Prevnar (still undecided!)

[Lollicup]

After all the reading and researching I've been doing, I am still unsure of getting the Prevnar vaccination for my LO. So far, she has has completed the Hib series, and only 1 DTaP (which I plan on completing in the near future.) The MMR is still being considered.

What about pneumococcal? My pedi said that the risks of meningitis were low at her age, but not bacterial.

My question is, I don't understand how causes serious invasive infections? I understand that children carry this, but it not fully understood how it becomes serious.

I understand that there are new strains that aren't covered by the vaccination, as well as stereotypes.

I am on he fence about this one. After my DD's last Hib shot over 2 months ago, she came down with menigitas and had to be hpsilized for 3 days., Thank God, it was only viral, but at that time, I was sickened that I didn't get Prevnar for my DD as we were waiting for test results. I kept praying it wasn't pneumococcal. What if it was pneumococcal and I hadn't immunized my DD for it? I also fear that Prevnar will cause a serious reaction (which I believe the last Hib vaccination had caused).

Since then, she seems to have completely recovered which we are very thankful for.

My question is, do you think my DD needs Prevnar since she is 18 months old. I am a SAHM, no day care or playgroups (except visiting with Grandparents and playing with my friends kids occasionally.)

I'm scared both ways.

[ema-adama]

Mama- it sounds like you need to look into why these bacteria become invasive and see what you can do to support your LO's immune system other than vaccination. No one can tell you what to do for your child. You need to make peace with your decision one way or another.

It might sound a bit harsh - but worrying about it doesn't help you or your LO.

What alternatives are you aware of - ie things that build immunity or work as preventative medicine?

[japonica]

There's a great Nutrition and Immunity thread here...

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=406983

[stacey05]

I understand your dilemma. I was on the fence about hib for quite awhile. I hate wavering back and forth and just needed to make a decision!!

I decided against prevnar because of the higher rate of reactions and serotype replacement. My first 3 children didn't get this vaccine (didn't have it then) and they have been fine. I know that is not great logic, but it helps me feel better about not giving it to my 5th one. My 4th one got 2 doses of this at 2 & 4 months old. The dr. said it was an ear infection vaccine??? He never mentioned meningitis. Not sure why? Well, this child possibly had a neurological reaction (some dr's agree the vaccines could have caused it and other dr's say not the vaccines) after his 4 month shots. This is what led me to start researching vaccines. It is strange because my first kids got the "worse" vaccines...oral polio, dpt (not dtap) and they did fine. My 4th got the dtap, injectible polio, hib, prevnar, etc. and possibly had a reaction. I always wondered if it was the prevnar or the pertussis part of the dtap? Who knows because they gave him so many!!! I stopped vaccinating him at 4 mos. and have not vaccinated my 21 month old at all. My 21 month old has been very healthy so far! I have learned, though, more about benefits of longer bf'ing (he is still breastfed), hand washing, and boosting the immune system. I give him SA and CLO and lots of fruits, veggies, very little milk, etc.

I have prayed alot about my decisions regarding vaccines and I still get unsure at times. Nobody can tell you what to do. It isn't an easy decision at all!! I am sorry I can't tell you how pneumococcal becomes invasive, I guess it just goes bad sometimes?? It has helped me to read some books and listen to Dr. Jay Gorden and Dr. Tenpenny too. Even Dr. Sears' book has helped me understand the diseases better. Good luck to you!

[Marnica]

I remember your ordeal well. I'm so glad your lO is better now!.

There is no way I would do the prevnar vaccine given what happened within days of the HIB vaccine. I believe the vaccine weakened your daughters immune system, creating an environment that allowed a virus to become invasive.

What makes a pathogen invasive???the environment of the host. That is why 2 people can be exposed to the same pathogen, 1 will fall seriously ill, the other may not. They may be mildly ill or not ill at all.
The prevnar vaccine was originally marketed as an ear infection vaccine. In the clinical trials it became apparent that it was not effective at preventing ear infections, so they decided to market it as a "menengitis" vaccine. Doesn't that tell you something??

I would concentrate on raising a healthy child. create an enviroment within her that will resist infection. And I agree with above poster...worrying is not helping you!!

Have you looked at Dr. Moulden's work?? I am in the middle of watching his DVD series and boy I gotta say It is very compelling.

