Gamom3 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Just curious what you thought about this vaccine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Yes...and I do not vaccinate for MMR or Chicken Pox, but Meningitis is a series I will NOT miss with my kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaof2andtwins Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 (edited) No, we haven't yet. We will before college. Jennie Edited March 25, 2009 by mamaof2andtwins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danestress Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Just curious what you thought about this vaccine Perhaps because one of my friends daughters lost her legs to meningitis, this has always been a very dreaded disease in my mind. When my son when to college, there was a shortage of the vaccine, but I found him a dose and I would have been reluctant to let him go off without one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel in KY Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 We did last week. I didn't know there was such a thing, and while I regret vaccinating for chickenpox, I did opt for the meningitis vaccine. Rachel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonAmy Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 my dd had meningitis when she was 5 weeks old.. she recovered fully, but it was very traumatic. we do not vaccine for anything except meningitis. I regret giving 2 of my kids the chicken pox vaccine. one of my kids was severely injured by vaccines (caused language delays, severe apnea, autism spectrum). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemary63 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Yes, get the meningitis vaccine before your kids head off to college. We did not do it until then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 No. I stay with the original vaccinations. The MMR I demand to be given seperately. I believe college students living in the dorms have to have menigitis the vaccination. Unless that has changed to all students attending college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I delay vaccinations and skip a number completely -- but that is one my kids WILL get. It's for a highly contagious illness that does not require any risky behavior for exposure. In other words, *anyone* can get it (though students living in close proximity are at highest risk, such as at camps or in college dorms). Also, when a patient contracts it, it usually looks like flu initially and progresses *very* quickly -- and treatment is often inadequate or too late. I don't think I'm alone in saying that I don't rush my kids to the doctor for every fever or minor illness. And that's what meningitis looks like in the early stages. But it becomes life threatening very quickly. A student on his or her own at camp or college might be even less likely to seek immediate treatment. The one thing I'm *not* sure about is whether we'll go with the "old" or the "new" version of the meningitis vaccination. I'm not convinced the new one is better, but when the time comes to choose, I'll do more research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 My older 3 were immunized against it when my city was hit with a major outbreak and they were at more risk of catching it than not. If there had not been an outbreak I would not have had that vax given to them at that point as they were so young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 We skip most vaccinations, but I fold when it comes to meningitis. My gut just won't let me skip it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in NC Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 My neighbor in Maryland had college age kids. They came home one weekend with some friends. One of the friends felt ill on Sunday and was dead by Tuesday. Meningitis is a scary disease. I will get this one for my kids yet not rush out to get the Gardisil. You can not get HPV from sharing a drink from some but you can get Meningitis from casual contact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 There are different strains of meningitis, correct? The current vaccine protects against one of those strains, I believe, but not the other. I'm not sure, though. Does anyone know more about this? Our son was vaccinated last summer at age 11. While meningitis is uncommon, it's uncommonly bad. I just wouldn't want to risk it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marylou Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Does anyone know more about this? You can go to www.webmd.com and type in "meningitis". You'll get lots of info. One of my girls has no spleen due to ITP, so she had the vaccine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtb1999 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Nope. And we have no plans to. If my kids decide as adults entering college to do so, then it will be their choice. I guess I won't have a say if they are 18. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelli in TN Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 My children get the meningitis vaccine before their first overnight camp experience. Only my youngest has not had it, yet. But he will. We has a scare that in the beginning looked like meningitis. Fortunately it was ONLY a mysterious bacterial infection and dd was only in ICU for 48 hours and then on the peds floor for 4 days. But it had the symptoms of meningitis and it was terrifying. We are pro-vaccine (on our own delayed schedule which makes our ped. want to scream!) and this is on our list of needed vaccines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 When we lived in FL, there were several severe outbreak of meningitis among elementary school kids. And it was a type that was vaccine preventable. I have all kinds of feelings about different vaccines, but the meningitis vaccine is one that wins for us when judging risk of contracting verses risks of the vaccine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Absolutely. