New vaccination- Pneumococcal (Information)

As some of you might know from my recent post a baby in my mother's group recently died from pneumococcal meningitis. It has been a horrific time for everyone.

Anyway- I am posting this information that was sent to me from the Dept of Public Health for those vaccinating parents who are interested. (I am paraphrasing as the letter is four pages long)

If you vaccinate, your child is offered pneumococcal vaccines at 2, 4 and 6 months. From July 2011 this vaccine has been updated. The old vaccine- Prevenar- (that children before July 2011 received) protected against 7 types of bacteria that most often cause pneumococcal disease in children. The new vaccine -Prevenar 13- protects against these 7 plus an additional 6 which are now more commonly found in Australia.

Children between 12 and 36 months are now eligible to receive a free dose of the new vaccine. If your child had any of their 2, 4 or 6 month immunisations after July 2011 there is no need for the additional needle as they will have received a dose of the new vaccine. Children older than 36 months have a much lower rate of contracting the disease.

This is heartbreaking info for us as little A died from a strain not covered by the original vaccine and he hadn't had the new needle. It is not routinely offered so if it something you are interested in then you will need to ask for it.

As I said, I am posting this info for vaccinating parents. If you are not a vaccinating parent, please disregard this info. I am by no means trying to start a pro immunisation thread- I just want to share some info with those who want it.

Thanks for that information. B was born in April and I just checked his blue book and he had one does on the Prevenar13 at six months as this was after july 2011. Do you know if the information. Said one does was sufficient?

Yeah, they said as long as you've had one dose that is sufficient.

Thanks for sharing Glenny

I am even considering having our 5 year old done, we will just have to pay for the vac for him. Just waiting for DS2 to get over his sinus infection before he can have it.

thanks Glenny.

A 5 year old does not get benefit from the immunization as not something they catch. I enquired about by 3 year and that was what I was told so only got it done for my 22 month old.

They were more then willing to do my almost three year old.

Also, It is recommended that a second dose of the chickenpox vaccine is given, though you have to pay for this one.

My 35 mth old just scrapped in last Friday, no side effects except a small lump at the site.
I didn't know about the new one but was asking because very early Prems get an extra pneumococcal vax...which was lucky as we just scrapped in :)

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They were more then willing to do my almost three year old.

Also, It is recommended that a second dose of the chickenpox vaccine is given, though you have to pay for this one.

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^^ Is this if you get the 'new' vax of is this a routine thing with the chickenpox vax? Thanks

I didn't know there was a new one.