[DocJenn]

I personally think Prevnar is a worthless vaccine. It only 'protects' against 7 out of about 100 strains of Strep. Yes, Strep can be a serious thing...I've seen 2 kids in the ICU with chest tubes draining pus from their lungs due to Strep pnuemonae. And YES, they were fully immunized. I asked the drug rep why, according to the CDC's numbers on the CDC website, that the rates of meningitis and pneumonia have not decreased since the introduction of the vaccine and he said he'd get back to me. That was in Jan 2008. Haven't seen him since. Plus it hurts like h**l!!

[Gitti]

Important to the subject -

http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...dies/#more-405

[NatrlCatholicMama]

Great link: Prevnar was safety-tested with an experimental vaccine as the "placebo." Unbelievable. Sure, it came out safer than that!

When it first came out, I looked over the CDC info sheet (which emphasized the (minute) risk of meningitis while briefly mentioning the anticipated effect on otitis media (ear infections)) & then asked my child's pro-vax ped point-blank: "Is this a daycare vaccine?"

His answer: Yes.

Of course, just like with varivax, they use the incredibly minute possibility of another complication/illness (against which, b/c of serotype replacement, it's STILL not effective) as a fear-mongering bludgeon with which to question the sanity of anyone who would consider not getting this vaccine. And this means that, if they're honest about it, they're putting millions of children at risk of vax side effects/complications, causing thousands actually to get those complications (many of whom will suffer lifelong illness from it), in an effort to "save" maybe a handful from meningitis.

[panroses82]

Depending on the age of your dd, she may have already outgrown the need for this vaccine. I think it's age 2 or 3 years that and 5 years for Hib. This is what our ped told us.

[newmum35]

Listen to your gut.. you are scared both ways.. Which way scares you more? I know it is a hard place to be in. I was there once when I also was undecided about hib and prevnar for a time. Prevnar was fairly easy to rule out for me. Have you read the manufacturers insert that accompanies the product? Ask your ped. for it. Reactions went up significantly after this vaccine.

My son in 19 months (still breastfed) has not had prevnar (and won't) - I'm very happy about that! I believe he would be MUCH worse off IF he did have this vaccine.

Maybe you will find something of interest in one or more of these links:


Colonisation by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus in healthy children:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15183627

These findings suggest a natural competition between colonisation with vaccine-type pneumococci and S aureus, which might explain the increase in S aureus-related otitis media after vaccination.

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Community-wide vaccination with the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate significantly alters the microbiology of acute otitis media:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15361721

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Effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine on nasopharyngeal bacterial colonization during acute otitis media:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16651345

The increase in bacterial colonization of the nasopharynx during AOM could be associated with an increase in AOM pathogens and theoretically can predispose PCV7-immunized children with AOM to a higher rate of antibiotic treatment failure or recurrent AOM.

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Five-fold increase in pediatric parapneumonic empyema since introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18845981


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Incidence of pneumonia is not reduced by pneumococcal conjugate vaccine:

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/86/08-054692.pdf

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Increase in severe pneumonia in children may be caused by vaccine:


http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...ne-808633.html

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Shot may be inadvertently boosting superbugs.
Strains tied to kids’ ear infections flourish as vaccine fights common germs:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20825107/

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Efficacy of a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine against Acute Otitis Media:

https://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/344/6/403

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Emergence of a Multiresistant Serotype 19A Pneumococcal Strain Not Included in the 7-Valent Conjugate Vaccine as an Otopathogen in Children:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content...ct/298/15/1772

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VACCINES:
PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE - LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE

http://www.vran.org/vaccines/pneumoc...accine-pne.htm

[Lollicup]

Originally Posted by panroses82

Depending on the age of your dd, she may have already outgrown the need for this vaccine. I think it's age 2 or 3 years that and 5 years for Hib. This is what our ped told us.

My DD is 18m. I have read in Dr. Sears book and other sources that if your child reaches 2, then they are no longer needing Prevnar.

[suschi]

Have you read the actual vaccine insert?

[Lollicup]

Originally Posted by suschi

Have you read the actual vaccine insert?

No, where do I get that?

[amnesiac]

http://www.wyeth.com/content/showlabeling.asp?id=134

[suschi]

Originally Posted by Lollicup

No, where do I get that?

You can get it online at the above link given or request one from your dr. I got a few inserts in 1999, one for MMR, can't remember the other two, but it's interesting to see how they modify them over the years.