Pneumonia booster - what do you think?

Question

I received my daughter's date of immunisation for the "new" pneumonia, blood poisoning, ear infection etc. - It has apparently only been used successfully for 5 years in the USA. What do you think? I'm sceptical - I didn't know you could immunise against ear infections ... ? Those that have immunised their children and those that won't ... I'd be interested to hear your views.

Answer 1

The immunisation is against a virus not a bacterium, and viruses do not evolve in the same way that bacteria do. Most of our vaccines are against viruses, and are often very effective (smallpox was eliminated, measles, mumps and rubella are all rare now), so there is no danger of the virus mutating and making the vaccine worthless. The vaccine does not protect against all forms of ear infection, so if your child has a cold she may still develop a slight ear infection, however it provides immunity against the virus that causes a particularly unpleasant form of ear infection which commonly leads to deafness. Blood poisoning and pneumonia can both be life threatning. Personally, I would immunise my child against any serious illness given the option. It is unfortunate that all successful medical treatments have to be new discoveries for a while, and whilst I fully appreciate your concerns, just think where we would be if nobody trusted any new drug or vaccine.

Answer 2

No "new" immunisation programmes surprise me any more. I'm not keen on them all, but I have to say my son got septacemia when 6 weeks old and almost died, and he had pneumonia twice...when aged 3yrs and 8yrs old. Don't think it can't happen. He has, however, survived the lot. Children are amazingly resiliant. I remember the childrens doctor, when the "new" MMR came out, he recommended I didn't use it because we have epilepsy etc in the family. When I got a stern letter off the clinic six months later, I listened to a lecture by the same doctor, implying I was a bad mother for refusing the jabs, before reminding him what he had told me. At that point he smiled and gave up. I once asked advice from my own GP on immunisations and he quoted the official govt line at me, so I said "Yes, but what do YOU think. What about when you had your children done?" He said "Good heavens, I didn't get mine done. Wouldn't dream of it". I was a bit stunned!! ps for the record I have 5 children! In the end you have to listen to everyone, and then make the decision yourself.

Answer 3

It's the bug that causes most ear infections just happens to be the same bug that causes pneumonia, so they immunise against that and it cuts down the chances of either significantly. It's still a bit baffling though. My two granddaughters are having it done and both their mum and dad are happy about it and have read up on it. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

particular, pneumonia ought to do all that, and final that long. particularly given his history of undesirable well-being, it extremely is completely conceivable that he might have pneumonia over any such long era. and particularly if he's been under pressure or working himself ragged bodily or mentally. i'm fairly sorry to pay attention approximately his maximum cancers- i'm consistently paranoid approximately even the main minor adjustments in my well-being precisely using fact human beings our age do come down with those detrimental ailments, and medical doctors have a bent to comb off our concerns, questioning in terms of statistical likelihoods particularly than questioning approximately how they might provide a affected person peace of suggestions. My heart is going out to the two certainly one of you.

Answer 5

Well in the UK the pneumonia jab is lifelong. I was having my flu shot the other day and i asked the nurse about the pneaumonia jab and she said it didn't really stop u getting it, but it meant that u wouldn;'t get it so bad!

Answer 6

A load of crap, the bacteria will just evolvve and overcome the immunisation, so there isnt much point