Anyone heard of Gastro Immunisation???

[melbryan]

Today my doctor told me about a 3 dose immunisation for Gastro just wondering has anyone had their newborns done. Was it worth it ($100 x 3), she said it is dangerous for little ones and recommends I get it done.

Interested to know your thoughts, (she also said it is going around at the moment)

Thanks,

[littleboyblue]

I was just about to post this thread myself I only read about it today apparently they are meant to have it at 2months then again at 4months can someone shed some light on this as I want my son to have it but he is now 14 weeks is it too late?

[stellarella]

IMO its just another vaccine that drug companies can make money off to inject into our tiny babies, for a virus that most of us have had at some time or another and have recovered quite well.

You couldnt pay me a million dollars to even consider it.

[littleboyblue]

I live in darwin where it is very common my friends little girls has had it 5 times since she was 5months old I would pay anything to have it

[bigglet]

Yes there is a vaccine available and it is recommended in the 3 doses.

Rotarix is one of the vaccines available - see here (http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcmed.nsf/pages/gwcrotar/$File/gwcrotar.pdf#search=%22rotarix%22)
for the leaflet about the the vaccine.

It is recommended if your child is around other children a lot or is in childcare etc.
Gastroenteritis is a nasty thing to have and children have been hospitalised with it.
Older children can have the vaccine but because it is the young babies that are more suceptible to it that they have the vaccine available to them.

And stellarella - we know you are a nonvaxer fullstop but not all drug companies are out there just to make money with fruitless vaccines if at all. Not all babies have the same immune systems - some are stronger in fighting diseases and some may be more susceptible to catching and/or spreading it. After seeing gastro affect babies myself it's not a nice thing to wish upon anyone.

[Duchessa]

Probiotics are a well documented, medically accepted way to help protect babies, children and adults from gastro and many other diseases. Supplementation is especially beneficial to formula fed babies and in particular to formula fed babies who are born via c/sect as they don't receive the benefits of aquiring the bacteria via vaginal delivery and breastfeeding. They are completely non toxic and have no dangerous side effects.

A healthy intestinal flora is the first defence against gastro and I credit probiotics (and bfing) as to why neither of my children have ever had it and I have only had it once in my life.

Thought you might like to know there is another way to help avoid gastro (whether or not you choose to vaccinate against it), not trying to start a debate in anyway.

[meme]

breastteeding is pretty protective so i see it as unnecessary. i would prolly look into it if i was ffding.

[reAllytee]

Just also note that while b/f is meant to protect against most bacteria you will still find some b/f babies will get gastro. My cousins who were all exclusively b/f till the ages of 3yrs & 5yrs all had it pretty much yearly if not more. Sometimes some babies are more prone than others.
Its a case of weighing up the odds for you & your family as to whether its a good idea for you to do so.
Many babies do become violently ill from this but there are many who dont.
It can really only be your choice so i suggest to make an informed one so if possible have a google & read what you can.
Not all vaccination/ pharamceutical companies are in it to make money funnily enough many, like the doctors who work for them want a safer world for us to live in & to keep our kids as healthy as possible.
Good luck.

[Crazyfamily]

After my children recently being in hospital very sick with rotavirus I would do it. My dd recovered quickly but my ds was so sick we thought we would lose him. Nice to think that breastfeeding may help, and I know it does but my dd was breastfed for 18 months and still got it.

[~Chick79~]

I asked my GP about it a little while ago as my DS1 has had it twice within 12 months and she said that it protects against rotavirus but not the normal strain of gastro....

Luckily both times it has been the normal strain he has gotten and hasn't suffered to much with it (exceot that everybody in the house got it to!). Now that he has had it my GP said the vaccine wouldn't benfit him.

I don't know I think i am going to try the priobotics thing with them.... I am now really paranoid with the boys getting gastro (even more so with DH working away). My sistert can vouch for that!!!!

[jessgray]

from my understanding this vax doesnt offer complete protection against all strains of gastro just a specific one.
i remember reading something along those lines when it was in the paper ages ago

[RedPanda]

I probably wouldn't vaccinate against gastro. There are so many different strains, it would be like trying to vaccinate against colds!
Although, speak to me after DS gets gastro! I'll probably change my mind after all the vomiting and runny poos!:laughing:

[Duchessa]

from my understanding this vax doesnt offer complete protection against all strains of gastro just a specific one.
i remember reading something along those lines when it was in the paper ages ago

I too have read this, and most concerninly it doesn't protect against the more serious streptococcus gastro.

