Pneumococcal Vax?!?!?!?

[Flamesparrow]

WTF is this bloody thing they want to start chucking in babies now???? Is it needed??? Do I stamp my feet, or just say ok??

(I am ignoring for the time the fact that in their "proposed routine" involves babies having fckin MMR AND* this new one AT THE SAME TIME! )

Sorry... just been to hv for jabs as you can probably tell

I know one of the reasons for the Pneumococcal Vax is to help prevent ear infections. My DD was hospitalized with one and the paediatrician recommended she have the vax to prevent more in the future. Where I live it is not a standard vaccination however, probably because it is not reimbursed by most health insurance schemes.

The prevenar jabs that they want to start administering to babies helps protect them again the 7 commonest strains of pnuemonoccal disease, including the menengitis strain.

Perhaps you should read this

I am quite certain that Amyjade will be able to tell you more about it. It used to only be offered to high risk patients, like those with heart, liver, kidney probalems, sever asthma or respiratory disease. In all honesty, I wouldn't knock it, it can and will save lives.

Ah, had no idea they wanted to administer them at the same time, seems a bit much if you ask me. I doubt I would go for them together but would want the prevenar vaccine. Ds had his prevenar in 2 doses last october and again in january and will be having his pnuemovax soon (which won't be routinely given, or at least I don't think they have plans to yet).

Like any vaccines, it is your choice. All you can do is make in informed decision based on what is right for you and your child (I am NOT starting a debate on vaccination/no vacination)

Dd had her prevenar with her other 8 week jabs 3 weeks ago and was absolutely fine.

Please think very hard about giving this vaccine. it prevents many strains of pneumococcal infection and will reduce the risk of serious ear infections, pneumonia but most importantly of all pneumococcal meningitis. This is a very serious form of meningitis which leaves almost every child with some form of neurological impairment eg deafness, epilepsy, learning disability. I have met several children and young people who experience this illness as children and some are profoundly disabled because of it. In addition to those left disabled many children die. The introduction of this vaccine is long overdue imho .

DD had pneumonia in Feb (at 22 months) and was then given prevenar (sp?) in two doses a few months later. Trust me, you don't want to be in A&E watching as your child has a febrile convulsion (brought on by sudden appearance of pneumonia) and is rushed into the crisis area and is suddenly surrounded by every doctor on the team! The scariest moment of my life without a doubt.

She's been fine and dandy since (cross fingers and toes) - nothing more than a sniffle in months and months (cross all limbs).

They are giving it out here in September on the NHS.

Just found out today from the HV.

I've been chasing this up for DD2.

SO glad it's finally here.

Pneumoccocal meningitis kills about 55 children in the UK/year and leaves many others permanently disabled. It had a tendency to disable children in addition to killing them.

Can be tricky to diagnose and of course, that leads to more deaths.

Amyjade's beautiful daughter, Freya, died of the disease last year and 19-months old. Will be forever grateful to Amyjade for her courage in sharing her story and possibly saving more childrens' lives by raising awareness of this disease. She's an honour to her beloved daughter's life and memory.

They are offering Pnuemovax to toddlers for their boosters after September.

Hooray! Won't have to buy it for DD1. She's getting her boosters at 3 years, 4 months in October. Wanted to do it earlier w/all the measles, mumps and whooping cough going round these days.

Thankyou - you have all given me the kind of informatopn that I was wanting to know. It would have taken a lot for me to completely refuse it anyway.

I still won't have it dome at the same time as the MMR, but it will be done iyswim.

I didn't realise that it was this that Freya had

I am one of those A&E sisters who resucitates babies and children with menningitis and pneumonia etc and not always successfully. Believe me the more that these diseases are irradicated or reduced the better !

Expat, that is great news about them offering Pnuemovax as well. My ds isn't due any boosters for at least another year, so will get his anyway due to being high risk, but it is great that they will offer it, definately a step in the right direction.

its fantastic that we are being offered pneumovax as well now. my Dd is Freyas cousin, so we paid for prevenar, and i have been planning to buy pneumovax also.

you've said it all really ladies.

My beautiful daughter Freya was a perfectly healthy 19 month old and the absolute light of our lives, because of the Pneumococcas bacteria she spent 10 days in Southampton PICU attached to every machine possible while i sat by her side day and night praying that she wouldn't die.
Freya suffered irreversable brain damage and passed away in her daddy's arms just 16 months ago.

That is how important the Pneumococcal vaccine is.

Just to let you know Dd2(14 months) recently had her last dose of Prevenar she was supposed to have it with her MMR but was slightly under the weather that day so i decided to have them seperately but otherwise i would have given them to her together.
Prevenar is not a 'live' vaccine so is safe to have along side other vaccines.

I remember reading your threads at the time Amyjade. Really just someone posting and telling me that that was what would have saved her would be enough to give me the go ahead.

My HV pretty much just said "there's a new vaccine" and threw a vague piece of paper at me, leaving me none the wiser.

DS reacts very badly to jabs (or he has to these hib etc ones), and sitting holding my crying child was what led to my very irate sounding first post . I am sorry for how agressive it sounds.

I put off DD2s vaccines - DD1's delays may be the result of thiomersol in the old jabs - and luckily she is eligible for the Prevenar w/her last jabs. B/c she needs two lots, they've agreed to offer her the other one in October.

Hope they're working on a vaccine for meningiccocal, which is still a serious threat if contracted.

think this is great news - ds2 had menigoccal (SP?) meningitis at 17 months earlier this year and altho he's absolutely fine, it was without a doubt the worst 10 days of my life.

Does anyone know what age the NHS will be administering pneumovax from, will everyone be invited or just if requested (my 19 month has already had prevenar privately).

Is there a Hib/MenC booster catch up, if no catch up, can this be requested?

Any advice appreciated, I knew about the NHS giving Prevenar but this is the first I've heard for Pneumovax. Thanks

There is a Hib/Menc booster called Minitorix which will be part of the new vaccination programme this will be given at 12 months.
Don't think there is a planned catch up programme for this though.