Meningitis B Vaccine - side effects, procedure, costs

j@utis

I know I've started this thread but I have to admit I haven't got my soon vaccinated for menB yet. I still have doubts about this vaccines effectiveness. I'm wondering if there's any report published in UK on this matter since they started vaccinating their babies two years ago?

MountainAshIRL

Just wondering how is the vaccine stored if you have to collect it at chemist and then bring to the doctor?

bovril

MountainAshIRL wrote:

Just wondering how is the vaccine stored if you have to collect it at chemist and then bring to the doctor?

I used a cooler bag with an ice block inside it.

CheerLouth

MountainAshIRL wrote: »

Just wondering how is the vaccine stored if you have to collect it at chemist and then bring to the doctor?

You can no longer order the vaccine from a chemist. GSK are supplying only directly to the GPs at the minute, so storage shouldn't be an issue as all the GPs have vaccine fridges.

MountainAshIRL

Yes that seems like a much better idea. I'm pretty shocked that people were allowed collect, store and transport this vaccine themselves. Cold chain is extremely important for vaccine efficacy.

angeldelight

MountainAshIRL wrote: »

Yes that seems like a much better idea. I'm pretty shocked that people were allowed collect, store and transport this vaccine themselves. Cold chain is extremely important for vaccine efficacy.

Most products can be stored out of the fridge for short periods of time without affecting efficacy. In practice people tend to collect the vaccine on the way to the doctors

MountainAshIRL

That's not correct There is extremely strick rules for the handling and storage of cold chain vaccines.

angeldelight

MountainAshIRL wrote: »

That's not correct There is extremely strick rules for the handling and storage of cold chain vaccines.

You might want to let the manufacturers know as they often give me information on storage from stability studies

MountainAshIRL

Maybe you would like to post those studies? instead of sarcasm and a comment which on the internet is irrelevant as you could be anyone working for anyone. There is plenty of information available from the cdc and who all stressing the importance of vaccine cold chain, vaccine storage, handling, transport.

angeldelight

MountainAshIRL wrote: »

Maybe you would like to post those studies? instead of sarcasm and a comment which on the internet is irrelevant as you could be anyone working for anyone. There is plenty of information available from the cdc and who all stressing the importance of vaccine cold chain, vaccine storage, handling, transport.

Of course the cold chain is important - it's why it's documented from manufacturer to wholesaler to pharmacy/GP. However I am yet to come across any refrigerated product which cannot be out of the fridge for a short length of time eg when transported from pharmacy to gp. I can't furnish a link to the studies as they are not published, they are internal studies carried out by the manufacturers, available through their medicines information departments to health care professionals

Ocean Blue

New vaccine schedule from October 1st

CheerLouth

Still no Chickenpox on the list But glad the MenB is there!

Xdancer

There has been a shortage of this vaccine here in Spain, but I finally managed to it and my 4 year old had her first dose today. She hasn't had any reaction or fever from it, just a bit of pain in the injection site. Her next dose will be in 2 months.
No sign of it being added to the schedule here, but the pediatricians are recommending it.

Mango Joe

Ocean Blue wrote: »

New vaccine schedule from October 1st

Any retrospective action possible here?

- My youngest will be 4 at end of Nov.

CheerLouth

Mango Joe wrote: »

Any retrospective action possible here?

- My youngest will be 4 at end of Nov.

I wouldn't imagine so

January

Mango Joe wrote: »

Any retrospective action possible here?

- My youngest will be 4 at end of Nov.

No, a catch-up program has not been, and probably won't likely be, announced.

Millem

Vaccine is apparently out of stock again I have a prescription for it

foodaholic

I ordered it last week
No hassle

Your GP can order for you

bovril

I had a prescription for the booster for my toddler but the pharmacy can't get it in. The GP now can get it in where they couldn't/wouldn't before. I got the booster and first two shots for new baby through the GP since July this year.

Millem

Really GP said they couldn't order it I was half thinking of trying to get it done in newry!!!

Shoe Lover

My GP got it last week for us as well. I'd ask again as they should be ordering them anyway for the new babies.

DavyD_83

Ocean Blue wrote: »

New vaccine schedule from October 1st

Great to see it confirmed!
I see it was on the schedule to discuss BCG Shortage; is there any real update regarding that?
(not sure if you are the original source of the picture)

jlm29

Am waiting on the gp nurse to phone me back regarding the vaccine. Just wondering is there an upper age limit on it, or an age where we wouldn't have the same need for it?