[jessgray]

my ds had gastro this yr and even that isnt making me want to vax against it. coz it doesnt cover all the strains.
maybe when they bring out one that covers all of the strains :D :laughing:

[melbryan]

From my understanding the doctor said this one can put bubs in hospital. I am wanting to get it as he will be in childcare next year and we will be toilet training our 2 year old soon. I really don't want him to suffer any pain unneccessarily.
I will probably go through with it and see how it goes. He was C/s and is formula fed so I am heading towards getting him the VAX. I have read the info on it and know that it is only for one strain (one of the common and bad ones)

Thanks for all your advice on this it has been interesting.

[Duchessa]

Lactobacillus reuteri as a therapeutic agent in acute diarrhea in young children. Shornikova AV, Casas IA, Isolauri E, Mykkänen N, Vesikari T. (1997) J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 24:399-404.

A prospective, randomized and placebo-controlled study of 40 children, aged 6–36 months, who were hospitalised due to acute diarrhoea (caused by rotavirus in 75%). The children receiving active treatment were given L. reuteri in a daily dose of 1010–1011 CFU for up to 5 days. A significant effect was apparent from the second day of treatment, when 74% of the children in the active group were free of watery diarrhoea, as opposed to only 19% of the children in the control group.


PROBIOTICS IN FORMULA REDUCE INFECTION RATE: AAP NEWS, April 2005,

Study of infants fed formula supplemented with Lactobacillus reuteri or Bifidobacterium lactis had significantly less fever and less and shorter episodes of diarrhea than infants fed the same formula without the probiotic supplements. "The L. reuteri group had significantly fewer fever days, fewer absences from child care, and fewer prescriptions than the B. lactis group or the control group.

[stellarella]

And stellarella - we know you are a nonvaxer fullstop but not all drug companies are out there just to make money with fruitless vaccines if at all. Not all babies have the same immune systems - some are stronger in fighting diseases and some may be more susceptible to catching and/or spreading it. After seeing gastro affect babies myself it's not a nice thing to wish upon anyone.

No im not a non-vaxer full stop...I can see how everyone might think that seeing as I can get quite worked up about the whole thing LOL:p

I actually think vaccinations are a great thing...used wisely. I just think they are massively overused, thats all.

And I will most probably give DS some vaccinations at some point in his life.

I want to apologise for exaggerating in my previous post....if someone thinks that thier bub would benefit from the rotavirus vaccine then I think that is great...I shouldnt have come accross so crazy LOL:D

I dont want anyone to think im this psycho anti-vax lady...:devil6:

[littleboyblue]

Kaleb had his first dose of the vaccination yesterday it costs $149 per dose and he needs another at 5 months however all babies born as of the 1st August 2006 will be given the vax as part of their vaccination schedule.

[jessgray]

so #2 has the gastro vax at what age?
ok what is dairy free and soy free that has Lactobacillus in it for ds1 :D lol

[littleboyblue]

they have their first dose between 6-14 weeks then second dose between 14-24 weeks about 8 weeks apart I think the doses are.

[Duchessa]

Jess there are lots of capsulated probiotics and also some chewable ones that are dairy free. You are better off giving capsules anyway, as the microbe count is far higher than for yoghurt etc.

Just read on the label to check - I think the blackmores one is fine and you can buy that anywhere. Just break it open into her milk substitute/juice/cereal/whatever - it is more or less tasteless. I give the girls' theirs in their bottles of neocate. :thumbsup: At least you will know you are protecting her from all gastro strains, all sorts of other things like colds and flus and even helping her over come her dairy intolerance as well! Can't beat it :D

[ofiona]

My DS has just recovered from a bout of rotavirus and I can tell you it wasn't pretty. He ended up in hospital and that was where I heard about this vaccine from the paediatrician. We have no idea how he got this virus, DS#1 is 10 years old and hadn't been sick, in fact he caught it from the bubba, I work from home so there is no child care issue and he was breastfed till he was 1. I will definitely be giving him the vaccine (unless I find out he can't get the rotavirus a second time but I haven't heard that yet) A nurse at the hospital told me that whilst gastro in adults is bacterial (maily from poor hygene practices) in children it is more commonly viral, this is why the kids can be vaccinated against the viral kind.

