, BUT it can affect people of any age and the severity can be unpredictable.
The introduction of the vaccine will give herd immunity so the prevalence will decrease even in unvaccinated children. You can tell your friend that you are doing it for her children as well as your own. Or tell her to mind her own business.

Original poster

EmilyReallyKnowsHerStuff · 30/09/2017 23:55

I do accept that the risk is pretty low. But if I didn't get it done and we had the money sitting there, I'd never forgive myself if she caught it.

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AdoraBell · 30/09/2017 23:55

No, not a waste of money. Ignore any sneering.

Lurkedforever1 · 30/09/2017 23:57

It depends on your friend really. If she genuinely can't afford it, or her child is more at risk from severe vac reactions, and you have been telling her all about how important you consider it then it's quite a reasonable response on her behalf.

If she's simply chosen not to have it then a simple 'we have decided not to' would have been a polite response.

NeverTwerkNaked · 30/09/2017 23:59

I Feel really ignorant now...is this a new thing? I thought children had meningitis vaccines on NHS? Didn’t realise there was one I ought to be organising and paying for?

Original poster

EmilyReallyKnowsHerStuff · 01/10/2017 00:01

Lurked as far as I am aware her child is not at risk from severe vac reactions. Of course that does not necessarily mean that that's not the case. As for whether or not she could afford it, I don't know. I mean they have a nice house, nice car etc and don't appear to be short of money but that's the extent of my knowledge of their financial situation.

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Viviennemary · 01/10/2017 00:02

It certainly isn't a waste of money. The affects of this disease are horrific even when it's not fatal.

Original poster

EmilyReallyKnowsHerStuff · 01/10/2017 00:03

They do now Twerked. My daughter narrowly missed the window. She was born in January 2015 and the NHS started routinely vaccinating children who were born later that year.

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CleftMum · 01/10/2017 00:04

We had dd1 vaccinated a while back, my dps paid, ever since my SIL has been incredibly up her own arse about it and she won't vaccinate her dd1 but her dd2 will be.
I don't understand how she can protect one child but not both
Ignore your friend it's not worth the effort on a side note dd1 was poorly for days after with a temperature and sore arm stock up on teats and calpol

TinklyLittleLaugh · 01/10/2017 00:06

My daughter has just had her meningitis jab to go to uni (free). But many of her friends couldn't be bothered. I think they are crazy, why wouldn't you?

TinklyLittleLaugh · 01/10/2017 00:06

My daughter has just had her meningitis jab to go to uni (free). But many of her friends couldn't be bothered. I think they are crazy, why wouldn't you?

NeverTwerkNaked · 01/10/2017 00:09

Oh so if mine were born 2009 and 2014 then I should be paying for this? I didn’t know

CleftMum · 01/10/2017 00:10

*treats not teats

TyrionLannisterforKing · 01/10/2017 00:10

I had menB as a 3 year old. As soon as I healed, my then newborn brother got it, too. Being sick with is is one of my earliest memories - due the amount of vomiting, I developed severe emetophobia which I still struggle with decades later.

When I have a child, I will vaccinate them within a heartbeat.

The cost of vaccines is awful, isn't it? I didn't get a shot as a teenager, when it is avaliable for free, and I am now forking out $1500 to get them privately.

CoffeeBreakIn5 · 01/10/2017 00:15

Absolutely not a monumental waste of money. Yes, the chances of catching it are low but they're not non-existent.

We paid for DS1 to have it as DS2 had it as part of the vaccine schedule, I couldn't have one protected and the other at risk. Your friend is being incredibly naive and stupid.

Barbadosgirl · 01/10/2017 00:17

We got our son vaxxed for it privately when he was, if I remember rightly, about 18 months (he missed the introduction of this). I accept this risk was small of him contracting it but we had the money and decided that, as we did, a small risk was unacceptable.

I am generally confused by people who sneer at other people's choices, especially parenting ones. Would you sneer at her for not getting it done? Would you tell her she is a terrible, negligent parent?

RaininSummer · 01/10/2017 00:17

I am relieved that my granddaughter had this recently. She two and a half so outside of the window for free vaccination. It might only be a slim chance of her catching meningitis but I know her parents would never forgive themselves if they hadn't got the jabs. I used to work in a school for disabled children and saw some terrible outcomes of menigitus and they were the lucky ones.

Original poster

EmilyReallyKnowsHerStuff · 01/10/2017 00:17

Yeah I have a baby who has had it on the NHS. Absolutely agree you can't protect one and not the other.

OP posts:

Original poster

EmilyReallyKnowsHerStuff · 01/10/2017 00:18

I agree Barbados I don't understand it either. Like what's it to her that we've decided to do it?

OP posts:

Gemini69 · 01/10/2017 00:22

why is it her business what you and your Family do

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