Immunisations...Hep B....Meningitis

karltsmith

Hi Everyone,

Just a little snippit of info that might be useful to some of you!

Hep B

I have just had my twin daughters vaccinated against Hep B. Apparently it is a routine immunisation over here for children. It's free from any Dr whether a PR or not. 3 Injections one month apart. Apparently Hep B is quite common among polynesisan races as is Thalacaemia in the Indian subcontinent.

Meningitis

NZ is to begin mass immunisation of everyone under the age of 20 for meningitis. This will soon start with the under 5's being prioritised first. NZ has suffered from a high incidence of meningitis having over 200 cases in the past 2-3 years. Although this immunisation will not protect against some strains of meningitis it is expected to be about 80% effective.

You may wish to consult your own GP's on these issues before flying out!

eric_amanda · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 8:09 am Post subject:

Hi Karl

The meningitis vaccine. Is this for the same strain of meningitis that our children have been vaccinated against here in the UK?

Thanks for the advice on Hep B. If it comes in 3 lots we will have to look into this when we arrive in NZ in 5 weeks!

Thanks again

Amanda

Lisa.C · I Like It Here Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 75

Hi Karl

My little girl had meningitis c when she was a five week old baby, scary, nasty disease, so my kids are both immunised.....i'l look into hep b and thalacaemia, thanks for the advice Yes

karltsmith · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 9:29 am Post subject:

Hi..Me again,

I only mantioned Thalacaemia as a comparison and probably not a good one! This is an inherited disease and you should not worry about it if you are caucasian!!!!!!! I was only comparing races with suceptabilities to different disorders....don't want to scare monger!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hep B and Meningitis are the only ones of concern over and above normal UK vaccinations. Not sure if the Meningitis jab is for the same strains as the UK....possibly not!

Lisa.C · I Like It Here Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 75

ooops should have read it properly Laughing

susanlin · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:00 pm Post subject: men and hep b

Hi

New campaign starts North Island very soon to immunise everybody under age of 20 with new Meningitis B vaccine. It will eventually be rolled out to every part of NZ. It is a course of 3 injections 4-6 weeks apart. Meningitis B is the most serious of all the menigitis strains and NZ is the first country in the world to have developed a very effective vaccine against it. The UK have been trying unuccessfully for many years to produce a vaccine against this killer disease. Men B kills more people than any other strain.
I am a nurse who is going to be involved in immunising the masses!! It is going to a huge undertaking - can you imagine - all people under age of 20 - and 3 injections?
Re Hepatitis B - last week I had my two children immunised - (I gave the injections myself much to my kids' horror!) (In my workplace I hasten to add!) Again, course of 3 injections - 0, 1 month and 5 months.

definately recommend having hep B - Karl is right - it is prevalent in NZ, particularly the North Island.

Sue

susanlin · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:09 pm Post subject: PS

Re meningitis - the vaccine children have in the UK is against Men C. Will not protect against Meningitis B.

Hepatitis B - one of my kiwi nurse colleagues told me recently that in the Bay of Plenty, some studies undertaken a few years ago revealed 1 in 5 15 years olds were carriers of Hep B. Many carriers have no symptoms and are unaware of their carrier status. Most of these people were of Maori or Asian ethniciity. Very alarming as Hep B is a very serious disease that cannot be cured.

eric_amanda · Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:48 pm Post subject:

Hi Sue

Thanks for that imformed response. We arrive in 5 weeks time, my children are 3, 1, and 5mths, will they be eligable for the Meningitis B vaccine when we arrive?

Also it sounds as if they should have Hep B , I had this about 10 yrs ago, however Eric is in contact with the public every day, he is an Optometrist, do you think he should have Hep B vac? He has never had it although has worked with people who have contracted illnesses from patients.

Thank you in advance

Amanda

Celine L · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 4:00 am Post subject:

Hello all,

My husband, our five year old son, and myself will be arriving in NZ at the end of the year.

Are these immunisations compulsory?

karltsmith · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 7:34 am Post subject:

Hi Eric, Amanda, Celine, Lisa

The immunisations are not compulsory however if your kids go to kindy or school they will need to show there immunisations are up to date. These injections are free...just register with a local GP and arrange with the nurse to get the Hep B going. The meningitis one will become availabe shortly.

A little 8 month old girl was in Starship hospital the other day having a double below knee amputation and part of both arms amputated! It relly upset me I can tell you. I know you can't wrap them on cotton wool but some times you wish you could when you see the terrible things this horrible disease can do!

Lisa.C · I Like It Here Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 75

Karl
I can't tell you how much i agree, i know these vaccines are highly controversial but after having a baby go through lumbar punctures, hooked up to all them tubes in isolation, i would really recommend it, it's one of the scariest things parents can go through, seeing your baby like that, luckily we caught it early, my Daughter is so lucky, yes i was worried about the injections but the risks in the end far outweigh those fears, sorry to go on this one's close to my heart Embarassed

Lisa

eric_amanda · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 8:34 am Post subject:

Hi Karl

Thanks for your reply, its strange how once you become a parent things pull at the heart strings more than they would have before. We have always had a rule of following current medical advice, at least then you know you have tried to do your best for them.

Lisa

Sorry to hear that this subject is so close to your heart, but congratulations for picking up on it so early I hope your daughter has had no serious complications. We too know how difficult it is to see your baby hooked up to every monitor going, Harry our middle son, spent 12 days in SCBU when he was born, which we found really traumatic. He was ventilated for 4 days which was terribly difficult.

We will be booking in for these extra immunisations asap after we arrive.

Many thanks for the advice.

Amanda

Celine L · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 8:45 am Post subject:

Hi Karl and Lisa,

Since our son is homeschooled, we don't see an immediate need for the vaccines in his case at all. Of course, we will be doing much research into this.

Thanks for the info.

Lisa.C · I Like It Here Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 75

Hi Amanda and all,

Sorry to hear about your son, hope all's well now, Yes

traumatic it certainly is! Yes

My Daughter is absolutely fine, no problems whatsoever, she is as bright as a button, i'm happy to say, we were very lucky. Yes

We too will be booking these immunisations Yes

Lisa

P.S, Amanda what date do you fly out?

eric_amanda · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 8:57 am Post subject:

Guess we are the lucky ones. Harry is fine now, had the all clear last Aug from the Paediatrician.

We fly on the 11 Aug, arrive Auckland early on 13th.

Take Care

Amanda