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Original poster

14yo DD and MenACWY + TDP Vaccinations. For or Against? and WHY.

26 replies

GrumpyMoo · 23/02/2016 18:09

Hoping someone else is out there thinking about this too...

SO .. today in the post I have received a letter inc, consent form, from the Department of Health/ NHS about the new Meningococcal ACWY and Tetanus, Diptheria and Polio vaccination being ofered to my daughter sometime this year.

Since my other teens and their jabs (last - MEN C at 4-5 yo) The immunisation issue hasn't arisen. I have since done some research - no not hippy trippy clap trap - mainly WHO, PHE, DoH and yes, the NHS on occaision.

I don't now simply believe everything I'm handed in a leaflet. Or told on telly. Or read in a newspaper. Isn't it better to be fully aware of what we are doing, for ourselves and why?

How come today when my DD arrived home from school and saw this letter was she so defensive and well, plainly NARKY about it? Then there were tears FGS. Actual tantrum like tears because I said I was going to look into it. Not that she wasn't going to have it. Look into it!

She accused me of not caring about her and actively WANTING her to get Tetanus. I understand the teen thing, I really do, she's my 4th one afterall!

So no I didn;t immediately jump on her head and tell her to not be silly (all teens are a bit silly IMO) I tried talking. Why was that worse I ask you?

Sorry, turned out to be a longer thing than I thought. And about 2 things not one! But I genuinely want to know how you are all coping with this issue.

... breaks out the Wine and Cake .... Please discuss...

OP posts:
lljkk · 23/02/2016 19:09

Do you want her to get tetanus? What information do you want to be fully informed?

CPtart · 23/02/2016 20:15

I'm a practice nurse that sometimes administers these when missed in school, not quite sure what your problem is? They're both necessary IMO. Her previous dtp (diphtheria, tetanus , polio ) would have been given in the pre school years and needs boosting now as protection will be waning. Meningitis W is on the rise in teens and can be fatal. This new vaccine is a a great step forward and was introduced last September to replace the school leavers Meningitis C. (It's also sometimes needed as a travel vaccine so double bonus).
Despite my job I don't automatically accept all vaccines for my own DC, example being the nasal flu vaccine. But these two are essential, get them done. At the GP surgery if she's particularly likely to make a fuss.

Original poster
GrumpyMoo · 23/02/2016 21:05

Just in case I wasn't clear - I am NOT anit-vaccine/immunisation - what I am against is blind faith in whatever is being pushed on us. Whatever that is.

If the right thing is to have the jabs then she will.

Of course, cos HELLO ....??? Of course I don't want her to get ill. Why does everyone jump on the same defensive bandwagon. Pretty sure that thing is totally overloaded by now.

It's like on Facebook people saying that if you don;t like this picture of a cute black baby then you're racist or hate kids or some other crap.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 23/02/2016 21:08

At 14 don't you think she's mature enough to decide what she wants for herself?

caravanista · 23/02/2016 21:19

How is you 'looking into it' possibly going to help? Unless you have a specialist medical background your only sensible course is to follow the advice of the experts.

PurpleDaisies · 23/02/2016 21:21

Those bloody teenagers-rebellibg against their parents by wanting vaccinations instead of tattoos and piercings. What's the world coming to?

lljkk · 23/02/2016 21:53

So what level of evidence do you want, OP,
Since govt leaflet is not credible... but opinions on Tinternet might be good enough...?

Original poster
GrumpyMoo · 23/02/2016 23:26

Thanks to all for posting. I think the point of my post has been lost, sadly.

OP posts:
bumbleymummy · 24/02/2016 07:19

I understand you wanting to look into them and I agree that we should be making informed decisions. When you read around did you come up with any specific concerns?

As a pp poster said, The new ACWY vaccine has been introduced because there have been an increased number of MenW cases which has quite a virulent strain with a higher fatality rate than usual (~13% compared to the usual ~10%) . Teenagers are the biggest carriers of the bacteria and are more likely to be in close quarters/kissing etc to spread it.

Re tetanus/diphtheria/polio. If you gave the earlier vaccine I'm not really sure why you would have an issue with this one. It's just a booster. I think the new recommendations for tetanus are 5 for life rather than 1 every 10 years so this may be the last one she needs? (Although if she has a particularly tetanus prone injury at some point they may give her another one)

scaevola · 24/02/2016 07:30

If she has had all the jabs to date without side effects, then there's really no reason not to complete the TDP course.

Do you have access to eg Medline if you want to do a proper literature search to allow you to review the evidence on meningitis?

SideOfFoot · 24/02/2016 09:56

Grumpy, I (think I) understand what you are saying. I also think it is worth looking into things and not blindly following.