Millem

Just wondering about side effects....my son was grand getting it,,,no fever etc. Doctor said he may get a swollen red patch from it, which he has. Any idea when it goes? Thanks

I paid €175 all in! In south dublin.

Digs

jlm29 wrote: »

Am waiting on the gp nurse to phone me back regarding the vaccine. Just wondering is there an upper age limit on it, or an age where we wouldn't have the same need for it?

I'm not actually sure about the upper age limit, however, I've two girls and just ordered the vaccines today from my GP. My 3.5 yr old will need two doses and my 5 month old with need three. Each injection costing €145. That's €725 in total for us :O

uck51js9zml2yt

My gp was quoting 140 per jab. We need 4 @560.
Has anyone been quoted cheaper elsewhere?

jlm29

Digs wrote: »

I'm not actually sure about the upper age limit, however, I've two girls and just ordered the vaccines today from my GP. My 3.5 yr old will need two doses and my 5 month old with need three. Each injection costing €145. That's €725 in total for us :O

Thanks. It's steep! I know the risk of meningitis is significantly less in children over the age of 5, but I'd feel mean not vaccinating my 5 year old! I was asking the gp the other day, and he hadn't a clue about costs!

jlm29

Millem wrote: »

Just wondering about side effects....my son was grand getting it,,,no fever etc. Doctor said he may get a swollen red patch from it, which he has. Any idea when it goes? Thanks

I paid €175 all in! In south dublin.

Hi Millem, how much was the vaccine itself, excluding administration?

Digs

jlm29 wrote: »

Thanks. It's steep! I know the risk of meningitis is significantly less in children over the age of 5, but I'd feel mean not vaccinating my 5 year old! I was asking the gp the other day, and he hadn't a clue about costs!

It is steep alright, I'm dying to have them done though. It terrifies me the thought of what could happen. I'd be the same as you, wanting them all vaccinated!

I can ask our practise nurse when I'm back in but from memory they charge me €30 to administer the free flu vaccine during pregnancy so I'm assuming in this case the vaccine itself costs approx €115?

BlueLass

Digs wrote: »

It is steep alright, I'm dying to have them done though. It terrifies me the thought of what could happen. I'd be the same as you, wanting them all vaccinated!

I can ask our practise nurse when I'm back in but from memory they charge me €30 to administer the free flu vaccine during pregnancy so I'm assuming in this case the vaccine itself costs approx €115?

You were charged 30 for a free flu vaccine????? That's terrible, my doc didn't charge anything for the administration of it!! That's mad!!

Digs

BlueLass wrote: »

You were charged 30 for a free flu vaccine????? That's terrible, my doc didn't charge anything for the administration of it!! That's mad!!

Yeah it's fairly standard practise. The vaccine itself is free to risk groups however it's at the GPS discretion as to whether they charge administration on it. Purely anecdotal but anyone I've spoken to about it has been charged.

BlueLass

Digs wrote: »

Yeah it's fairly standard practise. The vaccine itself is free to risk groups however it's at the GPS discretion as to whether they charge administration on it. Purely anecdotal but anyone I've spoken to about it has been charged.

Wonder if that's a regional thing because I don't know of anyone that was charged for it! Practice nurse would charge about 15 for doing bloods or other injections Like a B12.

Digs

BlueLass wrote: »

Wonder if that's a regional thing because I don't know of anyone that was charged for it! Practice nurse would charge about 15 for doing bloods or other injections Like a B12.

Quite possibly? I'm in south Dublin. If one thing can be said about Irish healthcare, nothing is consistent or standard across the board although to be fair it's the only thing I put my hand in my pocket for throughout the pregnancy and even at that I claimed it back on VHI!

Millem

jlm29 wrote: »

Hi Millem, how much was the vaccine itself, excluding administration?

Hi Jlm29, I don't know how much the vaccine was by itself. I just quoted an all in one price. We got it done in a different GP. It was the GP who administered it. The GP we went to does not accept those under 6 GP cards and costs €50 for a GP visit. They ordered the vaccine in for me as I couldn't get it myself anywhere

jlm29

Thanks guys. I'll get them done after xmas. No one can tell me if there's a need to get the older lad done, but my gp said something like "it'll probably cost €40 or €50, so for that I'd get them both done", I knew he was on a different planet though!

Millem

Oh gosh jlm I would get it for your 5 year old. A colleague told me her sister got men b at 21....
The gp mentioned chicken pox vaccine to me. I am going to research that after he is finished with men b. I am a but unsure of it though as he said you need to check it again as an adult?

