Thimerosil-Free Vaccines .. Help .. Anyone know where to get .. Jimjams? Tamum? Anyone?

[twiglett]

message withdrawn

yes its sad really. All parents really want is a reputable source of information! A trial, properly carried out and one which everyone (medically) acknowledges was fair. I mean it can't be that difficult can it. Instead, we are subjected to vast amount of research, most of which contradicts each other and then a whole load of people issue statements saying the research wasn't carried out properly.

I am all in favour of vaccination and my kids have had them all (bar the pre-school booster which they are just about to get) but I must admit, all of the information out there can be very confusing and even more so if you happen to have a child that has some form of developmental problem and no-one knows why some children have them and some don't (especially those in the same family).

GeorginaA

Infanrix is "not licensed for primary vaccinations"

you're right, it is bollocks, because they even produce something called 'infanrix-hib' which is only for primary vaccinations!

My dh has a whole lot of infanrix in his fridge at work, which the nurse regularlt gives to babies. Unlicensed my *rse!

See this is what annoys me most, not that they've refused the vaccination for my son, but that they either don't know the NHS/DOH guidelines or they're deliberately lying to me. Either way, it doesn't encourage much trust or respect on my part.

I'd have rather they'd be honest and said "I'm sorry, the mercury free vaccine is more expensive and we feel there's no real benefits to justify the cost" or "we're not allowed to administer infanrix until all the old stocks of DTwP are used up" or whatever their real reason is, instead of being fobbed off with such ridiculous reasons.

Incidentally, does anyone know if there's somewhere online I can find the exact licensing information for Infanrix, or to find NHS guidelines/DOH guidelines that are given to GPs so I can print it off and post it to my surgery? I'm almost resolved to go private now for these, but feeling bloody minded.

Also, susanmt, does your dh know if there are any issues if I do vaccinate MenC, Hib and polio on one day and then DTaP four days later? Or do they need to be done on the same day or a set distance apart?

GeorginaA, I think eddm posted a link to the BNF recently, would it be in there? Will see if I can find it, think it was one of Twiglett's threads.

No idea whether it's what you want GeorginaA, but the link is in this thread

Thanks www - it does have infanrix listed and mentions primary routine vaccination at 2,3 and 4 months, but doesn't explicitly list licensing information. I really need something that's so clearcut that the surgery can't argue and I can sarcastically write a letter which says something along the lines of "so now we've determined that a) you have Infanrix in stock for the pre-school boosters and b) it is licensed for use in primary vaccinations, I hope to receive your confirmation that ds2 can be administered this vaccination in place of the DTwP vaccine shortly".

message withdrawn

Well lookee here ! Go to the button at the top (BNF 47), and it opens a new window. Type infanrix into the search box and bob's your uncle. Or GP.

To save time :

Infanrix:

Injection, suspension of diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine components adsorbed on a mineral carrier, net price 0.5-mL prefilled syringe = £11.00
Dose: primary immunisation of children, by deep intramuscular injection 0.5 mL at 2 months followed by a second dose after 4 weeks and third dose after another 4 weeks (see schedule, section 14.1); booster dose for child under 7 years previously immunised with 3 doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whole cell or acellular) vaccine, by deep intramuscular injection, 0.5 mL (see schedule, section 14.1)

Available as part of childhood immunisation schedule, from health authorities or Farillon

Hmm, yes - but it doesn't explicitly say licensing information. ie. this is licensed for use between x-y years of age by the department of health or anything like that? Or is that what the BNF implies? Sorry, I'm a bit confused.

I think the bit about the primary vaccination is the relevant bit. It's in there as being used at 2 months etc- therefore it is licenced. Compare it with the entry for single measles (which isn't licenced except on a named patient basis).

My understanding is that if it's in the BNF it's licensed. Sorry, I thought that was what you were after. This is what all GPs have in their surgeries, and it's what they check, and it clearly says from two months. Can't see what else you'd need really, but maybe I haven't understood the question.

Ah okay, no in that case I've misunderstood what the BNF is - sorry! Thanks for that

A case of foggy brain on my part, methinks.

Perhaps susanmt could confirm it, but that was my understanding. They give some phone numbers here ; I guess you could ring your local number and ask them? (You might have to pretend to be a doctor though I suppose )

Sorry, just a little detail on the BNF. Not all that is written in the BNF is licenced . But it says whether it is or not (at least in the "hard copy".).

Eg "Infanrix PoM" (=prescription only medicines. )

Other medicines maybe "unlicenced or not availble for NHS prescription".

Yes, it's the same with the online one. Anything that is unlicensed is clearly marked, although I have only so far seen ones that are unlicensed under certain conditions.