[jocalla]

For all you parents already here I would really appreciate opinions

I am a 'worry wart' at the best of times, but when it comes to vaccines and side effects I am at my worst. :wah

I signed the school consent forms and the kids are due later in the month for the jab. But my worry is that the nurse phoned me up to see whether I had spoken to my doctor regarding my daughters epilepsy and her having the vaccine. So I went to see him and got absolutely NO reasurrance what so ever for a nice tidy fee of $22. The answers to my questions from him was all along the lines of, she 'should' be ok. Now to me 'should' just doesn't cut it.

I worry because the nurse refers to meningococcal B in NZ as an epidemic. So I really don't want to put my kids at a risk but then again I find it difficult to put something in my daughter which could result in her having any sort of serious side effect.

Then on the news tonight they were raising questions regarding this vaccine, saying that are the children of NZ just guinnee pigs.

I would appreciate anyones opinion and advice. I just hate these decisions :?

Joanne

[Paul and Linda]

Joanne, I cannot help your decision one way or another.

Your decision seems very difficult and I would perhaps look further up the chain than a GP for answers.

Is there any chance of contacting the health board or any other of the doctors/hospital staff that have helped you so far?

Paul

[lindajax]

Joanne,
Can't help you about whether your daughters epilepsy may cause probs with the vaccine BUT the MeNZB in NZ was derived from a European vaccine that went through extensive clinical trials. including 3rd stage which is what the fuss in the news has been about. The vaccine has been adapted to th NZ strain of Menningitis B.


I have the pleasure of working with the initial vaccination team in South Auckland and know how committed to the programme and how safe all the nurses involved felt the vaccine was.

Menningitis is a Nasty Nasty thing to contract - it kills, and debilitates for life. I have certainly had MY CHILD immunised.

There are side effects to ANY imunisation what you need to do is go the the Ministry of Health web site and search for info and maybe ask the question of them re saftey in epilepsey. Gtet it from the horses mouth so to speak.

Please try not to worry yourself too much , it is your decision about what you feel is best and most appropriate for your child - if you have sound information you will be better able to make an informed and sound choice.

Good luuck - if you need further advice or help please PM me

Linda x

[Tanya]

I have signed the form too - but as always when my children seem to be up for a vaccination there is always a scare of some sort! MMR in England was one of them. So last night when it was on the news my heart sank :no They get there's 4th July and I feel sick about it.

http://www.immunise.moh.govt.nz/MeNZB.html

website details for you to read about but if it is from the MOH then it is bound to be a bit biased as they want everyone to get the vaccine. I know I am going to have to deal with it as I would hate for them to get Meningitis but it's still hard.

It will also be their first immunisation where I haven't been with them :no Don't know if I just worry too much too. Think I would like to be there for them(or is that for me!) so I know it was done okay.


Not that my ramblings will help you one bit but just letting you know you are not alone in this.

Tanya
Tanya

[GeorgeM]

Both of our girls are signed up, as they have been for every immunisation jab available.

Unless there are specific allergies/medical problems the small risk of severe side-effects is more than outweighed for me by the benefits immunisation brings.

My generation (rapidly approaching 50s) and subsequent ones (at least in the developed world) have grown up in societies almost completely free of the killer diseases which ravaged through them in earlier generations. We (or our parents) never had to worry that our kids would be killed or disabled for life by polio just by going for a swim, for example. All of this was down to immunisation programmes.

I've read that in the UK there are localised epidemics of measles, mumps etc which correlate very well with areas where resistance to MMR has been strongest.

[Tanya]

George

Yup - mine have had all the immunisations available too but it doesn't take the idea any easier.

I have just talked to my Mother and she informs me that she will be administering the MENZB vaccine in her area where she lives. Now if she was doing my school I would feel a whole lot better about it. She is going to get me some more info on it before mine get theirs, just so I feel happier about the decision.

Yes they will get done - just always a worrying time.

Tanya

[jocalla]

Thanks all :nice1

I have an appointment coming up with Caitlins specialist so I will have a good chat with him.

Like you Tanya this will be my kids first jab without me. Thats probably what isn't feeling right for me. The kids don't seem to mind me not being there though :wah (they are growing up!!)

All this worry really makes you feel sick inside, I just hope I will get some sort of reasurrance from her specialist.

:? Joanne

[jocalla]

ALL OVER AND DONE WITH , THEY HAD THEM TODAY!

and what a 'positive' experience it was for my kids :?

I came to the decision to wait in the 'recovery' room after the kids had been given the injection. The nurses there were exceptional, not only at putting the kids at ease but 'me' aswell!! :wah . Talked me through all my worries and totally reasurred me.

I thought Caitlin would play up more if I was there so I hid until she had it. Can you believe all that I have been going through, sick with worry, the little monkey came into the room with a big smile :P on her face and a cool sticker aswell.

I didn't think it was a good idea at first to give the kids the jab at school, but I have sooooooooo changed my mind! All the kids are together, they feel in a safe enviroment, the teachers were great but again I really want to stress to all you mums out there who are worriers, that the nurses CANNOT be faulted! So on the ball, and so good at making the kids feel at ease. Certainly nothing like all previous injection experiences the kids have had at our local doctors in the UK.....they both got very upset. BUT NOW................. they can't wait for the next one!!!!