Prevnar Vaccine...To do or NOT to do??

[katiegrace]

My daughter is almost 6 months and has had no vaccines...She has had the Vit. K injection at birth that I now regret doing but I wasn't educated on it at the time. Anyways, I have planned on not doing any vaccines. However, I have been considering the Prevnar vaccine since the pneumococcal bacteria is so common and I am scared out of my mind about meningitis. I read The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears, and have decided against the HIB because it's not so common these days, plus the side effects are Guillian Barre (sp?) syndrome, and kids with this vaccine are more likely to get a severe infection than kids who aren't vaxed for it.: Anyways, I was seriously considering Prevnar until I started reading about it. It seems like even if she gets the vax, she could still be at risk for the bacteria b/c of the serotype replacement and new strains are emerging that the vax doesn't cover,but at least she would be covered for 7 common strains on the positive side. I don't want to put her at risk for the vaccine side effects when she may not be protected anyway, and from what I understand, she would be more at risk for staph ear infections as well??? I don't like that the vax also has an increased risk of seizures either. I am TERRIFIED of meningitis, but I'm too scared to get her the Prevnar vaccine based on all the info I have read about it. I am so confused, and stressed. I don't know what I'd ever do if she got meningitis. Should I just take the risks and get her vaccinated?? Please give me your opinions. Has anyone had their kids vaxed for Prevnar and been glad they did? Has anyone had their kids vaxed w/ Prevnar and now regret it?? I just have NO idea what to do!!!

[cupcake'smom]

Not sure what to say. You sound scared, just as scared as me sometimes. My daughter is 15 months old and after receiving a couple vaccines I decided I wasn't comfortable with her getting any more. Prevnar is definitely one that I'm not comfortable with. Through all of my research, I've read a lot of bad things about that vax.

Continue with your research and don't get the vax unless you feel comfortable with it.

[Gitti]

Read this first. It contains a lot of great information. Please start at the beginning and check out all the links provided. I bet by the time you are done you'll feel differently about this vaccine.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...98#post6634298

I noticed you are pretty new to our forum. Welcome!

[MissRubyandKen]

My ds was vaccinated with Prevnar. He was breastfed until he was 18 months. Shortly after weaning he had horrible recurring ear infections with fevers of 105-106.5. I can not prove the vaccine had anything to do with it, but I wish he hadn't gotten that vaccine, and my new dd won't be getting it.

[by-the-lake]

Just want to say my DD had Prevnar young, 4 months old maybe. She was breastfed for 15 months. She had tubes at 14 months, and ear recurrent infections from 4 months to after the tubes. I believe it was the Prevnar after the research I have done. Never again.

[bubbles]

Gitti gave you good info and I think that will answer your questions. However, just a quick note that it is not a very effective vaccine at all. In fact, many studies following the release of the vaccines showed that it wasn't reducing the "preventable" illness by any significant number.

[momofmine]

I personally would research ways to keep your child healthy and how to naturally handle sickness when it arises. That will help clear your fears and make you feel more comfortable. Also, I have finally learned this lesson: Don't do something out of fear. Don't let fear make the decision for you.

Two great books are How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of your Doctor (by Robert Mendelsohn MD), and Naturally Healthy Babies and Children (by Aviva Romm).

[hollytheteacher]

Before prevnar my son had zero ear infections

after, he's had 2 (one of them started within 24 hours of the shot and he had a VERY VERY high fever for a few days).

he's not getting any more prevnar! (and to answer your question, i do regret this vax)


The only shot we did in full was Hib

we may start DTAP this winter...but not sure.

[MsGrizzle]

Read this series (3 parts):

http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...gate-vaccines/

[mamakay]

Are you breastfeeding?

[Swirly]

Another statistic to try to find is the actual number of cases of meningitis per year, in that age bracket especially. I don't the number myself, but seeing stats always helps me when I am making decisions.

[beesknees]

Originally Posted by mamakay

Are you breastfeeding?

This was my question as well. When living in France the vaccine info given in the "informational" pamphlet (even by super pro-vax pediatritian ) didn't recommend this vax if you bf two months or more.

