Why is it that older children don't seem to react...

[mangosink0]

to the 4/5 yr boosters? Everyone that I know said their kid didn't even feel bad at all. DD yest went for her 5yr check up and I did get the DTaP and the IPV. I expected her to maybe have a little fever or just not feel well but she felt great. Just got me thinking and wondering why that is? When people don't start vaxing until age 2 do those kids get the fevers after vaxs, etc or is it mainly in babies. It's got me wondering if I should even further postpone the vaxs with the baby. She's 6.5 months and has had Dtap + Hib twice and prevnar once.

[sophiekat]

well, i would be loathe to base any decision off anecdotes like this. have you looked at VAERS to see reports of reactions for this age?
fwiw, i think ipv has a lower reaction rate, but the last doses of dtap can be some of the most reactive (i'm nak and can't find sites but i'm sure some of the wise mamas will have them). i think too that 5 year olds 1. weigh more than infants and 2. have more developed systems to be able to handle the vaxxes (since the dosage is the same).

[mamakay]

Well, IPV isn't a very reactive shot compared to many, from what I've read. DTaP sort of is, and it's known that each shot tends to get more reactive. But that might only apply to the initial series.
If it's been a few years, her immunity might have waned a bit, making it less reactive.
Then there's the fact that she's just physically larger now, so the shot to body weight ratio is better.
Also, kids' immune systems are becomeing fully mature around that time, so that might have something to do with it, as well.

[supercrunch]

I think it is a very individual thing. My dd reacted horribly to vaccines, specifically the DTaP. Her 4 year DTaP resulted in her arm swelling to at least 3x it's normal size. It was absolutely horrific for 5 days
My ds, on the other hand, never even had so much as a fever or drowsiness from a vaccine.