Anyone's baby have meningococcal vaccine?

marrymemylove

I tried to get it for DS when he started daycare (risk factor) and I went back to school too (another risk factor, and I can't have this vaccine because I have had meningitis too many times and have no blood brain barrier).

?They told me they don't give it to kids in the states until they are teenagers.?

In Australia every year there's a small outbreak somewhere in a small town where vaccination is low and toddlers are almost always the ones who die. So they give it to toddlers now and have done for a few years. The places with outbreaks seem even smaller and more remote these days.

But I wondered if the US has changed the policy? Has anyone had this vaccine for their kids??

Halo79RN

menactra is what they give, and yeah, it's only as a teen. I don't know if there are any exceptions for kids who are traveling to a high risk area? 

CVC

From what I understand it hasn't been approved for kids under 11 in the U.S.

marrymemylove

I find that so disturbing. It can kill in about 3 days!

Halo79RN

it's approved for high risk after age 2 or 4 or something.  but if there's not a problem here with it, then they don't give it I suppose?  maybe they only give it in Australia b/c there was the outbreak that impacted so many.  ???

marrymemylove

It's 1-2 kids die every couple of years. That's not a lot. That's why I'm so shocked the US doesn't vaccinate. HEre it is on the schedule for toddlers and you a) get paid the immunisation bonus only if they get it on time and b) you can't get certified for daycare if they don't.