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Freesia 
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 Topic: tv3 news - meningitis vaccine
Posted: 22 July 2008 at 6:37pm |
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There was an item on TV3 news about the vaccine and I'm just wondering if anyone managed to catch it. I only heard a snippet but it sounded as if it didn't work as well as they thought and that it is only effective for a matter of months not years. Is this right? Can someone shed anymore light on this?
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Bombshell
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 6:45pm |
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it was the three shot menz one....one in four werent protected.....
altho there was a drop in the numbers who were treated for menz anyways...
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BugTeeny
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 6:51pm |
It was on the front page of the
Herald today 
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Freesia
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 7:14pm |
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Thank you. That's a bit annoying but now that Livvy only has the last (fourth) infection left she may as well get it. Pretty bad stats on it really.
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Two Blondinis
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 8:25pm |
It would have been nice to have this "protection for a small amount of time" information when we were making the decision whether to have the jabs or not rather than months after they stop them!!! 
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WRXnKids
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 9:12pm |
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They did say it has worked and there is no longer an epidemic in the country which is the bigger part of why they stopped funding it so it isnt all bad
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Maya
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 9:20pm |
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I'm inclined to think that even if 1 in 4 aren't protected, 3 in 4 are and isn't that worth it?
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 Maya Grace (28/02/03)
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Rachael21
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 9:27pm |
Check this out menzb
Conclusions
The MeNZB™ vaccine programme was designed for shortterm
mass administration during an epidemic situation. The
vaccine confers short term protection and relies on a high
level of vaccination coverage to reduce disease incidence.
The mass vaccination campaign has been effective at
reducing disease. The epidemic is now clearly waning and
disease rates are much lower than when the mass
vaccination campaign was undertaken. Recognising that
disease rates are currently low and duration of immune
protection is short, continuing with the infant schedule
programme is unlikely to offer much further benefit.
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2bmumof3
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 9:31pm |
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I agree that having 3 out of 4 protected is better than not but I'm still dissapointed that it wasn't made more obvious that it was a very short lived portection. My kids more than likely haven't got high enough levels of protection now, we should know this as I might be inclined to simply think they have a flu when really it's much worse....I'd prob still take them in anyway to get checked out though. I guess in saying this though if we all knew it was soo shortlived would we have done it and would enough kids have been vacinated to be able to have brought down the cases as has been done?? Geeze did that last sentence make any sense?
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Sara
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Maya
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 9:42pm |
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I do think that we were misled generally about the length of time the vaccine would be offered for, I was under the impression that it was a permanent addition to the schedule, when they knew from the very beginning that it was only an epidemic control vaccine. They didn't publicise that tho coz they thought if they did people wouldn't bother with it.
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Maya Grace (28/02/03)
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BugTeeny
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 9:47pm |
Perfect sense.
I haven't immunised Hannah (pneumoccocal hasn't been given either), for various reasons, one of them being that it was designed to stop an "epidemic" so we knew it was only a short term solution.
But I can completely agree with the 3in4 being protected argument.
Each to their own, and I feel bad that it wasn't made known that it was only a short term thing.
But the fact they introduced the 4th shot, after realising the first 3 were virtually ineffective was a big tip-off for us.
And on that note: If Prevenar is the new wonder-drug, why are the babies born before Jan 01 made to pay $500 to get it?
Shouldn't the government be doing everything they can to get all the kids vaccinated? says the woman who isn't vaccinating her girl against it... 
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Freesia
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 10:04pm |
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I'm a bit annoyed because Livvy didn't need to get jabbed those extra times to be immunised in the 'short-term' against something that has nearly been eliminated. She was born after the changeover date and so ended up getting the prevenar as well.
So Charly, do you think that the Prevenar is another vaccine to prevent an "epidemic" like the MenzB one?
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yummymummy
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Posted: 22 July 2008 at 10:37pm |
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We never bothered with the MenzB for Gina but are giving Emma the Prevenar. Prevenar seems to protect not only against pneumococcal disease but also pneumonia & ear infections so makes more sense to us.
