vaccine worries for my 11 & 12 year old...

[sbell111]

Whats a few? How many vaccinations have been administered without any cases? I would need to see real statistics before worrying but I can understand with your family history why you would be concerned. I have an 11 year old dd who will be getting the vaccine because I had a co-worker who lost their child to menningitis so I know how quick it can take an otherwise healthy child away.

According to the World Health Organization, 5.4 million (5,400,000) doses of the vaccine were given in 2005-2006. Seventeen (17) people who received the vaccine developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome. That makes the odds something like one in 1 in 300,000 or a 0.0003% chance.

My kids would have the vaccine.

 

[sbell111]

According to the CDC, 15 million (15,000,000) doses of the vaccine were given as of February 2008. Twenty-six (26) people who received the vaccine developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome. That makes the odds something like one in 1 in 577,000 or a 0.00017% chance.

Again, I like those odds. My kids would get vaccinated.

 

[minkydog]

I haven't had a meningitis vaccine. I am going back to school for my Master's and if I were to live on campus, I would need to get one. When I studied abroad, there were signs all over campus about meningitis as there had been several cases. I would do more research before getting the vaccine. Meningitis is pretty scary, but the complications of the vaccine might be worse in your case, OP. Talk to the doctor.

Meningicoccal meningitis is not just scary, it's lethal. Unlike viral meningitis, which makes you feel like crap but you would probably recover from in a week or so, meningicoccal meningitis can kill you in 24 hours. If it doesn't kill you, it has a high incidence of causing tissue death resulting in amputation of fingers, hands, toes, and feet. It can cause permanent brain damage.

I worked with a surgeon who's daughter "had the flu" when she was 15. She became ill enough for him to bring her to the ER from whence she went to the Peds ICU. It wasn't the flu. She was dead the next morning from meningicoccal menigitis.


My kids get the shot. We'll take our chances.

 

[C.Ann]

My DD and her DH are researching this situation right now as their DD will be 11 in September.. At this point they are leaning more "towards" it than "away" from it - simply because this form of meningitis can (and often does) kill a child within 24 hours..

In the past, there have been children/teens in their area that have died from meningitis in the blink of an eye and at one time (a few years back), my DD was suspected of having it herself.. In order to rule it out, they had to perform a very, very painful spinal tap - which then resulted in complications (a bleed - as well as unbearable, untreatable headaches) that required a hospital stay of over a week..

Talk it over with your Ped. in great detail and then make the choice that you feel is best for you and your family..

Good luck!

 

[CathrynRose]

OT....I've been meaning to ask you something. have you tried WEN shampoo. (OK...their selling point is that it's NOT shampoo, but anyway....) I keep seeing the infomercial and think of you every time I happen across it! (If you want to answer on the make-up thread, that's fine. I just had to ask when I thought about it or I knew I'd never remember later...)

I've never tried it. The thing is, it's an infomercial product - and I rarely have any confidence in products like that (remember Cher's shampoo?)

That being said - I could see how it could work. Hair doesnt need to be 'cleansed' every single day, the way we scrub the heck out of it. But minimizing this constant washing, can be done without using stuff like this.

I wash my hair every few days. I rinse super good, and re-condition it every day - but the wash is at *least* every other day.

Right now ULTA has 2 for $20 liters - of salon shampoo. If it were me (and again, I'm a self admitted Shampoo snob) I would go with a great salon brand, and cut down on your washings, kwim?

They do have a money back guarantee - so you could always give it a shot. When I've read feedback on it, it's a mixed review. You basically are 'cleansing' your hair with conditioner. (Which is kinda the same thing you can do, without it) Have you ever tried Moroccan Oil? That stuff is fantastic...

Lastly - I hate all shampoo's and conditioners with menthol. Some people like it, for me - that is how my panic attacks feel like when they start (that weird, cool scalp feeling) so a simple washing of my hair can give me a panic attack.

Back on topic....

That's the only reason we are looking at getting it now. Last I knew this was a vaccine kids got before they left for college. Now our district (or maybe state?) is requiring it in Jr. High. I know their is a medical exemption waiver. (but I hear it's <understandibly> pretty difficult to obtain)

What state are you in?

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't know how many, but the fact that the CDC puts it on the vaccine handout sheet makes me think if THEY take it that seriously, then it's more than they are going to admit to. (Now, you've all mt my paranoid side...LOL!)

