From Flu Wiki 2

Forum: The Run-around

18 October 2006

Miss Spider – at 11:33

I’ve been calling around trying to get my daughter (she’s 5) a pneumonia vaccination and getting very frustrated. Her pediatrician won’t give it to her (we don’t give those out to young children and besides, the pneumonia they get as flu complications is usually viral) and when I called our Dept. of Health, they were confused and said a lot of “I don’t knows”. She has been vaccinated with Prevnar (in 2002). Is that enough - is that the same thing as the pneumovax everyone is talking about? I am so frustrated that noone can tell me or that they seem so clueless.

Annoyed Max- Not mad yet – at 12:26

Its similar but does not cover as many strains. Personally if it was my child I would not worry about it. First off pandemic flu historically does not target small children, secondly your doc is right they don’t usually get bacterial pneumonia. Third it contains thimerosal which I am not in favor of for small children. Bacterial pneumonia is only going to be a problem for people with a more developed immune system that you get in your mid teens. Then the complications of this particular strain of flu come into play and allow the bacteria to take hold, that is not really a concern with a five year old.

Annoyed Max- Not mad yet – at 12:29

Does that answer your question? Yes, your child is way above the curve with the vaccine she got. No, in my opinion she does not need 21 more rare strains of coverage for a disease that she will in all likely hood not develop. Plus you are going to have a hard time getting her the vaccine anyway, as I am not sure its even approved for children but I am not sure of that.

Green Mom – at 12:38

Ok- but what about mid teens? ages 12 and 15? I’m so frustrated by this! Last spring I got my pneumo-vax and wanted to get it for my kids. Docs office said probably for 15 yearold-he has asthma, but not the 12 year old. Gave me massive run around. Finally, a couple of weeks ago I called and said wanted schedule flu and pnuemo-vax They wanted to schedule them on seperate days in case of possible reactions. Sounded reasonable so-went one day for allergy shots, waited three days, went back for flu shots, got those, no prob-went yesterday for pnuemo-vax and they look at me in complete astonishment, they have no vaccine, they havn’t recieved their doses this year-(does it change from year to year to year?) I said I called two weeks ago, they claim to have no record of any calls and they said THEY HAVE NO PNEUMO_VAX. None, Zip. What the #@%$& is going on here?

crfullmoon – at 12:55

(the Run Around is going on’ probably plain old “huh”? )

Keep getting stocked up to be able to stay away from contracting pandemic, (oh- and how are yout tetanus shots, ect?)

preppiechick – at 12:59

Are they out everywhere? I was waiting to get mine, with my flu shot, at costco. I am going to try there because it was suggested on another thread that they don’t ask questions. I hit a brick wall with our doctor and the visiting nurses, that gave the flu shots last year, even though both my 14(almost15)yo DD and I both have asthma. They said it was the age thing, the fact that you are only supposed to get it once or twice in a lifetime, doesn’t cover viral, and, also, asthma is not on the national recommendation list (HUH?…that’s where i always get sick…the chest!). Then to add injury to insult, my dd’s class volunteers twice a month at an assisted living facility, so avoiding it may be impossible! It’s crazy - all the shot records and forms that we had to sign, in order to volunteer, but they offer noting to protect us! UGH! :(

preppiechick – at 13:05
EnoughAlreadyat 13:37

I was told my 13 year old grandson… who is almost 5′9″ and weighs about 145#’s… couldn’t get the PPV (this was in August.) I asked again today, and they told me he could get it “when” they got it in. I’m calling every day until it gets in.

I asked for the PPV, but had a bout with a “cold.” I was told I couldn’t get it until the cold/cough was gone. The cold/cough has lingered for over a month. Now, they are telling me it doesn’t matter I can get the shot “when” it makes it in. Different doctor.

aurora – at 13:46

CVS, Rite Aid, and Eckerd Drug stores are all doing flu shots, and they normally do pneumonia shots as well. At least one of the stores requires children to be at least 9 years old though. You can find schedules and age restrictions on their websites. Of course that doesn’t mean they have the pneumonia vaccine though.

We’ve also had good luck with pneumonia vaccine with our local “urgent care center.” My husband, our two teens, and 12yr old got pneumonia shots there last winter without a problem. Our three kids have asthma though and my husband is a medic maybe they would have given him a hard time otherwise?

LauraBat 14:42

Aurora - I agree that urgent care may be the best bet. I got my pneumonia there no problem and have gotten the flu shot there before when pg. But call 1st - some won’t do children for flu or pneumonia. Alos, most younger children will have already ahd one pneu. vax and will need a backup later on, but older kids (9+ and up) likely won’t have because it wasn’t part of the protical back then. My 10yo has his checkup in two weeks and I’ll not leave until he gets one!

MAV in Colorado – at 15:06

Miss Spider – at 11:33

Prevnar IS the infant and child CDC recommended pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine. This is different than the “FLU SHOT”. Pneumovax II, the adult version, the one “everyone is “talking about” is not for kids. Children under the age of two years fail to mount an adequate response to the 23-valent adult vaccine, and instead a 7-valent Pneumococcal Conjugated Vaccine (PCV) (e.g., Prevenar) must be used. Whilst this covers only seven strains out of more than more than ninety strains, these seven strains cause 80% to 90% of cases of severe pneumococcal disease, and it is considered to be nearly 100% effective against these strains. If your child has sickle cell or has had their spleen removed they are candidates for the adult Pneumovax II vaccine.

hope this helps

anonymous – at 15:09

The pneumonia vaccine for kids is different from the pneumonia vaccine for adults in that the one for kids is supposed to not have thimerisol in it. That is what I was told when I was investigating it last year. But in any event, my pediatrician’s office would not give it to a non-high risk person last year and neither would the Health Dept., so with a black-and-blue head I let it drop.

Miss Spider – at 15:16

Everyone (and Annoyed Max and MAV, especially) - THANKS! Things are clearer now and, as such, my frustration and anxiety have dropped.

Still irks me though, that I couldn’t have gotten these answers from the people who are “supposed” to know.

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