i need info on the pneumococcal vaccine please

[divastrop]

dd3 has yet to have her first jabs(she is 12 weeks old)as she had a cold when she was meant to go for them.i have only just realised that the baby jabs now include this new one,and i really dont know enough about it to know whether i want her to have it or not.

dd2 is only 18 months but didnt have this vaccination as it wasnt included in them then.

i could really do with some impartial,unbiased information on this vaccine,if anybody knows of any good sources?

thanks.

It protects against one of hte most dangerous forms of meninigitis, as well as the more minor pneumonia and ear infections.

It does not give 100% protection against any of the listed conditions as there are other bugs which can cause all of them.

IMHO of you have any doubts drop one of the others (which I don't actually recommend). The consequences of bacterial menigitis are far more significant than many of the other things that are vaccinated against.

Diva,I think they have also started vaccinating older ones,as it is a new addition to the vacs list.DD is 18 months and going for her pneumococcal one tommorow,so maybe your elder will be called for one soon.Have you Googled it?I am afraid I am a bit blase and sheeplike re vaccines and just get them done as feel the fallout could be worse if they got the actual illness,but appreciate many peple do have concerns re vaccines.

Yes I missed that, your DD2 should be called too, as part of the programme they will be offering it to all under 2s given they are a high risk group for pneumococcal menigitis.

I know it's not impartial, but I used to have an HV who I really trusted.. and she pointed out that they've given it to thousands of immunocompromised children over the years (with leukemia etc) so presumably if that group have no significant issues with it....?
FWIW, DS had really scary ear infections, 4 in 5 months just before having the jab, in the end they were suggesting a 2 month course of a very potent anti'b... not a snuffle since the jab. I mean, he's had the odd cold, but it's really just been a snotty nose and mild temp. Not dashing to A&E in the middle of the night.........
HTH - J x

This is one vaccine I had no qualms about at all because of what it is (hopefully) protecting against. The one thing to be aware of is that at the third set of jabs she'll have three at once, which I wasn't too keen on. DS was fine though, even having two in the one leg.

It's a very expensive vaccine which is why they have taken so long to offer it routinely in the uk. In fact, I don't think it's offered to all children everywhere in the uk. I think most areas only offer it to high risk children (immuno-suppressed). It has been mandatory in many US states for years. Even though we lived in the uk, both my children had it as it was highly recommended by our pediatrician in the usa. My ds had it later than normal because we were in the uk and it was not available (even privately) and we had to wait to get it done when we were in the usa. DS used to get terrible ear infections and high high fevers with every cold. After his 2nd pneumoccocal jab he stopped getting them altogether. Preventing ear infections is one of the none benefits of the jab.

sorry make that known benefits

Another vote in favour. DD had pneumonia and lots of chest infections prior to jab. Again she gets the odd sniffle now and it might just be growing up/coincidence but I think the vaccine has helped.

thanks everyone

i did google it but all i seem to get is NHS-based sites that say all vaccinations are 100% safe and every child should have them,or totally anti-vaccination sites that say vacciantions are evil and should be banned.
i thought i'd get a more realistic view of things if i asked real people iyswim.

i will ask the dr if dd2 will be called for hers or if i have to make an appt.

hopefully dd3 will stay cold-free long enough to have her jabs at some point!