Pneumococcal vaccine - help!

[GoingtobebiginAsia]

Hi all,

I've just discovered the pnuemococcal vaccine Prevenar is not available in Vietnam. I might have to fly to Bangkok or Singapore to get DD vaccinated.

Does anyone know (or know where to direct me) how long you can delay the four-month pneumococcal vaccine? She had her other shots yesterday.

I have friends who were vaguely planning to visit but not for a few weeks. They could bring the vax in for me but I want to make sure it would still be effective, timing-wise. I'm especially worried that DD is going to be exposed to pneumococcol if babies here are not routinely vaccinated against it.

As an aside - I'm mightily ****ed off about this because the medical centre I go to assured me last year that all the vaccinations were available. I checked their recommended schedule against the Australian recommended schedule to make sure everything was in order. I could have brought the vaccine in with me when I returned to Vietnam in January. Now I've got all this stress and expense because someone lied to me. Grrrr.

[Junglemum]

You can delay it as long as you like, it wont make a difference to its effectiveness.

[kawazuki]

ok this si a bit sketchy as i dont have full immunisation history of your LO.

if they ahd the previnar at 2 months.
so she has had one previous dose.
then next one needs to be given within 4 weeks.

but if you wait till she is 12 months to get the second one can be given.. and 3rd dose is not needed.

i would reccomend getting them done at the 4 week intervals though as that gives you best cover.

it is not reccomended to wait longer than 4 weeks between immunisations for prevenar..

if you want PM with all teh details and i can work out the catch up schedule if you are going to miss a few vaccines..

[Junglemum]

My DD's prevenar were longer than 4 weeks, and although it may not be ideal, it is still fine, but as kawazuki suggests some doses may not be needed depending on how much time has passed.
A few weeks will be fine though. There is an immunisation handbook printed by the government that has all the recommendations in it, as well as catch up schedules. I borrowed a copy from my MCHN, you might find it useful.

Here is some more info, it says doses should be 4-8 weeks apart

http://www.dcgpa.com.au/_cms/CMS_ima...5B1%5D.214.pdf

[GoingtobebiginAsia]

Thanks for your help.
I've been flat out networking and begging for help for the past few days and I think my options are -- not get the vaccine or leave the country to get it done. So utterly frustrating and stressful.

But I do think it's cute the site automatically xxx-ed out my mild word, a synonym for pee!