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Original poster

Brilliant news about Prevenar!!

21 replies

amyjade · 03/02/2006 10:42

The department of health is set to announce as early as next week the introduction of the Pneumococcal vaccine(Prevenar).
Have a look on www.news.independent.co.uk
(Sorry not sure how to do a link)

OP posts:
Marina · 03/02/2006 10:57

Terrific news. A lot of US-based or American expat Mners will be saying to us, what took you so long.
Amyjade, I am so very sorry it is too late for you XXX

SorenLorensen · 03/02/2006 11:00

link for you, amyjade

Heartmum2Jamie · 03/02/2006 14:33

That's fantastic news and about time too. Ds has had his 2 jabs in the last few months and will have the over 2's version in about october, although I am betting that I will have to fight to get it again. Grrrr!

Lio · 03/02/2006 14:34

Quick summary for dimmies please on why this is important.

Lio · 03/02/2006 14:35

Dur, read the link dimmy...

foundintranslation · 03/02/2006 14:38

Prevenar protects against pneumococcal [bacteria?) which can cuse anything from ear infections to meningitis - which amyjade's daughter sadly died of
Amyjade made me aware of it and I got the Prevenar for ds, which wasn't part of the usual programme but I fortunately got free (Germany).
High time - and I'm sorry it's come too late for you, amyjade . You're an inspiration.

Marina · 03/02/2006 14:39

It is an immunisation offered routinely in the US and widely availble to some categories of family in Europe (in France for children in daycare, for example), that protects children against a type of meningitis which kills or disables over 100 children in the UK every year.
It does not give immunity to all varieties of meninigitis though.
The Dept of Health claim that parental opposition to yet more jabs for their babies has prevented them introducing it sooner. The cost (it is £35 a shot, more than the rest put together) is the probably likelier reason though.

Lio · 03/02/2006 15:10

Good god, £35 is a bargain.

amyjade I am so so sorry to hear your horrible news, I'm glad I read this thread.

pooka · 03/02/2006 18:17

Very good news. Asked about this last week as am going to get dd and ds immunised. Not sure, but think that from the news item, that will have to still go private as ds has just finished his infant jabs and dd has had hers too.

Original poster
amyjade · 03/02/2006 18:24

BBC news has just announced that the Prevenar will be introduced in April.

Can't believe it ! My little girl died April 2005 and the vaccine that could have saved her life is introduced April 2006.

Feel like Shit today, can't believe that exactly a year seperates her being alive and her dieing.

Glad that all my Newspaper, TV interviews etc may have contibuted slightly to the introduction of the vaccine and that is definatly a good thing. because of Freya's tragic story other families will be saved from the heartache we live with everyday.

I hope i'v made my daughter proud and that i love and miss her very much. xxx

OP posts:
Angeliz · 03/02/2006 18:25

amyjade, my heart aches for you+

Elibean · 03/02/2006 20:17

Mine, too.

And thank you, Amyjade - for helping us in spite of/because of your terrible loss. I'll certainly be thinking of you and your DD if/when we get the vaccine for our child.

expatinscotland · 03/02/2006 20:20

THANK YOU, Amy! I for one believe your sharing your story saved at least one life, if not more. It took so much courage, and b/c of it, you've made thousands of mums here aware.

My daughter begins her jabs next week, she's 8 weeks tomorrow, so we'll be paying the £70 for the Prevenar course. Well worth it, IMO.

For those of you with toddlers, there's still a vaccine against pneumoccocal disease available privately!

Have a word w/your GP or contact a private clinic.

puff · 03/02/2006 22:24

I've just seen this on the BBC amyjade and immediately thought of you and your beautiful little girl. You must have very mixed emotions about the news.

I was v ignorant about pneum men until your posts - thank you for spreading the information.

I had planned to have my boys (age 2 and 4) vaccinated privately in the next couple of months - I'm wondering whether to just still go ahead as I'm not sure whether they would be included in the proposed nhs vaccination programme.

Socci · 03/02/2006 22:27

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 03/02/2006 22:29

It's been a part of the US and Australia's schedule of childhood vaccines for 5 years.

KathH · 05/02/2006 19:24

glad to hear it - ds2 (16 mths) has been in hospital this week with meningitis altho is now on the mend

jampots · 05/02/2006 19:26

what about older children? Are they covered?

Potty1 · 05/02/2006 19:29

Children over 2 can have the Pneumovax vaccine if they're in an at risk group. It's not routinely offered.

expatinscotland · 05/02/2006 19:55

Jampots
You can also purchase Pneumovax and have it administered by a private GP.

eidsvold · 06/02/2006 08:50

Ex-pat it depends where you live in Aus. Our vaccs are provided on a state by state basis and here in Queensland it has only been available to the general public for about a year. My dd1 was able to have it when we moved to Aus as she was 'at risk'.

AmyJade - such a shame.... I suppose it is some small comfort knowing you had a hand in this.

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