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Original poster

many swine flu deaths linked to bacterial pneumonia - thoughts on pneumococcal vaccine?

30 replies

pofacedandproud · 20/10/2009 11:20

here

In light of this, should high risk groups like asthmatics get the pneumococcal vaccine? What about children? They get Prevnar under two but should they have a booster with the current SF pandemic? Thoughts from clever people please...

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 20/10/2009 11:48

dd was recommended the pneumococcal by the asthma nurse when she was little (before prevnar was given routinely) which we accepted. So I'd say yes, its a good idea based on what we were told.

MaryAmericanSmooth · 20/10/2009 11:51

I've had the pneumococcal vaccine because I have no spleen

FlightAttendant · 20/10/2009 12:08

Thanks for this, ds2 is overdue his pneumococcal jab as I didn't want him to have the MMR and then forgot to make a separate appointment.
Will do it asap.

Original poster
pofacedandproud · 20/10/2009 12:16

I'm wondering about getting it for ds though he is over 5 [he missed the catch up] and not in a high risk group. In States they are recommending it but not here. Hard to know what the risk is.

OP posts:
SCARYspicemonster · 20/10/2009 12:18

I think it's a good idea. My sister has now got pneumonia as a result of swine flu (she has chronic asthma too). She's been ill for nearly 2 months now and is potentially going to be signed off for another week next week. It's a horrible illness

Original poster
pofacedandproud · 20/10/2009 12:38

oh that is horrible scary. hope she feels better soon. My asthma has been terrible this month and I think that is just due to ordinary viral illnesses.

OP posts:
MrsBadger · 20/10/2009 12:45

hmm

Prevenar only covers 7 serotypes - Pneumovax (for >2yo) covers more, but if you have swine flu many more things than just pneumococcus can cause pneumonia.

IIRC the Prevenar is part of the normal vax schedule mainly because of its impact on preventing pneumococcal meningitis...

bellissima · 20/10/2009 12:49

My asthmatic DD (now 10) was given Pneumovax about ten years ago - recommended by a paed at the Royal Free (yes I joked with him about chaps from there and recommending vaccinations - he just groaned). She had had a series of infections and it just seemed to stop them in their tracks. (Still asthmatic alas and I still want the swine flu jab for her, but Pneumovax certainly helped at the time and if it's true that it gives her greater protection in the event of a swine flu infection, then I'm even more grateful to the doc.)

bellissima · 20/10/2009 12:51

sorry that should read five years ago - not at birth!!

abra1d · 20/10/2009 12:58

My son had bacterial pneumonia as an 11-month-old and was very ill indeed. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Original poster
pofacedandproud · 20/10/2009 13:06

sorry to hear that abra1d. Was that before Prevnar became part of the vaccination schedule?

OP posts:
abra1d · 20/10/2009 13:14

Yes--he's 12.5 now, so a fair while ago.

He'd had an apparently mild cold and recovered well, eating like a horse the day before he was ill and bouncing around. I took him for a walk in his prams with the dogs and it was foggy. We stayed out for about 40 minutes and perhaps this was too long, I don't know. He seemed well wrapped up and the cold had apparently vanished. Next morning he was struggling to breathe.

Original poster
pofacedandproud · 20/10/2009 13:16

very scary. glad he's ok.

OP posts:
abra1d · 20/10/2009 13:19

Thanks, pofaced.

abra1d · 20/10/2009 13:19

Thanks, pofaced.

tiredsville · 20/10/2009 13:45

Scary, did your sister take the Tamiflu at the earlier stages?
Just wondering, as I am an asthmatic and was interested whether or not tamiflu hinders anything secondary from occuring in asthmatics.

Ewe · 20/10/2009 13:50

My GP mentioned this when I saw her yesterday as I am currently recovering from swine flu and have a secondary chest infection requiring steroids and antibiotics.

Was told to be very careful and at any signs of it getting worse go straight to A&E. I am a fit (ish) 22 year old so imagine it's a bigger risk for more vulnerable members of society.

SCARYspicemonster · 20/10/2009 14:14

No she didn't tiredsville (she was going on holiday that day) but I think if she had taken it, it may well have prevented it from developing into pneumonia.

tiredsville · 20/10/2009 14:40

thanks for replying Scary, I will take note...

LeninGhoul · 21/10/2009 07:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
pofacedandproud · 21/10/2009 12:36

funny that the UK aren't pushing it, Lenin, am wondering about getting ds done now.

OP posts:
Original poster
pofacedandproud · 21/10/2009 12:37

And me.

OP posts:
Original poster
pofacedandproud · 21/10/2009 16:51

this
However seems to contradict the idea that Pneumococcal vaccine for adults has a useful protective effect. Comments please!

OP posts:
Original poster
pofacedandproud · 21/10/2009 19:31

bump

OP posts:
Musukebba · 21/10/2009 20:39

TBH pofaced, that latter study just shows how difficult it is to use a meta-analysis to judge pneumo vaccination in general. So many trials of so many vaccines in so many countries...

The polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)is recommended in the UK for preventing pneumo meningitis in the >65yo but doesn't prevent the lung disease. The conjugated vaccine (PCV) works better in children for all types of pneumo disease but I don't think has been tried in adults.