The CDC and vaccine information sheets put everything on a handout, so that should not make you concerned at all. A certain percentage of the population is going to contract Guillian Barre. Some of those people will have eaten carrots in their life time. Some of those people will have had the vaccine in their life time. It doesn't mean that carrots or the vaccine caused the GB. Menningococcal disease is SO DEVASTATING, even if you live, that I wouldn't hesitate to immunize my children. We have immunized them all.

 

[DawnCt1]

Meningicoccal meningitis is not just scary, it's lethal. Unlike viral meningitis, which makes you feel like crap but you would probably recover from in a week or so, meningicoccal meningitis can kill you in 24 hours. If it doesn't kill you, it has a high incidence of causing tissue death resulting in amputation of fingers, hands, toes, and feet. It can cause permanent brain damage.

I worked with a surgeon who's daughter "had the flu" when she was 15. She became ill enough for him to bring her to the ER from whence she went to the Peds ICU. It wasn't the flu. She was dead the next morning from meningicoccal menigitis.


My kids get the shot. We'll take our chances.

I got goose bumps when I read that. How heartbreaking.

 

[jaycat]

The CDC is required to put all side effects in a warning to prevent legal action - just like the hair dryer says do not use in the tub - even if only one case in linked to the vaccine. If your children are healthy then they are at less risk for complications, but if you are worried talk to a doctor or two. IMO they need the vaccine sometime before they go into college if they are going to live in the dorms. I one person get any kind of bug everyone has it at the end of the week.

 

[kangareaux]

I've never tried it. The thing is, it's an infomercial product - and I rarely have any confidence in products like that (remember Cher's shampoo?)

That being said - I could see how it could work. Hair doesnt need to be 'cleansed' every single day, the way we scrub the heck out of it. But minimizing this constant washing, can be done without using stuff like this.

I wash my hair every few days. I rinse super good, and re-condition it every day - but the wash is at *least* every other day.

Right now ULTA has 2 for $20 liters - of salon shampoo. If it were me (and again, I'm a self admitted Shampoo snob) I would go with a great salon brand, and cut down on your washings, kwim?

They do have a money back guarantee - so you could always give it a shot. When I've read feedback on it, it's a mixed review. You basically are 'cleansing' your hair with conditioner. (Which is kinda the same thing you can do, without it) Have you ever tried Moroccan Oil? That stuff is fantastic...

Lastly - I hate all shampoo's and conditioners with menthol. Some people like it, for me - that is how my panic attacks feel like when they start (that weird, cool scalp feeling) so a simple washing of my hair can give me a panic attack.

Back on topic....



What state are you in?

Thanks.


I'm in Louisiana

 

[Gina]

My DS (13) had the vaccine earlier this year. I did my usual research on it beforehand, and the stories are absolutely heart-breaking. The symptoms of meningicoccal meningitis are so like the flu... but who runs their child to the E.R. because he's achy and running a fever? As someone else said, they can literally be running around perfectly fine one day, and gone the next.

Another scary thing: I know this vaccine had always been recommended for college-age kids living in close quarters together, but when I asked my son's doctor about it he said that the number of cases for middle and junior high kids was now equal to the number of college cases. Starting this fall, it's required for kids entering 7th grade (or later) in my son's school district.

Getting him that vaccine was a HUGE weight off my shoulders. I know side effects can be scary and serious, but I'd rather he grow a third arm out the top of his head from a vaccine rather than contract something as life-threatening as meningicoccal meningitis.


just my .02,
-gina-

 

[claudia]

PLEASE don't get all bent out of shape and start a debate over this post. I just want opinions on what YOU would do in my case. I'm NOT trying to open a a can of worms here. PLAY NICE...PLEASE!

That said....

DD11 and DS12 are due for their MCV4 (meningococcal) vaccines. This is on the CDC handout about the vaccine:


A few cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a serious
nervous system disorder, have been reported among
people who got MCV4. There is not enough
evidence yet to tell whether they were caused by the
vaccine. This is being investigated by health officials.


I have just found out in the last month that 3 of my husband aunts have had this and have lasting effects from it. One is recovering currently.

Of course, I plan to discuss it witht the pediatrician. But this worries the crap outta me! Guillain-Barre is not genetic, but it is believed that there is a genetic predisposition to it. That genetically SOME people are just more succeptible to it. my kids have had all their vaccinations up till this one, but this one is REALLY bothering me.

