Pneumococcas vaccine - prevnar

[shaanmom]

Hi All,
i am a first time "poster" having read all threads - very interesting and helpful!!
my 7mth son is having his 1st prevnar shot tomorrow, but i am reconsidering... my sis in law in s'pore says that it hasn't helped her 15mth, he still gets colds, coughs... any suggestions / recommendations? should i wait till he's older?? i haven't started him in any group activities as yet, but would like to, esp swimming classes.

[chubbysan]

hi,

both my girls have got the prevenar vaccines in spore as well, but if i rem correctly the vaccines don prevent colds or cough....PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE commonly occurs in children under two years of age and it can cause meningitis ,pneumonia , septicaemia and otitis media . And the vaccine is to help to prevent
such pneumococcal illnesses. If your son is going to be in childcare or playgroup, then wld suggest to take the vaccine for prevention.

[shaanmom]

Hi
Thanks chubbysan for the suggestion, going for it on Monday..... :)

[cemily]

Would be good to check to see if the vaccine has thimerosol ( I think that's how it is spelt?) ie mercury in organic form.

If you do check, would be grateful if you post and let me know too. Tks

Rgds

[capital]

I have to agree, prevnar prevents pneumococcall disease, which is a bacteria, so no it will not prevent a cold, which is a virus, and it is only going to prevent the strains of pneumococcal disease that are in the vaccine, not all pneumococcal strains. (The adult type covers many more stains than the infant type, but a newer infant type with more stains is in development) Pneumococcal causes ear infections (some, not all ear infections are caused by the same bacteria, so your child can still get an ear infection from a different type of bacteria), pneumonia, septicemia. Any vaccine will only help to prevent the specific type of disease, not all diseases. Example, measles vaccine will prevent Red measles(Rubeola) not every "measles" disease out there.

[shaanmom]

Hi Cemily, sorry didn't see your post till later. We had the shot today, so far so good. will call and check with the nurse reg the thimerosol - i wish i had seen this before the shot...!!
Hi capital, thanks, noted comments reg the vaccine - i did it as very highly recommended by my pd in Spore who is pro-natural remedies, as well as pd in HK.... :)

[shaanmom]

Hi Cemily, i checked with the nurse and she confirmed NO thimerosol in the vaccine.... fyi, i had the shot in the canossa hospital.