[lioralourie]

Dr. Erdem Cantekin, PhD, Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh, cites a large trial conducted on the safety of Prevenar vaccine by an HMO (Health Maintenance Organisation) named Kaiser Permanente. This study, the only trial that was conducted to establish safety and efficacy before the vaccine was recommended for mass use in the US, had no placebo group. It was also paid for by Wyeth Lederle, manufacturer of Prevenar and conducted by Drs. Steven Black and Henry Shinefield of Kaiser Permanente who were both paid by Wyeth Lederle to present the results across the United States.

Despite these obvious conflicts of interest, the study found that children who received Prevenar in this trial were:

• 4 times more likely to have seizures, and
• 4 times more likely to have stomach problems.

Dr. Cantkin stated that “The alleged benefits for this new vaccine are greatly exaggerated and the risks are significant.”

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Available data suggest that PCV7 (7-valent Pneumococcal vaccine, i.e. Prevenar) may prove to be among the most reactogenic vaccine of those currently used, including the DTaP and Haemophilus conjugate vaccines.

In one small study of children 20.8 out of 24 (87%) had erythema (redness of skin produced by congestion of capillaries) and 4.2 out of 24 (17.5%) had “tenderness that interfered with limb movement.”

[lioralourie]

hmmm, want this stuff in your baby?

Prevnar® Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 7-valent, inactivated

Manufacturer Wyeth
Microorganism S. pneumonia bacteria, serotypes 4, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F
Licensed 11/22/2006
Recommendations 4 i.m. injections at 2, 4, 6, and 12 to 15 months of age.
Ingredients Latex, Aluminum phosphate, Soy protein.

Package Insert

http://www.fda.gov/cber/efoi/approve.htm

check out http://www.novaccine.com/specific-va...ne.asp?v_id=27 for ALL Pneumococcal vaccines licensed in the U.S. and active links to the problematic ingredients.

[thatblondegirl]

WHEN do the get the Prevnar shot? what is it called in the schedule?

[Veronika01]

My oldest dd got her Prevnar vax, I forgot at which age. At her chicken pox vax (hey, I wasn't as informed back then) they wanted to schedule her for a follow-up Prevnar vax, this is after being told she was up to date. I declined and haven't vaxed my youngest, nor did I complete my oldest dd's vax schedule. The thing that made me regret giving her the Prevnar the most is that it can have so many long term effect that no-one is certain about at this stage, including possible infertility in adulthood. What am I going to tell my daughter if she wants babies one day and she can't have them? None of my children will ever get Prevnar again. And for the record, I got meningitis at 8 weeks old and survived, so I know that children do get sick from it.

[Mama Poot]

I know this won't help your fears, but the Prevnar was the last vaccine we ever gave to our first born. Paddy got the Prevnar at 14 months, developed a 102.9 fever and slept for 14 hours afterwards. He's had 2 ear infections since then, he never got them before (but he is 3, so hard to say the shot caused the problem) and most worrisome to us is the neurological issues and possible autism we are facing now. His psychologist is very concerned about the reaction Paddy had to the Prevnar vaccine.

So...yeah I wouldn't get it.

[lioralourie]

Originally Posted by thatblondegirl

WHEN do the get the Prevnar shot? what is it called in the schedule?

on "the schedule" it is called PCV for Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine.

"Recommended" for ages 2, 4, 6 months

"Catch Up" schedule if delaying vaxes is 12-18 months

Please read my 2 posts right before your post, and the other two after your post.

[becoming]

This was the only vaccine we considered for our LO, because he'd had pneumonia 3 times by the age of 8 months, and even our pediatrician, who is very supportive of our decision not to vax, was encouraging this one. In the end, we decided against it, partially because of all the info out there about it causing recurrent ear infections but mostly because it contains soy protein, and we think our LO has a bit of sensitivity to soy. I was afraid of what the soy product would do if it were injected into him.

[katiegrace]

thanks for all the replies...yes I am breastfeeding,and plan on bfing until 2, so I know that helps. I'll definately read up on all of the wonderful info y'all have given me...thanks a bunch!!