How important is the last DTP?

[wobblyknicks]

DD (now 10 months) had her first two out of the 3 dtp's at the regular time but she had a bit of a bad reaction with each (nothing too bad but don't want it again). Since then I've left the 3rd one, partly through snuffles she's had, the upheaval at leaving UH and not wanting a bad reaction again.

Now I keep get reminders from gp and parents telling me I should get the 3rd one done but I think its not worth it. Don't want to affect her health again, especially as she'll have to have MMR in about 6 months, and IMO she's pretty well protected as it is. AND she'll have another DTP anyway.

So is it really worth it?

Hi Wobblyknicks,

It's good to hear that your GP is finally being a little bit more cooperative!

I'm not sure that the nurses argument for having the DTWP is valid in your case?

"Nurse just phoned me - apparently in this county they won't allow babies to have the infanrix because its designed for pre-schoolers and hasn't got good enough pertussis protection."

Surely the fact that your DD has already had the first 2 DTWP vaccinations would mean that she already has a fair amount of protection against pertussis already?

Also, could the problem be with your GP rather than the county you are in? Is it worth changing doctors?

We live in Berks. and our doctor was quite happy to put his signature to the piece of paper that said our DD was to have Infanrix, however I was speaking to friends last week who live in the same county and their GP has refused to allow the Infanrix.

wobblyknicks, my dd got the infanrix (I'll be eternally grateful as i didn't know at the time about mercury!!), as they had run out of the other one DTwP for a time up here. I wasn't even informed of it until i started researching and checked what dd had had.
How's that for double standards????

GOOD LUCK+
Have everything crossed that they listen to you[cross]

thanks everyone

jimjams - I'm hoping they will rethink if I stand my ground, it seems just another case of who shouts loudest for longest. I think they're giving me a try to see if I'll go ahead with DTwP instead of argue and then, hopefully, they'll rethink when they see I'm serious.

preggiemum - I think the nurses argument is a bit stupid as dd's had 2 pertussis imm's and its not the worst thing she can get anyway. It just seems to be part of the ploy - she's trying to make out that I'll be putting dd at far more risk by having less pertussis protection than by having another mercury shot - but I'm not buying that so its down to a test of wills as far as I can see.

angeliz - do you mind me asking where you live and mentioning that to the nurse next time? That is so insane its funny!! So as far as my surgery is concerned, the infanrix isn't safe for dd - as far as yours are concerned it can be used in place of the DTwP without even telling you!!! The NHS is a mad world sometimes!!! Thanks, i'll be keeping everything crossed too.

No i don't mind, i live in the North East , Sunderland.
It was around the time when shortly after they called children for the Hib booster as they felt it hadn't been as effective in the babies who had had DTaP .
I spoke to N.H.S direct about it as was worried and they said they were giving the booster to all children anyway.

DD never got it as both her nephews were very poorly after it and i was just so worried about it all...and she had chicken pox at the time.

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Oh right, ok thanks. Will see what the snotty nurse has to say to the fact that other people get given infanrix as a matter of course!!

thanks twiglett - I know its childish but now I'm determined to have the DTaP just to show that nurse where to go!! Is there any good info online stating that the infanrix is fine in place of the DTaP - would be good to have something in print.

that should be 'in place of the DTwP' of course!!!

have a look at this

CANNOT do link but this tells you about the shortage!

OOOOHH I did it

The alternative jab that was used here was Infanrix.

Good linking - thanks for that, will print it off.

There's a new strain on pertussis doing the rounds anyway- neither dtwp or dtap protects against it- and its evolved because of vaccination. It does seem less virulent than the original. DS2 was exposed heavily to pertussis when he was 4 months- was a bit worrying at the time- but he didn't get it. It was interesting because he was exposed via my friend's 4 kids- she had whooping cough as a child- depsite being vaccinated- I rememeber it well as I had measles at the same time and we used to play together- she had to keep running off to be sick. Anyway despite playing with her when I had measles I didn't catch whooping cough. Same thing was repeated next generation down. The homeopathic idea of susceptibility isn't all mad.

How about this?

here

and published by the department of health for the NHS!!!

If you scroll down to the bottom of the page it says:

"#DTaP should be used as appropriate when a severe reaction to DTwP has occurred (see Green Book).

*Infanrix is licensed for use in children up to and including 6 years of age"

I looked in the Green Book for definition of a severe reaction and found:
7.2.2 Immunisation should not be carried out in individuals who
have a definite history of a severe local or general reaction to a
preceding dose. Detailed enquiry may reveal that the reported reaction
does not match the specifications below and immunisation can proceed.
Appropriate specialist advice should be sought if there is doubt. The
following reactions should be regarded as severe:
Local: an extensive area of redness and swelling which becomes
indurated and involves most of the antero-lateral surface of the thigh or
a major part of the circumference of the upper arm.
General: fever equal to or more than 39.5°C within 48 hours of vaccine;
anaphylaxis; bronchospasm; laryngeal oedema; generalised collapse.
Prolonged unresponsiveness; prolonged inconsolable or high-pitched
screaming for more than 4 hours; convulsions or encephalopathy
occurring within 72 hours.

Did your DD have any of these reactions?

If so, you could print the page from the website + section 7.2.2 of the green book and take to your GP.

The link above also says:
"After two doses of pertussis vaccine a child is likely to be protected against serious disease. No more than 5 doses of DT/DTP should be given."

Therefore it is likely that your DD is already protected against Pertussis and the nurses argument against Infanrix is not valid.

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Thanks everyone - thats all a huggge help, I'm SO glad I've got people on here who can actually give me the real info and not the spiel that the nurse wants to throw out.

Am wetting myself about the new threads about the thimerosil being got rid of - what utterly perfect timing for me, just wish it had come a lot sooner for everyone else on here. Am going to go to town with this now - don't generally enjoy getting one over on people but they way that nurse has treated me like I'm an idiot I'll certainly enjoy this!!!