Pneumococcal Vaccine

[tamaris]

I have been offered a Pneumococcal vaccine, I have never had it before.Is it worth having ?

[J9PUR]

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/pneumococcal-vaccination.aspx

[Sqad]

\\\\.Is it worth having ?\\\

It might be.........particularly if you have an underlying disease such as diabetes.

J9 has given you a good link.

Me?......I won't bother.......

[J9PUR]

\\\\.Is it worth having ?\\\

For any vaccination, you have to ask yourself.....
1) What is the likelihood of me getting the disease?
2) What would be the implications of me getting the disease?

vs

3) How effective is the vaccination?
4) What are the costs/risks associated with the vaccination

Then decide.

[dannyk13]

On doctors advice I had this vaccine a few years ago.It is a one-off injection and is free

[lady-janine]

I was offered this a couple of years ago. rang my doc about it and asked if he would have it. he said it was not appropriate for him but would not explain why. he has retired on ill-health and i (did not have it) am still going strong. so far - touch wood.

[Eve]

I had it though I have underlying conditions and was told I had to have it before going on certain medication.

Something I'm glad about due to the potential implications for me had I not had the vaccination and had developed pneumonia.

[Peter Pedant]

yes

if you have been offered it - then someone will have gone thro J6PUR's sieve and come up with 'yes'

It boils down to the question - do you have a spleen ? ( or is it functionally absent ?) and pneumococcal vaccine is good for keeping you alive in these cases.

and thx for reminding me - I need peumovacc as a result of CT for lymphoma. I need to go and shake my GP up.

Vaccines are safe by the way - countless bunnies, mice and rats have died to show their safety - you have no idea how many

[whirlyhurly]

I had it 2 years ago at the same time as having the annual flu jab. It's free. and I refuse nothing but blows !

[Peter Pedant]

// I .... rang my doc about it and asked if he would have it. he said it was not appropriate for him but would not explain why. he has retired on ill-health and i (did not have it) am still going strong. so far - touch wood.//

I am sorry I am astounded any GP would say "I give it to my patients but dont take ( that crap ) myself". I am glad he has gone.

Sqad have you any idea what the contraindications are for this vaccine ?
I thought it was purified SSS ( soluble specific substance ) which is the virulence antigen for pneumococcus - and is dead dead dead, as it is a chemical substance and no more.

when polio vaccine came out - we ( the doctor's children ) were the first to have it on the grounds that no one else would if we didnt

[Sqad]

P.P....like all new medical innovations there doesn't seem to be any initial contraindications, it is later on that "contra-indications" come to light..eg vaccines for polio and certain flu vaccines.

No, as i said, if you have an underlying medical condition, perhaps affecting one's immune system, then it would be common sense to have the jab.

My personal concerns and they are personal are....does the jab really give you immunity for 10 years?

Have hospital admissions really fallen due to the effect of the vaccine?

Not all pneumonias, especially in the elderly are due to our friend the diplococcus.

Yes , yes, you will find links to studies backing up the claims, but equally some sceptical.

Yes.....as I have said, there is an indication for it's use.

[Daffy6543]

I have been offered it as I have chronic lung disease, I have so far not bothered, I don't have the yearly flu vaccine either. Being pretty much housebound means I have little chance of coming into contact with the bugs.

[Jackdaw33]

I had one about 12 years ago when after a very severe chest infection the doctor who examined me asked why I had such a large scar around my body. I told him that my spleen had been removed 30 years earlier after a car crash. He arranged for me to have this; it was a one-off, I don't know if it needs a booster. Certainly I suffer from far fewer infections than I used to.

[tamaris]

Interesting comments, many thanks