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

[EmilyReallyKnowsHerStuff]

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 )

"Mine are 14 and 16 and will be done when they go to uni,"

In our area 14 year olds are offered it.

My DD gets sneered at for buying Clarks shoes, for my GD, 2.5, you see the same attitude on here.

Looking at the research, my DD has decided that the vaccine is unnecessary. She had the baby ones.

You can decide against something without sneering or commenting at all.

OP, if your friend is that way inclined, I doubt that this will be the last time.

I took £400 from my savings to pay for my two DC to have the vaccine. I couldn't care less if every one of my friends and family thought it was a waste of money as to me it was worth every penny.

For those saying it's free to teens, make sure it's the MenB! It's usually the Men W they're given or the Men C.

As for it's being a waste of money, tell her to sling her hook. It's not up to her what you do with your money.

Having had a meningitis scare with my then six week old daughter I would pay anything to not have to risk what we went through that week. Luckily it wasn't meningitis, although the symptoms she was presenting were symbolic of meningitis but she was so ill. She was vaccinated this year as part of NHS immunisations but would have totally paid to do it if it hadn't been available.

I agree with PPs. It's no-one else's business what you do with your own money.

We got DD (Feb 2015 baby) vaccinated at 18 months meaning she needed 3 doses and it had to be done by a private GP (Boots only do over 2yo) at £150/dose. £450 is not an insignificant amount of money to us but I would never have forgiven myself if I'd known we could afford it but hadn't done it and she'd then caught it.

I'm pregnant with DC2 just now and they will obviously get it on the NHS. I couldn't have had one child protected and one not.

We paid for 3 year old DS to have this jab too. It's a tiny chance but the outcome can be horrific. A colleague of my MIL recently had Men B as an adult, so not at all in the most at risk category, and was lucky to survive but has been left with limited sight and hearing.

Not sure why you told her tbh?

It's such a monumental waste of money that the NHS have rolled it out universally for children only a few months younger than yours.

I have been told by a school nurse (expert in vaccinations) and a senior doctor that in that age group it is a very low risk and a waste of money. They also have small children. However, once the idea was in my head, I couldn't NOT get it done, almost like an OCD thing.

YANBU. I worked with a girl whose health and abilities were severely damaged by meningitis as a toddler. If you can afford it, why wouldn't you protect your child as far as possible?

I had both my boys vacc'd. DH works in this area and seen too many awful outcomes. It is indeed unlikely, but if it happens to you it is catastrophic. It is actually relatively common to put preventative measures in place for things that are rare but but devastating when they do occur. Airport security is a good example. The real crime here is the cost.

The thing is though, this probably isn't really about the vaccine. It is about how different parents prioritise their spending. It could well be the first of many disagreements you have with your friend. Time to get a stock phrase in order, "i guess how people prioritise their own spending is quite a personal choice." No further comment necessary.

A few years ago I worked with a woman who started crying at work. Turns out it was the 17th anniversary of when her dd died of meningitis. I got my DCs done after that. How could I not?

A woman at work came in to arrange a concert for her grandson who had died in the summer after contracting meningitis. It comes out of the blue and can kill very quickly.

My cousin lost his baby DD to meningitis, & another cousin of mine contracted meningitis as a young adult - luckily she did survive, however she is now disabled & this was a contributing factor.

Definitely immunise if you can afford to.

It cost me £490 to vaccinate my daughter for meningitis. It was an awful cost for us and we are still paying off the credit card for it. But for us it is worth it as we believe you can't put a price on health.

Who gives a shit what your mate thinks. Do what you think is best for your family. X

DS has had it done plus the other meningitis and anti flu for going to uni.

He was protesting about the cost even though I paid, but as DH pointed out, it's cheaper than a funeral!

Not a waste of money at all.

But probably a good lesson not to share too much information with your friend in the future, as her judging your choices may affect your friendship.

I am exceptionally grateful to MN for a thread several months back about the MenB vaccine. DS is 8 and I thought he had everything, and had not realised Men B was another one. I got it done at Boots, and feel so grateful that we are lucky enough to live in a country where it is possible to guard against so many things.

I had my daughter vaccinated against Chicken Pox and a 'friend' (with a similar aged child) told me I was crazy for doing so. I think some people take it as a criticism of their parenting decisions like these, as if you're saying they are putting their children at risk by not doing it. Not many, but some definitely do.

I was shocked by she thought the need to tell me I was crazy, particularly as I hadn't asked her opinion, and I certainly hadn't discussed what I was doing in terms of slagging off others who hadn't. In fact, I'd quite specifically said I'd done it after a child in my family passed away after contracting CP.

I'm now wondering whether to have DD vaccinated too against Men B, can anyone point me in the direction of some reading? Will she be offered it at a later date?

Absolutely not a waste of money. I had bacterial meningitis at the age of 24 whilst a student (23 years ago), was seriously ill but thankfully recovered. Will not hesitate in paying for my kids to be done in due course.

As an addendum, I'm sure I saw them advertising the jab in our local Tesco pharmacy for £35.

We got both ours done at Boots and would do it again

I'm so glad you posted this OP, I'm ashamed to say this vaccine had passed me by. Seriously looking in to it now, thank you!

I can't think of many better things to spend money on, tbh. Your child's health is more valuable than any toys, holidays, TVs, cars... whatever else she spends her cash on.