Pneumococcal Vaccine

[gnu]

Has anyone any experience or knowledge about this?

DD has had what seems to be an undending succession of colds for the last 2 months (since she was about 4.5 months). The last 2 or 3 episodes have evolved into ear infections and tonsilitis - she is now on her third course of antibiotics and has been having much more pain relief than I would have liked to have give her.

I wonder whether vaccination should be an option to help her through the winter?

The NHS Direct website says: "From September 2006, children from 2 months of age will be vaccinated against pneumococcal infection with a new vaccine called the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). It will be offered to all children at 2, 4 and 13 months."

I wonder whether she has missed this due to not being the right age at the right time?

If she's under 2 I think there is a catchup programme for those who don't fit the routine timings. Speak to hv or practce nurse.

do a search, you will glean lots of info.

I have a soft toy that is a gnu, dd calls it noggaly

Why not call it 'gnu'. Much better surely!

Or failing that, wildy beasty would serve.

AFAIK, ALL children under the age of 2 will receive this (if their parents want them to), either as part of the current vax schedule or separately if they are not due for the other jabs. Your best bet is to ring your gp's surgery and ask when she's likely to have it.

I'm not sure how much difference the jab will make to the number of colds your dd catches as there is no way of preventing or vaccinating against the common cold virus. She may just be prone to picking them up more easily than other children. Have you had a chat with your gp about how often she's catching them and why they keep turning into tonsilitis and ear infections?

she has inherited from me, she's 3!

Thanks Olihan. I understand it won't stop the cold itself, but is likely to help against each cold turning into ear and throat infections? No sure really.

And what about low-dose longer-term antibiotic courses. Might that be preferable to frequent full dose courses she's been having?

Oh, and by the way, I have tried speaking to the Gp as we are concerned that she hardly seems to hear anything anymore and that it might affect her speech development. Unfortunatly, these chats haven't been very productive as our GP is very hard of hearing!

The Pneumococcal vaccine will only prevent ear infections caused by the Pneumococcas bacteria.
Ear infections can be caused by hundreds of different bacteria's and viruses.