Hib Vaccine

[stacey05]

Ok, I know I am wishy washy about this. I was thinking of maybe giving this vaccine to my child when he turned 2. He is 2 1/2 now. He has started stuttering (maybe normal developmental dysfluency, but has some risk factors for a little more serious), so now I am not sure about giving any vaccine. He has been soooo healthy, bf for 2 years and never vaccinated. I just seem to have an irrational fear of meningitis! I hate living in fear and somedays I am fine and then it bothers me again. I just hate to give him a vaccine when something is going on in his little body (stuttering). Is there any reason to be concerned to give him the hib vaccine (he only needs 1) at this time? I have done lots of research on this and it seems this is one of the safer vaccines. I hate to mess with his intact immune system, but wondering if one vaccine will do that? Then a part of me wonders if he we get hib vaccine will he be more vulnerable to pneumoccal (therefore requiring prevnar now) or other types of hi disease? Or is he vulnerable even if unvaccinated because so many others are vaccinated so serotype replacement happens to the general population not just the vaccinated. Any thoughts, or words of encouragement either way? Thanks! (sorry to ask about hib again...I wish I had a peace either way!)

Stacey

[Deborah]

http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/28/1/152

This article shows a long-term good result from breastfeeding. Apparently each additional month of breastfeeding extends the benefit (if this is the article I'm thinking of).

So if you nursed for 2 years your child has a very good chance of avoiding invasive Hib.

You are right about the serotype replacement. All the bad results due to vaccines (and any good results) hit the whole population, not just the vaccinated, when it comes to Hib and Prevnar.

[Addy's Mom]

The highest risk of meningitis is in kids under 2. In your shoes, I'd just forget about it. I don't mean to belittle your fears (because trust me I have those types of worries too). But if you look at these things statistically, your child has very little (if any) risk of meningitis caused by Hib.

[stacey05]

Thank you, Deborah and Addy's Mom!! It helps to come here and get grounded again!! )

[Marnica]

Stacey,
Your post hits home for me because this is the only vax I ever really considered as well. I think our LOs are about the same age. DS will be two in May. I really believe that at this point, that getting him even 1 HIB vax would be more harmful than leaving his intact immune system alone. My DS is still BF. My son is even in daycare and I still feel the risk is too high to have him vaxed. You asked:

I hate to mess with his intact immune system, but wondering if one vaccine will do that?

I believe that Yes even one will do that. You are still injecting foreign proteins and substances that have no business being there. I still have my moments where I feel fear. I don't think you can be a parent and not have fear about things at times. I truly believe at this point that DS has a greater chance of being struck my lightening than getting invasive HIB. Keep in mind that if you did get the HIB vax, this is no gaurantee because menengitis can be caused by many many dozens of viruses and bacteria, not just HIB. IMO I think you are a good mama because you want what is best for your LO. Your instincts have prevented you from getting the HIB vax up until now. I think you should continue to listen to them