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2bmumof3
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Posted: 23 July 2008 at 6:51am |
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I drilled the nusre before getting the prevenar and she said this one is on the natinoal immumisation register and should be there to stay. The MENZB was only ever to be a shortlived vaccine (I didn't realise that it meant protection wise, thinking only given out wise) and because MENZB and prevenar have never been given together in any country it was out ith the semi-old and in with the new. Pevenar has been tested alot more and used in some countrys like the US and Canada for numerous years with great results.
.......someitmes I think it would have been easier to have decided not to immunise at all then we wouldn't have these extra decisions to make re new immunisations
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BugTeeny
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Posted: 23 July 2008 at 6:57am |
I don't know about epidemic status, but the fact it's only free to somebabies just doesn't sit well with me.
I'm not very good at articulating what I mean 
But I just feel that they've taken one away, so they have to replace it with something else...
I can definitely see the merits of Prevenar.
But by the same token, I feel it's a little bit scare-mongerish.
I got dozens of ear infections growing up (so I'm probably immune to all kinds of anti-biotics now hehe), but I never got pneumonia and the worst cold I ever had was when I was 16 (I had glandular fever at the same time).
So I don't know. I just don't feel comfortable giving Hannah something that hasn't been established yet, just because it's free, IYKWIM?
When I tok Hannah for her 5 month shots the nurse said
"She's getting the usual shot and the Prevenar" as if it was normal.
When I said she wasn't having Prevenar she said
"But she qualifies! You may as well!"
I'd rather see people that actually want to have it, get it for free. For example, babies born before Jan 01 (especially those born in Dec last year!!)...
It's a shame they have to miss out (or fork out $500), just through bad timing.
Anyway. I think it's coffee time!
Edited by MamaPickle
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Maya
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Posted: 23 July 2008 at 8:00am |
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Gremlins got the prevenar in Oz coz we have Medicare and it's been on their schedule for years, and when they started having probs with their ears the specialist said it would be a good idea.
Prevenar is definitely a permanent addition to the schedule, they've been trying to get it added for years but been waiting on funding. It's like everything tho, there has to be a cut off and unfortunately it's Jan 1st so some babies do miss out. (I went to a media briefing on the new imm schedule a few months ago).
Oh and the fact that the MenzB is finishing at the same time as Prevenar is being added is just coincidence.
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peanut butter
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Posted: 23 July 2008 at 8:54am |
Tom is due for his 10 month Menzb shot and to be honest I dont know if I can be bothered putting him through it. He alwyas had a very sore hard lump where that one went in and I just wonder if it is worth it.
Does anyone know of a reason why it would be bad NOT to give it?
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mummy_becks
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Posted: 23 July 2008 at 9:55am |
Well I have learnt something new today. I so thought the MenZb was a permanent fixture of the imm sch.
I only ever did the 3 jabs of menZb for my boys (it was only 3 when Andrew started) and I didn't want the 4 and 3 at one time.
Personally I wouldn't get the 4th one done unless the nurse can show you big proof it is going to worth it.
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I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
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Freesia
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Posted: 23 July 2008 at 10:10am |
 nzpiper wrote:
Tom is due for his 10 month Menzb shot and to be honest I dont know if I can be bothered putting him through it. He alwyas had a very sore hard lump where that one went in and I just wonder if it is worth it.
Does anyone know of a reason why it would be bad NOT to give it? |
I'm wondering this now too. After Livvy's last jabs, she wouldn't use one of her legs (the one that had 2 jabs) for almost a week. For 2 days after she cried whenever we moved her leg. Is it worth putting her through it again? I know our nurse would just say "absolutely, it's worth getting it". When I asked her about the other jabs Olivia got, she never mentioned any of the stuff I've read on here.
Edited by Freesia
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tv3 news - meningitis vaccine
