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Original poster

Meningitis ACWY vaccine - has your fresher DC had theirs yet?

57 replies

bigbluebus · 08/09/2015 10:18

DS went for his yesterday. He was told his arm might be a bit sore afterwards and he may get some flu like symptoms. This morning he woke up with a temperature of 38.8 C, a splitting headache and feeling dizzy. He is moping around in bed feeling sorry for himself not that the moping around in bed is any different from usual not even bothering to play on his phone Sad.
He took some paracetemol for the headache but temp is still 37.7 C 2 hours later.

I think I read that his Uni will be running vaccination sessions to catch those who haven't had the vaccine before leaving home,(so assume other Unis will be doing the same) but given the possible side effects, I would advise anyone whose DC intends to have the vaccine to get it done in plenty of time before they leave home.

OP posts:
MossAgate · 09/09/2015 10:13

It seems I have a choice of -

A. Waiting for Christmas for dc to have jab locally.

B. DC re-registering and having jab at university, with side effects away from home potentially in fresher's week.

C. Pay ??85 for the jab. I cross checked with a private hospital and dc definitely does need jab and local practice is giving out incorrect information.

Currently dithering about which one is the best option.

MossAgate · 09/09/2015 10:14

that should say 85 pounds.

Horsemad · 09/09/2015 10:16

Can you afford the ??85? I'd go for option C if it were me.

MossAgate · 09/09/2015 10:55

It probably is the easiest thing to do.

I'll have to regard it as a tax on my stupidity. Should have been more on the ball but there has been so much going on just lately.

Horsemad · 09/09/2015 11:02

You're not to blame! We didn't realise DS2's bus pass hadn't been applied for, so whilst we're waiting for that to be sorted I have to drive him to school and collect again - that's 30 miles a day I could do without!! Hmm

Completely forgot, due to DS1's Uni prep! Shock

Horsemad · 09/09/2015 11:04

PS, your health centre are a bit rubbish imo!

SecretSquirrels · 09/09/2015 11:10

I am paying the ??85.
The practise nurse told me the supply issues only affect NHS supplies which come from a different company. She ordered it in for DS and it came next day, although he has been away so hasn't had it yet I am not telling him there may be side effects or he won't go.

MossAgate · 09/09/2015 13:52

Glad I'm not the only one to encounter this problem. I'm getting my other university dc vaccinated at the same time.

Acatcalledfluffy · 09/09/2015 17:11

Ds had his a few weeks ago. Arm a little bit sore but apart from that he was perfectly fine.

Millipedewithherfeetup · 09/09/2015 19:01

DD had it on Monday, sore/stiff arm that evening, but all ok by the morning, btw our surgery receptionist also knew nothing about it when we went in to book, took around a week before they came back with a date as no supplies.

Horsemad · 09/09/2015 19:04

These surgeries really need to get their act together. Angry

MossAgate · 09/09/2015 19:16

There is a resounding silence from our surgery. The nurse has gone away to check again and I gave her all the information from the meningitis charity.

Felt I should do this as they are still advising people round here not to have some teenagers vaccinated but that would mean they were not covered for the W strain. Anyhow I have now booked a private appointment as I'm too exhausted to fight the system. The private doctor's receptionist has confirmed that my dc does need a vaccine and having the B part again won't be harmful.

The meningitis charity said it is important as there has been a spike in these cases recently.

Horsemad · 09/09/2015 19:25

Well done. At least if they find they are wrong it might stop the wrong advice being given out.

HocusUcas · 09/09/2015 19:31

Moss , I think you are doing the right thing by paying for it.

DS had a Men C booster vaccination earlier this year and I thought we were done. It is not the same as the ACWY so he has had the ACWY as well. I was a bit confused when we got the letter from the doctor's but after some research realised they are different.

In DS's case, if anyone wants reassurance, he didn't have any side effects to speak of. Slightly sore for a short while round the actual injection bit but fine.
Less than treading on a piece of lego I would say Smile.

Moss when you say Men B - is he having that one as well before he goes off because as I understand it that one is only available privately but a reliable person has advised me to have DS vaccinated for that as well.

MiffyMyKitty · 09/09/2015 19:43

Thats is so expensive for a the men c jab!!. Luckily we didn't encounter the problem you have been having mossagate dd had hers on the day after A level results day so 22nd August she had recieved a letter from the surgery a week before asking her to book a appointment. Definatley think your surgery is rather disorganised and misinformed. DD had to have holiday jabs in July and on the computer screen, nurse told her about the new meningitis C jab, put her on the list.

MossAgate · 09/09/2015 19:43

Sorry. I'm getting my letters mixed up. I meant she is having the C again as she had the original C jab, then a booster last year. Apparently it won't harm her to have the new one on top of those two.

ssd · 09/09/2015 19:47

ds getting it soon, would you advice taking paracetamol beforehand then?

MossAgate · 09/09/2015 19:48

I'm going to have to pay 85 pounds x two as my older university student (falls in same age group) will be having one at the same time! Slightly bugs me as I contacted the surgery before A Level results day and was told no nothing needed. (Rant over)

MiffyMyKitty · 09/09/2015 19:58

Actually dd had hers on 14th August. Earlier than I thought definatley day after A levels. As she was moaning all the way to the surgery, not a nice way to celebrate her results. But she did have side effects dizziness for 3 days after, fever, dead arm feeling. The area where they put the jab became very large and swollen. It all cleared up about 10 days later, but then dd does have a compromised immune system so that could have been the reason why.

MossAgate · 09/09/2015 20:02

The only appointment I can get is two days before we go to the university. I'm hoping that will be enough recovery time.

Better than doing it up there though. They have enough to organise in Fresher's week without worrying about a jab.

Original poster
bigbluebus · 09/09/2015 20:16

mossagate Although DS was 'bed ridden' all day yesterday, he is fine today so hopefully two days before Uni won't cause any problems if they do have a reaction.
ssd Not sure there's a need for Paracetemol before the jab but make sure you have plenty of it and ibuprofen in stock for the following day just in case.

OP posts:
HocusUcas · 09/09/2015 23:23

When Ds had the ACWY the nurse who administered it said if there were to be a serious reaction you would know before you left the surgery. Moss , I think very wise to get it done before he goes. As understand it , as a lay person, the whole point of this vaccination is to get it done before they go to university because that is the point at which they are most at risk. A friend told me that they are doing the same thing in the US - i.e. if you are going to college , you have this jab.

MossAgate · 10/09/2015 09:02

Thanks bigbluebus and Hocus. That is very reassuring. Smile

ssd · 10/09/2015 20:53

thanks blue, will do

Antaresisastar · 10/09/2015 22:47

Ds had his yesterday, his arm aches but otherwise no fever etc. Dd has hers on Saturday, will wait to see what happens.