Pneumococcal / Prevnar

[sandradee]

Hi,

Not posted for a while but I would really appreciate advice on the Pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar).

DS is now nearly 20 months and has been called up to have the 1 catchup shot. I was for it until I started reading bad things about the vaccine - such as it interferes with the efficacy of other vaccines such as MMR, they don't know the long term effects etc etc. I am pro-vaccine but I am just not sure about this one. DS will be 2 in April and I keep thinking if he was 2 then he would not even be given the vaccinate, yet I have seen the terrible consequences of Meningitis.

What are your thoughts? We have a consultation with a paediatrician next week anyway since he seems to get a lot of viral induced asthma and uses an inhaler when he has a cold. I thought about asking them then and then getting him done if they say to do it.

I'm very confused and am not sure what research is reputable and what is not

Thanks very much

"bump"

hi sandradee, my DD has just had this vaccine 2 wks ago, she is 2 in jan, the leaflet said that the vaccine is recommended for lo's upto 5 if they have things like severe astma and a few other medical problems. I did research before hand i found it on the whole to be encouraging and positive. Personal choice but hth

My DS is 21 months and had the vaccine last week. Like you I was very worried and done some research especially after my friends DD was quite poorly after she had it.

After doing some research I felt he would have far more protection with it. My HV also explained that the children that are poorly after the vaccine are usually the ones that would have eventually developed one of the diseases it protects against.

There have been many discussons on this recentlt, I have found a few for you, some of them have links to useful information. Apologies if some of the links take you to the same place.
Here
More
Even More
{http://mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=138&threadid=210568&stamp=060906185224\More}

Hth

\link{http://mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=138&threadid=210568&stamp=060906185224\try Again

try Again

just to add, my dd had it recently here in Oz where it has been routine for some time. Very happy for her to have it. No side effects.

Thanks - it does seem that most of the threads are positive. I have cancelled the jab today because I panicked - but DS is running a slight temperature anyway so probably would not have been able to have it anyway.

I have rescheduled for a couple of weeks after the visit to the paediatrician so thanks for your advice - he will be getting it