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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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 Hmm)

OP posts:
TheKidsAreTakingMySanity · 01/10/2017 00:25

If you have the money then why not? Some people pay £1000+ for a pram, £600+ for a car seat and lot of other things that aren't vital but can keep a child just that tiny bit safer (car seat I mean rather than pram of course).

I couldn't say which type of Meningitis it was but I recall back in 99' or 2000, we lost a classmate to it. One day she was ill, the next? Gone. Just like that.
We were all offered free immunisations after that. I would never think a vaccine is not worth it.

allgoodthings84 · 01/10/2017 00:25

Yep low risk but my step mum and step sister knows someone personally who's daughter died a couple years back from it so I think it's totally worth it. They started vaccinating babies on NHS if they were born May 1st 2015 later. My daughter was born that month so got hers done on NHS so we didn't have to pay but I know of a few that paid as their babies were born just before May and one works in a doctors surgery and hasn't got a lot of money but thought it worth every penny

Nicketynac · 01/10/2017 00:28

Agree with PP about fever after the jag - DD was really miserable after the first one (despite paracetamol before and two doses after) but fine after the second one. Not sure if it is age related as she got the first dose with her two month jags, or related to primary and booster doses.
What do people feel about hep B vaccine? Just been introduced to neonatal immunisations in the UK but there doesn't seem to be much chat about it.

EsmeeMerlin · 01/10/2017 00:29

No it's not a waste of money but then I would say that. My neice died from bacterial meningitis nearly 2 years ago. She was just 7 months old and watching her die was just horrific. From first showing symptoms to dying was less than 12 hours, it was just a awful death and really she had no chance. She featured in the news and press a lot because she just missed the cut off for the vaccine and at this point hardly anything was really known about it being done privately.

While the risk is small, it is worth it.

DJBaggySmalls · 01/10/2017 00:29

Some friend. Its your money, and this is worth spending money on. Its true the risk of a child catching it is low, but if they do catch it the effects are terrible.

Silver47 · 01/10/2017 00:31

It seems absolutely draconian that those who can't afford to pay for it just need to hope their child doesn't contract it

but you are immunising your child, which not only means they won't catch it, but also that they won't spread it either, so you are contributing to protecting everyone else's child as well.

Beeziekn33ze · 01/10/2017 00:31

Essmee - that is so sad, sympathy to your family.

Original poster
EmilyReallyKnowsHerStuff · 01/10/2017 00:34

Oh Esmee Flowers

OP posts:
Jinglebells99 · 01/10/2017 00:44

I've just had both my teens vaccinated against men B. My friend's daughter had meningitis when she was 2, and nearly died.

CakesRUs · 01/10/2017 00:47

Slim chances but what if is worth £220 of your money. Each to his own, I haven't done it.

Helbelle75 · 01/10/2017 01:00

Yadnbu. I had meningococcal meningitis (b) with septicaemia when I was 17 and, although I was very lucky that I was treated in time and recovered well, I was unable to go to university at the same time as my peers and have emotionally I've not been well.
It's a horrible, devastating illness and I'm very glad my daughter has been vaccinated against it.
My thoughts to those who've been affected by this terrible disease.

SquareSquares · 01/10/2017 01:12

I would get my DC done if I could afford it. I could probably afford to get one of them done but would really struggle to pay for both Sad both missed out on the free NHS ones

Babymamamama · 01/10/2017 01:25

I paid for my DC. The way I figured it, we are lucky to have the NHS but it cannot cover absolutely everything. It's just that little extra peace of mind. Wish I'd done the chicken pox vaccine for DC too now in hindsight. But thought of it too late.

maxthemartian · 01/10/2017 01:29

The risks of catching it may be low but the results are devastating.
Not a waste of money at all.

SingingMyOwnSpecialSong · 01/10/2017 01:48

We had DD, also a Jan 15 baby vaccinated at Boots. Yes the risk of getting meningitis B is small by age 2, but the potential consequences if she did get it are huge. My feelings were that if the NHS think it's worth paying for every baby to have it then DD wasn't missing out just because she was born just before the roll out. Paying was a real stretch for us, but feeling i've done my best to keep her safe is priceless. (The boots points are quite nice though, we let DD choose a toy to spend them on and still had loads left Smile)

Italiangreyhound · 01/10/2017 02:29

Not a waste of money. Very sensible. Your friend is an absolute jerk. I;d never, ever, give a friend medic advice not to do something good for their child. It seems to me the height of stupidity.

Want2bSupermum · 01/10/2017 02:43

Not a waste at all. While you're at it get the chicken pox vaccine too.

highinthesky · 01/10/2017 02:57

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.

I'm in a similar position with DD (March 2015). I checked with PHE and there are no plans to have a catch-up campaign. Don't forget, these decisions are made on risk and cost-effectiveness.

It's a no brainer. JFDI.

Italiangreyhound · 01/10/2017 04:07

My son had the chicken pox one.

annandale · 01/10/2017 04:12

You have to do what you feel is best for your children and deal with the opinions of others as best you can. She was very rude and presumably feeling defensive that she hasn't done this herself. I do talk about getting ds the Gardasil vaccination because I want others to know it's an option but there's always the risk that someone will be upset by it.

Ohwhatbliss · 01/10/2017 04:28

Haven't read the thread. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, you do what you think is the best for YOUR child. My friend doesn't believe in private healthcare or private schooling, we will do both for our child. She's still my friend, her opinion doesn't influence what we do for our child same as I don't care what she chooses for hers Smile

pointythings · 01/10/2017 07:52

Not a waste of money. Mine are 14 and 16 and will be done when they go to uni, but a friend of DD2 had Men B at 8 months old - this was waaaaay before there was a vaccine. She very nearly died and was affected in terms of learning and development to the point where it took her until she was 8 to fully catch up with her peers. It's a very serious illness.

UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 01/10/2017 07:55

I don't see how protecting your child against a horrible illness could be considered a waste of money.
If you can afford it then why not? It's none of your friends business.

Sammysquiz · 01/10/2017 08:10

We're going to have it done for our two. Agree it costs a hell of a lot, but the vaccine is very very expensive to produce, hence why it's not cost-effective for the NHS to provide it for all.

HSMMaCM · 01/10/2017 08:10

I work with children and I had one on the advice of my GP.