Paed vs midwife + vaccinations

bump for the TB vaccine thread!

Thanks v much Ladies and especially HAK for the links and factual info. I have talked about it with some friends and family too and everyone seems to have different opinions - this is too confusing! I think you are right: I will do some more research and have to make my own decision. The paed did not want to advise one way or the other, she just said it is up to me. The one I think I will definitely rule out is MMR - have a case of autism in my family and have already decided not to take the risk. Too bad to read about TB in Dubai only now - LO had a huge reaction on his arm and has been carrying a massive lump filled with pus (which a nurse emptied and taken the capsule out twice for us) for 6 weeks. Luckily it is dying out now but I just hope it does not leave him a large scar. If you're going to skip the combined MMR, just do get the separate M, M and R vaccines. All those illnesses are making a reappearance and can have major repercussions (like infertility). I think the autism link has been pretty much debunked, but again, if you're not comfortable with what you feel is a risk, then no one can question your decision.

my son hasn't seen a paediatrician in all his time here... just a GP on occasion and A&E even more rarely (thankfully!) I'm following the UK vaccination plan too, as it is a basic one that covers all bases but doesn't overdo it (one perk of government-funded healthcare - they concentrate on what isn't a waste of time and money!). For example, in the UK they don't do the Rotavirus one (there's a fundamental conflict of interest behind it being approved in the US anyway), nor Chicken Pox (it doesn't stop the child getting CP). The BCG is now no longer a requirement in most parts of the UK (although a friend said it's no longer required anywhere in the UK now) and it's definitely not a requirement for coming to Dubai, because Dubai is a low-risk TB area (anyone with TB is kicked out after their visa medical)... same with Hep A, which is transmitted by bodily fluids. The Hep A & B vaccines are generally given in Europe at around 12 years old, before the child is, er, likely to start exchanging bodily fluids! Anyway, at the end of the day, it's all about what you feel is best and what you feel comfortable with. Do your research thoroughly and decide what [i'>you[/i'> want to do. I am sorry but what you are saying is incorrect. My DD was given Hep B vaccine when she 2 months old and she was born in Western Europe. As for BCG, it is recommended to be given in this part of the world...To the OP, please find yourself a good pediatrician and get his/her advice regarding your child's vaccination as they are the professional ones to give you the best answer..As for other vaccines like HEP A and Meningitis, they are prevalent in the middle east and by the way, HEP A can be contracted from water and food, not bodily fluids ( ie HEP B) as the other poster said..please seek a professional's advice before making any decisions regarding the health of your baby.. Well, Hep B was given to me in France when I was 12 and is given in the UK at University age, so I'm only going on what I know. As for the BCG, again, my healthcare professional sought advice and informed me that it was not needed to go to Dubai. This is the current UK programme and I've done it all, including the MMR, because I do think that one important, as Measles Mumps and Rubella are reappearing in UK schools partly due to so many people opting out. - 8 weeks: DTap/ IPV/ Hib & PCV (Diptheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis [whooping cough'>, Polio, Haemophilus Influenzae b and Pneumococcal) - 12 weeks DTap/ IPV/ Hib and Men C (Meningococcal C) - 16 weeks DTap/ IPV/ Hib/ PCV and Men - 12 months Hib/ Men C - 13 months MMR and PCV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) 3-5 years DTaP/ IPV or dTaP/ IPV (pre-school booster) 3-5 years MMR 14 years dT/ IPV ---- This is the [url=http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/vaccinations/Pages/childvaccines.aspx'>link to NHS guidance[/url'> on childhood immunisations ... and interestingly gives guidance on when/if the CP vaccine, BCG vaccine and others may be recommended I've also had a little look and the sites I've tried (NHS, Travel-turtle...) haven't mentioned needing the BCG for travel (even long-term travel) in Dubai . According to several sources, Dubai has amongst the lowest incidence of tuberculosis in the world [url=http://healthfirstmagazine.com/issue/current/article/news-in-brief1'>article[/url'> // [url=http://www.arabstats.org/country.asp?cid=21&ind=305'>UAE stats per 100,000 - UK apparently registered 14.5/100,000 in 2010[/url'> // [url=http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1195733837507'>WHO comparison chart for 2009... nb, scroll down to the bottom![/url'> -------- I hope this helps. I think it's just about weighing up the risks involved (either by vaccinating or by not vaccinating) by carrying out informed and balanced research. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 28/06/2011</em>