You are the mom, if it doesn't feel right to you then you should not do it. I just had to have my DS 18 go for his shot as he will be entering college in the fall....I felt that it had more pros than cons for him under these circumstances, but I sure did worry about the exact thing that you are concerned about. Trust your gut.

 

[CathrynRose]

Thanks.


I'm in Louisiana

Here is the exemption info for Louisiana: http://www.vaclib.org/exempt/louisiana.htm

Louisiana's exemption looks pretty easy.

Again - good luck to you, whatever your decision.

 

[bumbershoot]

Full disclosure: the vaccines scare me more than the diseases. Actually, wait...the crud that is in the syringe with the active ingredient scares me more than anything. Formaldehyde, human diploid cells, rhesus monkey kidney cells...I looked up all the ingredients at one point on CDC and nearly threw up with each one.

Back when the milkmaids found that their being exposed to cowpox helped with immunity against smallpox, and they would scrap a cowpox scab and put it into a cut on a person's skin, THAT I could get behind (if it actually worked like myth says it did, but I was just reading that it didn't confer immunity after all) because it's less disgusting to me than the preservatives and cellular material in today's vaccines.

So that's my full disclosure of where I'm coming from.


Also, I think you should fire your ped anyway, since you feel you'll need to in order to parent your children the way you feel is right. Doctors are our employees. We are in charge. If your doctor (of any kind) feels that THEY are in charge, they need to be fired. Hubby and I have had many very bad doctors, and the ones hubby has seen in the last 3 years have ignored his concerns, and it took nearly BEGGING to get this final guy to include some hormone tests along with his A1c and CBC, and because he was finally willing to do it (though he thought it unnecessary), a pituitary growth has FINALLY been discovered. 3 years he's had these symptoms, 3 years. And he's seen people. MDs and NDs, and they've all ignored his symptoms and wouldn't check out what he wanted them to check. The good guy was good enough to bend to our will, and we are glad he remembered that we pay him (through insurance) and he is our employee.

So I would fire your ped anyway, since you obviously are not comfy with him.

That's the only reason we are looking at getting it now. Last I knew this was a vaccine kids got before they left for college. Now our district (or maybe state?) is requiring it in Jr. High. I know their is a medical exemption waiver. (but I hear it's <understandibly> pretty difficult to obtain)

Sounds like LA is easy: http://www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Laws/state-vaccine-requirements/louisiana.aspx

The only problem with the philosophical exemptions is that if you're only objecting to ONE, they can have issues with that. I would highly recommending checking out the vaccine forum at the mothering.com discussion boards for more info on it. They might also be able to give you very good info on the efficacy of the vaccine you're worried about, and perhaps statistics of if it helps as much as people want it to help, and on the incidence of the disease in the first place. Smart, smart people there who do their own research.

As for percentage, the way that reactions are gathered is incredibly flawed, requiring that the parent know something can be a reaction, mentions it to a doctor, AND the doctor decides to report it. It's ridiculously stupid how things are reported. Garbage info in, garbage stats out...who knows WHAT the reality of vaccine-related GB cases is?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My DS (13) had the vaccine earlier this year. I did my usual research on it beforehand, and the stories are absolutely heart-breaking. The symptoms of meningicoccal meningitis are so like the flu... but who runs their child to the E.R. because he's achy and running a fever? As someone else said, they can literally be running around perfectly fine one day, and gone the next.

Another scary thing: I know this vaccine had always been recommended for college-age kids living in close quarters together, but when I asked my son's doctor about it he said that the number of cases for middle and junior high kids was now equal to the number of college cases. Starting this fall, it's required for kids entering 7th grade (or later) in my son's school district.

Getting him that vaccine was a HUGE weight off my shoulders. I know side effects can be scary and serious, but I'd rather he grow a third arm out the top of his head from a vaccine rather than contract something as life-threatening as meningicoccal meningitis.


just my .02,
-gina-

That is interesting. Thanks.

 

[mhsjax]

I think talking to the doctor is a great thing. Take what answers (s)he gives you and make your decision from there. For me, the fear of meningitis outweighed the chance of side effects. I had meningitis when I was two and almost died, I did lose most of my hearing though.

Same here for the meningitis, we had an outbreak 2 years ago in the middle school, left 2 dead and when the other one finally came out of his coma, he was severly disabled. I just can't chance that, this disease moves so quickly that by the time you realize you may have it, it is usually too late.