I might not be entirely accurate but its what I have been led to believe. I appreciate everyone has the right to choose whether they vaccinate their own children but having a father who contracted polio as a child, I think we should all be greatful that it is all but irradicated in this country. I also had measles and mumps as a kid, I still remember the experiences. (Gee, don't we sound like a healthy lot?!) Anything I can do to help prevent my kids from that, I will do.

One thing I am definitely going to look into is a probiotic supliment though. After reading earlier responses, it might be just what this cold ridden household needs.:fingerscrossed:

Thanks for great advice and banter.

Fiona

[Missus S]

Guys - the probiotics I give Gemma are made specifically for infants, come in powder form and are also free from artificial flavour, colour, corn, dairy products, gluten, wheat, salt, yeast and preservatives. It's called 'NeoCare - Healthy gastrointestinal function for infants' and is made by a company called Phytocare Professional Healthcare who are located in Waterloo NSW.

I found the jar in a local health food shop here in SA after a bit of searching trying to find some in powder form that was dairy free............cost me $22.80.

Duchessa - that's great to know that they especially benefit bubs born via C-section (which Gemma was), I didn't know that.

So far so good. I did ask my GP about the rotavax or whatever it was called..........it was about $70 a pop with 3 shots required. We do tend to get a nasty rotavirus outbreak here in Adelaide every year when the Childrens Hospital gets inundated.

[Missus S]

IMO its just another vaccine that drug companies can make money off to inject into our tiny babies, for a virus that most of us have had at some time or another and have recovered quite well.

You couldnt pay me a million dollars to even consider it.

Rotavirus in an infant is extremely serious. Sure, adults can pick up gastro and recover OK but little babies just become so dehydrated very quickly........it's dangerous & certainly something I want to protect my DD from. I'm glad that the option of the vaccine is there.

[defa]

Hi all the vaccine is called Rotarix and it costs a bit but it is worth is as if your baby gets Rota you will end up in hospital for about 3 days. My baby is now 2 months and she got her first dose the other day and she will have the next dose at 3 months. Shop around i got different prices from $75 to $130.
Oh i forgot it isn't a neddle it is an oral just 1ml for babys 2mls for bigger kids. Every child should have this as well as every other Immunisation going..
It is not worth the risk your child getting the bug..

[Ky]

Kids that have already had rotavirus do not benefit from this vaccine. It will only make them sicker if they haven't developed an immunity from the natural dose they got.

My dd is regularly hospitalised with rotavirus due to having an immune deficiency to it and it is a horrendous thing to see your child lying in bed, not moving, not making any noises except the occasional groan for days on end ... it is absolutely heartbreaking.

If you want to immunise your child against this ... I say chose to with a clear concience. It is a sip vaccine and not a needle, so there isn't the usual distress associated with it and ultimately it is your decision.

My kids both had adverse reactions to their immunisations (fever, swelling, vomiting and breathing difficulties) but rather than become a non-vaxer, I delayed their imms until they were over 3 years old when thier systems were a bit more mature ... there wree no ill effects then.

My sister is a non-vaxer and does this with the support of her ex-mil who is a homeopath and keeps an eye on the kids health. I support her 100% in her choice and if I had felt I had similar back-up I would have chosen to go the non-vax route.

Btw ... when my dd comes out of hospital I turn to inner health plus powder, vitamin appetite tonic, sustagen and plenty of healthy fruit and veges, chicken and fish. She usually gains the kilos she lost (and really can't spare) within a few weeks of leaving hospital. The best thing I find to keep her out of hospital is a good diet and good toileting hygiene.

My father also contracted polio as a child and got off pretty lightly with no lasting physical effect, just a long stay in hospital isolated from his parents and school. Unfortunately, a lot of people who had in that era are now finding that they are having a recurrance of the disease in thier twilight years ... very worrying!

[defa]

Kaleb had his first dose of the vaccination yesterday it costs $149 per dose and he needs another at 5 months however all babies born as of the 1st August 2006 will be given the vax as part of their vaccination schedule.

Hi guys you need to shop around i got mine for $94 but got different prices at every where i went...

[cheezelkat]

If I had the chance to off gotten it done, I would have.