If you have "What your Dr. may not tell you about childhood vaccines"...

[katiegrace]

What does she say about the Prevnar vaccine? I am still having trouble deciding on this one vaccine. One minute I am fine not getting it for her, and the next I'm terrified she's gonna die of meningitis if she doesn't have it.
I have been told that it's a really good book, but I haven't had the extra $ to order a copy yet. Our Barnes and Nobles doesn't even carry it,: so I haven't been able to read any of it in the bookstore either. I'd love to know her opinion on this vaccine, and the facts she lists about the disease, etc. Thanks so much!!

[FernG]

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You... says:
-There are over 90 strains of streptococcus pneumoniae (i.e., strep)
-All of the strains cause a lot of different types of infections - millions of ear infections and thousands of cases of meningitis and pneumonia
-Children under 2 years (145 cases per 100,000) and adults over 75 and people with weak immune systems are most at risk for pneumococal diseases.
-38,000 children were in clinical trials to approve Prevnar Ear infections declined by 6%. The CDC says that Prevnar was 90% effective in preventing meningitis and blood poisoning from the 7 strains of bacteria targeted by the vaccine.

There isn't much on Prevnar because it was pretty new when the book was published.

[runes]

Here's some info about Prevnar.

[prescottchels]

Originally Posted by FernG

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You... says:
-There are over 90 strains of streptococcus pneumoniae (i.e., strep)
-All of the strains cause a lot of different types of infections - millions of ear infections and thousands of cases of meningitis and pneumonia
-Children under 2 years (145 cases per 100,000) and adults over 75 and people with weak immune systems are most at risk for pneumococal diseases.
-38,000 children were in clinical trials to approve Prevnar Ear infections declined by 6%. The CDC says that Prevnar was 90% effective in preventing meningitis and blood poisoning from the 7 strains of bacteria targeted by the vaccine.

There isn't much on Prevnar because it was pretty new when the book was published.

Just from reading this and knowing what I know of vaccines in general...
It says up there that there are over 90 strains of strep and the vaccine only targets 7! I wouldn't risk the vaccine, personally. The odds are not nearly good enough even if I was pro some vaccines or delayed vaccinating (which I'm not).
Just my .02

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by prescottchels

Just from reading this and knowing what I know of vaccines in general...
It says up there that there are over 90 strains of strep and the vaccine only targets 7! I wouldn't risk the vaccine, personally. The odds are not nearly good enough even if I was pro some vaccines or delayed vaccinating (which I'm not).
Just my .02

Ditto! Besides due to serotype replacement, the incidence of menegitis has not gone down since Prevnar came on the scene. The hole it has created just fills up with another type of bacteria or virus (of which there are over 90)which can also cause menegitis. The same thing happened with the HIB vaccine. All the vaxes are doing are creating holes for more virulent bacteria to fill...hence another vaccine to come up with. It's and endless cycle....

[katiegrace]

Thanks for the info!!