hey, just wondering if anyone has had any negative response from the vaccination Prevnar. My sons immunologist said after blood work that his immume system is not "responding" to the Prevnar so he needs to go in for a different type, a "pneumococcal" and then recheck his system after some time. What does this mean and if he doesnt "respond" again (whatever that means) could this be leading to something else?

I guess this shot is new for infants (up to 2) as of 2000, I pretty much get what my pediat. says so I have never really looked in to this before. So if he didnt get the shot, would his system still be low?

Is it a titer test that they're doing? A titer test will test for titers, which is like testing for antibodies, but it is very misleading. Antibodies are not necessarily what will protect you against illness, as memory cells play a huge roll as well. So if you do a titer test and there are no antibodies, that doesn't mean your body has not created memory cells to be dispatched later when exposed to illness.

Having said that, I do not vaccinate and am vehemently against it. Especially in infants.

My 10 month old has had the Prevnar shot and has not had any reactions. I am only giving her Prevnar and Hib because they protect against bacterial meningitis, which is almost always deadly. I'm not doing any other immunizations. I had conflicting feelings about these two, but my sister who lives next door is a paramedic and has come in contact with it a few times, so I feel the benefits outweighed the risks in my case. If it had not been for that I would have waited until she was older. My ped is great and he recommended these two shots above all others. I really think they try to give our babies too many shots at one time and while they are too young, and a large majority of them are not even necessary. Sorry to get on my soapbox..this subject really gets me going for I am very passionate about it.

i am pro vaccination - each to their own:) .
ds had his prevnar about 6 weeks ago he was fine no problems. They have just introduced this shot in the uk after its trials in america - thanks you ginea pigs lol;)

Dani, do you have any good literature about vaccination risks? I want to read up on the subject, and my pediatrician said she would give me some literature, but all she gave me was the CDC one-pagers -- totally useless. Are there any good books out there?

The CDC's website is a gold mine for statistics. It was actually the CDC themselves who turned me away from vaccines, not toward them. They openly admit that there is a higher likelyness of a reaction then getting sick.

I don't want to offend anyone, and I respect everyone's opinion on this issue, but wanted to voice mine also. This is just my own personal opinion but I agree with WeepyOne, that vaccinations are important. There have been many studies in other countries where diseases have come back to becoming epidemics in those countries because those countries stopped offering the vaccinations. I live in a state in the U.S. where there was a huge scare of a possible epidemic because mumps started popping up in great mass. It was linked to someone coming over here from another country who had them, but was spread by some who hadn't been vaccinated. Now, to be fair to the other side, there were also cases where people contracted mumps who had been vaccinated also. I happen to work for a place that takes care of children with disabilities and so I have seen first hand what some diseases can do to children. I feel that the risks of not vaccinating far outweigh the risks of vaccinating, but do the research, then do what you feel is in the best interest of your child. :)

Hello? Did anyone actually read my initial question? Im not here to change anyones opinion, just wanted some info on this Prevnar. We all know there are two sides to this debate, and I see both sides, we all are great parents (hopefully) and are here reading to help our children and to learn. So does anyone know about this one?? Or what the "not responding" means?

Peace!!

I will recap, since you seemed to miss my response. :)

Your original question: "My sons immunologist said after blood work that his immume system is not "responding" to the Prevnar so he needs to go in for a different type, a "pneumococcal" and then recheck his system after some time. What does this mean and if he doesnt "respond" again (whatever that means) could this be leading to something else?"

My response: "Is it a titer test that they're doing? A titer test will test for titers, which is like testing for antibodies, but it is very misleading. Antibodies are not necessarily what will protect you against illness, as memory cells play a huge roll as well. So if you do a titer test and there are no antibodies, that doesn't mean your body has not created memory cells to be dispatched later when exposed to illness."

To answer your question I need more more information, and since you haven't provided that, I guess you must have missed my response.

What is the "blood work" are you referring too?

Can I ask what Prevnar is? Is it a type of pneumococcal vaccination?

Amy

Hello? Did anyone actually read my initial question? Im not here to change anyones opinion, just wanted some info on this Prevnar. We all know there are two sides to this debate, and I see both sides, we all are great parents (hopefully) and are here reading to help our children and to learn. So does anyone know about this one?? Or what the "not responding" means?

Peace!!
Hi Laauhe! My son did not have a reaction to prevnar, but he did have a bump for a while at the injection site.

ds had his prevnar about 6 weeks ago he was fine no problems. They have just introduced this shot in the uk after its trials in america - thanks you ginea pigs lol;)

in case you mised it this is all i know. thought my own experience might help as i say ds was fine. good luck whatever your decision, although i understand your anxiety around your lo's health. take care:)

Hi bxr35.. You can go to the National Vaccine Information Center online..There are also a few good reads, one is called "Vaccinations-A Thoughtful Parent's Guide" and "Raising a Vaccine Free Child". I know from experience the harm that vaccines can do. My oldest daughter who is almost 13 has nuerological problems from her 12 month immunizations. I'm lucky she survived the multiple 45 minutes seizures she suffered after she was vaccinated, and that aside from having seizures (which are more rare now) that she did not suffer any brain damage. The books were really helpful in helping me realize that most childhood illnesses are not lethal..(Mumps, measles, chicken pox, rubella, etc...) Usually the only time that these diseases are lethal are when the child is malnoursihed and already in poor health. If you're well nourished and have access to health care, chances are excellent that you're going to be ok. I did not mean to start a debate on this post...Sorry laauhe...

No apologies necessary, and sorry if I came back to harsh, but i just didnt want to get into the debate. I have read all the responses, and thank you all for you input.

No apologies necessary, and sorry if I came back to harsh, but i just didnt want to get into the debate. I have read all the responses, and thank you all for you input.