Merkin

I'm in South Dublin too Millem and paid €160 for each meningitis jab and €30 for the flu vaccine and I think same for pertussis (Im pregnant but it wasn't free).

uck51js9zml2yt

Mine are being done in 2 weeks.
GP charging 140 each. Health wave in Dundrum is charging 126 per dose.

Millem

Gabrielle Quiet Supplies wrote: »

Mine are being done in 2 weeks.
GP charging 140 each. Health wave in Dundrum is charging 126 per dose.

I rang health wave a few weeks ago and they said they had no stock of vaccine!
Anyway it suits me to get it from a gp as I can claim back 50% on my my health insurance!
Tatranska are you in south dublin if so can you PM gp please!

jlm29

I know this has probably been said before, but I can't trawl back through the whole thread! Babies get three jabs- in the new schedule, is at 2 mo, 4 mo, and 12 mo- do the first two doses have to be two months apart, or is it one month apart?
And older kids get the first jab whenever, and when do they get their booster?

Merkin

I thought that the meningitis jab for newborns has actually been pulled?

Millem

jlm29 wrote: »

I know this has probably been said before, but I can't trawl back through the whole thread! Babies get three jabs- in the new schedule, is at 2 mo, 4 mo, and 12 mo- do the first two doses have to be two months apart, or is it one month apart?
And older kids get the first jab whenever, and when do they get their booster?

for your older guy I think the jabs can be 1 month apart but for my guy I have to wait 2 months apart as he is 2.

bovril

http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/OtherVaccines/menbfaq.pdf
This document has the doses for the different ages.

bovril

Merkin wrote: »

I thought that the meningitis jab for newborns has actually been pulled?

Not to my knowledge. The Men C schedule has changed every so slightly and the Men B vaccine was added in.

Shoe Lover

Millem wrote: »

The gp mentioned chicken pox vaccine to me. I am going to research that after he is finished with men b. I am a but unsure of it though as he said you need to check it again as an adult?

I think they need a booster when they are about 16. I got it for my little girl. Worth the money, I heard some horror stories about chicken pox & everyone I spoke to whose child had had it said they would have gotten the vaccine if they had known it was available.

uck51js9zml2yt

Millem wrote: »

I rang health wave a few weeks ago and they said they had no stock of vaccine!
Anyway it suits me to get it from a gp as I can claim back 50% on my my health insurance!
Tatranska are you in south dublin if so can you PM gp please!

I'm in cabra
Must check my health insurance policy.
Both mine had chicken pox this summer. 2 weeks and it was all over for the 2 of them.

Cmaree

Hi..my 15month old had his 1st men b vaccine 6weeks ago.....started vomitting perfusely an hour after it was given..was admitted over night for deydtration...was fine the next day...was recommended to get the 2nd vaccine done in hospital as there was no source to his vomitting found....anyone experience other side affects?....he's due the 2nd vaccine soon..am very nervous about it....well at least it'll be done in the hospital settin..was fine with all other routine vaccines!..thanks!

MountainAshIRL

Cmaree wrote: »

Hi..my 15month old had his 1st men b vaccine 6weeks ago.....started vomitting perfusely an hour after it was given..was admitted over night for deydtration...was fine the next day...was recommended to get the 2nd vaccine done in hospital as there was no source to his vomitting found....anyone experience other side affects?....he's due the 2nd vaccine soon..am very nervous about it....well at least it'll be done in the hospital settin..was fine with all other routine vaccines!..thanks!

What a difficult situation to be in. It's very hard to continue vaccinating when your child has reacted badly to one. Did the doctors give an indication of why your child had a reaction? Maybe it would be a good idea to go through a full family medical history with the pead before giving another dose, just to rule out any possible contraindications? Or maybe that was done before the first dose? You can always delay while you think about it, speak to doctors and do your own research on the best next step

Cmaree

MountainAshIRL wrote: »

What a difficult situation to be in. It's very hard to continue zvaccinating when your child has reacted badly to one. Did the doctors give an indication of why your child had a reaction? Maybe it would be a good idea to go through a full family medical history with the pead before giving another dose, just to rule out any possible contraindications? Or maybe that was done before the first dose? You can always delay while you think about it, speak to doctors and do your own research on the best next step

oh yes fully investigated by paediatrics ...paediatritican advised to folllow through. .get 2nd vaccine in hospital Setting. Dats at the end of month....cud have been a coincidences too...they not sure..advised to get it done in hospital....they were happy it wasn't a full reaction..just vomittin....just nervous in case it happens again....maybe nothin will happen!

jlm29

How long does this vaccine offer protection for?