Alberta boy dies of meningitis

[just_lily]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...wmenigitis0120

So heartbreaking. It sounds like more could have been done if doctors were more on-the-ball about the whole thing.

No information in the media as to whether or not he was vaccinated. I suspect he was because I am sure it would be all over the place if he wasn't. I also wonder (pure speculation) if the doctors involved overlooked serious illness just because he was vaxed.

They also haven't been able to identify the strain. Of course public health is taking the opportunity to push vaccines, but there is no indication of this was even vaccine-available. But I guess you have to take every opportunity to scare parents when you get them. :

Thoughts and prayers for the family.

[Marnica]

That was my first thought as well.....they don't even know if this originated from a VP strain of bacteria. Considering there are so many strains that lead to mennegitis, chances are fairly good that it wasn't. Since the article also says that there is no public health concern, im wondering why they even bothered to mention it....Oh Yeah to capatalize on the FEAR

[melissabb]

Originally Posted by just_lily

I also wonder (pure speculation) if the doctors involved overlooked serious illness just because he was vaxed.

Yes, like the child I know who contracted Chicken pox but it wasn't diagnosed because, "he couldn't possibly have CP - he was vaxed!" Sigh.

Still, sad, sad news for that family.

[peainthepod]

How horrible for the family.

[japonica]

And did you read the comments...nice and predictable bit of mudslinging against the parents even though we don't know what the strain was and if the vaccine would have made any difference.

[Gitti]

Very sad.

And the people who left comments are very rude, mostly.

They don't take any more comments. But you can send letters.

[kolleen9]

I can't imagine what those parents are going through. That has got to be the worse thing in the world to lose a child.

The comments on the board were strange, why did they assume the kid was not vax'd? es head:

-K

[syd'smom]

The meningitis vaccine isn't super common here. You have to ask for it; it is not on the schedule. I did ask about it when dd was a newborn (before I started doing my research), and my ped (who does recommend all the scheduled vaccines) specifically said not to get menactra (for 4 strains of menigitis) b/c the previous cases of the disease around here a couple of years ago were not the result of those 4 strains.

Anyway, that is probably why they assume the child wasn't vaxed, b/c it is not on the "schedule" (though I'm sure they'll push for it to be added, even though the strains probably don't match). :

[CarrieMF]

Mark Willcock, who died in a Calgary hospital on Monday of the disease that causes membranes around the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed, may never have received preventive vaccines, his mother said.

This is probably why they assume he wasn't vax'd.

This boy is 7, the same age as my middle dd. When she was 1 there was a vax available for meningitis due to a number of outbreaks in AB & SK. I do not know if there is a meningitis vax in the 4year boosters but they do give one in Grade 6ish when they do Hep B.

[syd'smom]

ooops...I went to check my info and I was partially wrong. Menactra is not on the AB schedule, but there is a Meningococcal conjugate vaccine at 2mo, 4mo and 12mo, and that is it from what I can tell.

Of course there are dozens of strains, so who know what strain is going around, what the vaccines are supposed to be "protecting" us from. The information and misinformation makes my head spin.

[Dmitrizmom]

Originally Posted by "http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090120.wmenigitis0120/BNStory/National/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20090120.wmenigitis0120

In the spirit of his generosity, they also donated his organs, which went on to help four other children battle their own illnesses.

ok... so does anybody else see anything wrong with donating organs of a child who died from an infectious disease and a massive load of antibiotics in his system to other people who are most likely immune compromised and in poor health? Just asking?


*** please note, I am all for organ donation... just don't see it as a good choice in this situation.