How many parents have vaccinated for meningitis?

[gm]

Today I took my 16year old to the doctor for a mild allergy and my doctor suggested that since he is in (after a long time) it may be good to get him updated on his vaccines so he said he needed his second hepatitis shot and a meningitis shot.

Okay the school does not require a MEningitis shot and I was a little apprehensive at first but decided to go ahead and let him have it.

Now I feel so guilty for some reason. I do not know why? I guess the side effects if any. The side effects and very very low though.

Any one here have their teenager take this shot? Please help me feel better

 

[ckay87]

You'd feel much more guilty if you'd refused the shot and he - heaven forbid - came down with meningitis. That is one disease that truly scares me. It looks like something I would not typically take the kids to the doctor for and yet it kills.

I plan to get one for my DS next time we're in. It will be a *special surprise* for him, though, since he's so scared of shots (big 15 year old baby.)

 

[87Heel]

DD14 will get it.... just a problem that the vaccine has been in short supply when she went in for a checkup the past 2 years, so they didn't have any when she was in. I just had my 4-year-old in for his checkup and asked about this year's supply, and they're fine so far, but DD14 does not have her checkup until December. We'll see.

 

[Christine]

My DD had it two years ago when she entered high school. Not required by the school, but recommended. Then, this year, my 12 year old son had it since the age level was lowered. It used to be only offered to college students, but it has been expanded to I think around 11 years old and up now.

My kids had no problems at all with the shot (Menactra).

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I haven't yet but will when DS heads of to college (or maybe sometime during high school).

 

[KimR]

I had my 15 year old DD vaccinated this summer and my other 2 DDs are vaccinated as well. My cousin contracted this and almost died and I know of one other person who actually did die from this disease. Menningitis scares me.

 

[Traveliz]

My 20 year old one had it this summer before she left to work at Disney.

We did it at the Health Dept where it cost 90 if you were over 18 and 10 if you were under 18 -- had I known that I would have had her get it earlier.

Liz

 

[BethR]

All of 4 DDs have had it. Our older 2 got it when then went to college. Our younger 2 got it sometime in the last few years at their well child visits.

I have no problem with it.

 

[mamacatnv]

DS is headed to college(dorm) next fall - he will be getting the vaccine this year at his 18yr old check up

 

[gm]

Thank you!!

I feel so much better. It is not that I am against vaccines or anything like that. It is just that when it is not required by the school, I often wonder if he should get it and if other parents give it to their kids also if it is optional.

Thank you.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I wish I could. One of the question our ped. asked was about history of neuromuscular diseases. Since DH had guillan-barre syndrome in early 2005, she didn't want to give DD the shot in 06, or again this year. She said there is a small instance of side effects in families with this history, and she wants to get more information before she gives DD#1 the shot. Hopefully before DD goes to college we will have it ironed out.
Robin M.

 

[wowsmom]

My 13 year old got the meningitis vaccine back in August. The doctor recommended it. She also recommened the Hepatitis A vaccine (we moved to So Cal last year) but they didn't have any in the office, so we haven't had that done yet.

 

[jonestavern]

I had DSthen16 vaccinated 2 years ago when meningitis was going around in RI.
We visit RI a lot & now he is finishing HS there, so it helps ease my mind somewhat~We parents never get a break from worrying, do we?
The shot does not cover every form of meningitis, but is certainly helpful

Now there is a staph infection going about in CT & one young person has died.
It certainly makes me very nervous, too.


Jean

 

[DVCLiz]

Both of my daughters have had this vaccine.

I read somewhere fairly recently that only 12% of the target population had had this vaccine. I wonder why people are reluctant - it doesn't seem to give off the same "scare" vibe as Gardisil, and it can be contracted through kissing, sharing sodas, or just close contact. I sure wouldn't have a teen or pre-teen unvaccinated against meningitis if it were available - not a disease I want to mess with.

 

[tc's disney mom]

My daughter also had this vaccination two years ago, at age 16, before attending a summer college program where she would stay for a week at the college dorms. She had no problems with the vaccine at all.

 

[Freyja]

It has recently become a "routine" vaccination here in Iceland and they get it from the school nurse as long as parents want it. My 2 oldest got their´s last year.

 

[Feralpeg]

DD had received it prior to starting college. It was not required by the college at the time, but recommended. Recently, the colleges in Florida got together and they will be requiring the vacination for all new students. This follows the death of several students in Florida colleges over the past couple of years.

 

[LakeAriel]

This girl was vaccinated..

College freshman from Orange County dies of meningitis at Westchester Medical Center



(Original publication: October 9, 2007)
VALHALLA (AP) - A college student from Orange County died yesterday of bacterial meningitis at Westchester Medical Center, college officials said.


Erin Ortiz, an 18-year-old freshman at Bentley College in Massachusetts, was visiting her family over the weekend in New Hampton, N.Y., when she developed symptoms of the deadly infection and was rushed to the hospital in Valhalla.


The college said its health services were notified of Ortiz's illness on Sunday by the Massachusetts Department of Health.


The college has been notifying students who had close contact with her and providing precautionary antibiotics to them.


Students are being encouraged to seek health care if they have symptoms of the disease, which is transmitted by contact with saliva.


Symptoms include fever, severe and constant headache, stiff neck or neck pain, nausea and vomiting, and a rash, the health department said.

 

[antmaril]

My 20 year old son was vaccinated for meningitis the summer before he went away to college. It was required by the school, but we would have had him vaccinated anyway. Meningitis is truly frightening.

 

[azgal81]

I had meningitis when I was a little kid and yes I almost died from it. Thank god my grandma/mom knew something was wrong with me and rushed me to the hospital right away. If they hadn't so quickly the doctor said I would not be here. Vaccinate your kids!