In response to other points on this thread I agree that at 14 they should have some input.

CPTart, Regarding the point that a vaccine now will protect for travel, I only see that as a bonus if the person wants to travel, my child may never travel and the vaccine can be given later if needed for travel.

I have just had a similar letter and have declined both vaccines. I understand that meningitis is serious but it is a new vaccine so no longer term safety data.

Regarding the DTP, Diptheria is a childhood illness, how likely is it to threaten my 14 year old, same with Polio, less than 200 cases in the world last year, don't believe my 14 year old is at any greater risk than me , yes I had vaccines as a child but none as an adult so don't know if I'm protected or not now. Tetanus, it's a threat but I don't see it as a big threat, you don't just catch tetanus, if my 14 year old is never likely to be involved in an activity that might cause an injury that might be in an environment where tetanus survives then I see the risk as very low. With these points in mind, I don't think the DTP is needed, vaccine damage does happen. I see the chances of these diseases as so low that the risk of the vaccine is greater.

I accept that meningitis is a bigger threat but holding off on that for now too, I would prefer that my 14 year old concentrated on school work, passed exams, lived life rather than injecting a cocktail of chemicals into his body for something that he is very unlikely to ever get. He's probably more likely to be knocked down on his walk to school than getting Diptheria, polio or tetanus!

He can always get them himself when he's older if he wants. Btw, also refused the pre school booster, for exactly the same reasons.

Good luck with your decision Grumpy.

CPtart · 24/02/2016 16:37

The Men ACWY vaccine is now new at all. Neither is the Men B vaccine. They have both been used for many years around the world (only new to UK schedule/cost issues).

CPtart · 24/02/2016 16:38

Not new that should say!

minpin · 26/02/2016 00:26

Hi Grumpymoo,
I would say avoid all discussion of vaccines on here, because it is full of trolls. Honestly, it's unbelievably pathetic. There are real issues of safety with some vaccines. You will not find this anywhere on mainstream media or from NHS or school or doctors. You have to google adverse side effects to see, then make your own mind up. I won't be back to read all this, cos sadly I will be shot down mid sentence. Really, this vaccine section should close on mumsnet as it is utterly trolled. Good luck to you and how very very sensible you are to question vaccines.

PurpleDaisies · 26/02/2016 00:28

Who on this thread are you accusing of trolling minpin?

Quietlygoingmad67 · 26/02/2016 00:33

I'm very interested to read
CPTart didn't allow her DC to have the flu nasal vaccine! Can I ask why?

hollinhurst84 · 26/02/2016 00:43

I had a tetanus top up because I'm around horses and farms etc quite a bit. So I got the dip and polio alongside as its all in one! Didn't have much option there

Quietlygoingmad67 · 26/02/2016 00:47

My dd1 (19) didn't have a DTP top up at age 14 (yr9) - her school offered Tetanus only in yr11.

bakeoffcake · 26/02/2016 01:07

if your child has had an adverse reaction in the past I can fully understand not having these top ups. But to just say "they're 14 niw, they don't need it" is really niaive.
I'm sure if they weren't necessary the govt would save millions of pounds and not give them. especially this bastard government
My dds both had to have top ups at 14 and when they went to uni, this is within the last 5 years. I think that was a meningitis one, but I was relieved they were able to have it.

CPtart · 26/02/2016 19:10

To answer quietlys question-
It didn't sit comfortably with me to vaccine my healthy DC for the greater good and largely to protect the most vulnerable, is, the elderly, chronically ill, (who are entitled themselves to the vaccine) but very many of whom refuse. And I know many refuse, because I try and persuade them and they decline. Year on year.
Nothing to do with safety. Just more a moral issue.

SideOfFoot · 26/02/2016 19:17

CPTart, I also decline the flu vaccine for the same moral reason as you state above. I also decline other vaccines on moral grounds, particularly the rubella.

DeoGratias · 28/02/2016 18:18

At 14 they can do their own research though - that is the point here. She can type. She can read. She can look up if she wants it done - her choice, not yours. She wants it done so that's that.

SideOfFoot · 29/02/2016 19:10

DeoGratias, I do agree with you about a 14 year old having some input and being able to do their own research(as I stated in my post above).

However, a parent still has to sign and I, for one, won't sign for something I don't agree with. Imagine how the op would feel if her DD never recovered from these vaccines?

craftylady505 · 08/03/2016 13:58

I don't remember having all these vaccines at 14. So long as you eat healthily keep relatively fit the usual things to keep you well. We have immune systems and sometimes they can be compromised with too many chemicals.

UmbongoUnchained · 08/03/2016 14:01

Yes craftlady some kale smoothies and a run in the park would have stopped my daughter getting meningitis. How silly of me.

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