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura R (FL) Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 When we lived in FL, there were several severe outbreak of meningitis among elementary school kids. And it was a type that was vaccine preventable. I have all kinds of feelings about different vaccines, but the meningitis vaccine is one that wins for us when judging risk of contracting verses risks of the vaccine. Ditto..we see it a lot around here. Is it more common in FL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Thanks, dmmosher. From what I read, the vaccine cannot protect against one of the five strains. Here is more information from webmd for those who might be interested: Why do teens need a meningitis vaccine? Of the more than 2,600 people who get meningococcal disease each year, one-third are teens and young adults. Ten percent to 15% of those who get sick with the disease will die, even with antibiotic treatment. Up to 20% will have permanent side effects, such as hearing loss or brain damage. This is why immunizations against meningitis are so important. They can help prevent this serious disease. Which meningitis vaccines are available? In the U.S., two meningococcal vaccines are available: Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4), sold as Menomune Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), sold as Menactra These meningitis vaccines can prevent four of five types of meningococcal disease, which represents about 70% of the cases in the U.S. MPSV4 lasts for at least three years. It protects at least 85% of older children, teens, and young adults who receive it against four strains of meningococcal disease. MCV4 provides more lasting protection than MPSV4 against these four strains. It also decreases carrier rates of meningococcal bacteria, which may help prevent its spread. MCV4 vaccine is the preferred vaccine for people 11 to 55 years of age. The doctor or nurse injects one dose into the muscle. If MCV4 is not available, you can use MPSV4. The doctor or nurse injects one dose beneath the skin. If your child previously received MPSV4, ask the doctor whether it is necessary to revaccinate with MCV4. Either vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines, but at a different site on the body. Who needs a meningitis vaccine? The CDC recommends a meningococcal vaccine for: All children age 11-18. Anyone who has been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak Anyone traveling to or living where meningitis is common, such as in sub-Saharan Africa Military recruits People with certain immune system disorders or a damaged or missing spleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in AL Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 We do, the type of meningitis this protects against has the same symptoms as the flu and you can die within 24 hrs of the first symptoms. We know of 2 people in our very small circle of friends who've had this. One died (high school student, dad was a MD) and one was physically handicapped~lost much of the usage of her legs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in MI Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 This vaccine was a requirement for my son who is living in the dorm this year. Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Ditto..we see it a lot around here. Is it more common in FL? It must be. We saw it all the time when I lived there, but I've been in CO for 10 years and haven't seen an outbreak here yet. Very strange, but I lived in FL long enough to know that meningitis is very common, very terrible, and very preventable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomsintheGarden Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Our oldest ds got the meningitis vaccine just before he went away to college. GardenMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Yes, this is one my kids get. We have several children pass away every year around here from bacterial meningitis, so we don't take chances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I will, but not until dc go away to college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 YES! One of my nieces had it, too. Nasty stuff (she is well now - although complains of being less mentally "alert" than before. She also lost almsot half a school year!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 my ds went to school this year for 5 th grade and the menegistis shot was required . I don't know what is the min. age that the school requires it, they just told me that he had to have it. I was going to have him get it within the next year or so , so I just went ahead and had him get it this year. I had dd, who is 14 and always homeschooled get it when she was 12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in IL Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I think ds's college required it if you were going to live in the dorm. Ds2 was vaccinated for his high school physical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 but I DO vaccinate my kids for Meningitis. Now, they never got the HIB as babies because it wasn't out, and I wasn't doing the other vaccines, but they have ALL gotten it as teens. FWIW though, my great-nephew was vaccinated for Meningitis and has gotten it TWICE. He came through both times, but did do stints in the hospital each time. It is quite scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Just curious what you thought about this vaccine ABSOLUTELY. I'd vacc for this before most things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 ER had to have it before college, and EK will also have the vaccine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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