As for your baby's checks, there are a few clinics here like Cooper Health Clinic and Dubai London Clinic that have a baby clinic as well as pediatricians, so maybe you can give them a call, and see how they work it out??

Can I ask where are you from first? how long are you planning to live in Dubai for? are you going to be travelling around in the middle east and Asia? I believe that depending on your answers, your Pead usually advises you on the best route to take when it comes to your baby's vaccination schedule. honestly, there is not a big difference between the vaccination schedule in Dubai and the European one ( to be more specific, the Dutch vaccination schedule). The differences are, Hep B is given at birth here, but in Holland, it is given at 2 months, MengC is given in Holland at around 1 year, where as a different strain is given here at 24 months..Hep A is optional here, unless you are travelling to a high risk country then it is advisable and that is given at 24 months.. As for the rest of the vaccines, they are given in Holland too, just the order of months is slightly different.. <em>edited by Annabelle09 on 28/06/2011</em>

thanks Annabelle09, I had difficulty explaining to the clinic nurses here that there were different meng vacs for different strains, I just got a lot of head shaking and "is too early madam" (!!!!!) You are welcome Pentel!! umm, strange about the nurses, my Pead knew that there are different vaccines as I explained to him that my DD took MenC at one year of age..

thanks Annabelle09, I had difficulty explaining to the clinic nurses here that there were different meng vacs for different strains, I just got a lot of head shaking and "is too early madam" (!!!!!)

HAK... can I ask if you're following the UK plan, did you get your 2 vaccinated against meningitis as per UK timing? and against which strain as I understand it's a different strain here, nurses in the clinic here were horrified that my DD had meningitis vac in the UK at 4 months as they don't give it here until 2 years apparently. Well, I can tell you from the schedule of the Netherlands, DD was given Meningitis C when she was year old since this is the prevalent strain there..therefore, she was also given the other Meningitis vaccine of the strain that is prevalent here in the middle east at 2 years old ( I believe it is ACWY)..

HAK... can I ask if you're following the UK plan, did you get your 2 vaccinated against meningitis as per UK timing? and against which strain as I understand it's a different strain here, nurses in the clinic here were horrified that my DD had meningitis vac in the UK at 4 months as they don't give it here until 2 years apparently.

my son hasn't seen a paediatrician in all his time here... just a GP on occasion and A&E even more rarely (thankfully!) I'm following the UK vaccination plan too, as it is a basic one that covers all bases but doesn't overdo it (one perk of government-funded healthcare - they concentrate on what isn't a waste of time and money!). For example, in the UK they don't do the Rotavirus one (there's a fundamental conflict of interest behind it being approved in the US anyway), nor Chicken Pox (it doesn't stop the child getting CP). The BCG is now no longer a requirement in most parts of the UK (although a friend said it's no longer required anywhere in the UK now) and it's definitely not a requirement for coming to Dubai, because Dubai is a low-risk TB area (anyone with TB is kicked out after their visa medical)... same with Hep A, which is transmitted by bodily fluids. The Hep A & B vaccines are generally given in Europe at around 12 years old, before the child is, er, likely to start exchanging bodily fluids! Anyway, at the end of the day, it's all about what you feel is best and what you feel comfortable with. Do your research thoroughly and decide what [i'>you[/i'> want to do. I am sorry but what you are saying is incorrect. My DD was given Hep B vaccine when she 2 months old and she was born in Western Europe. As for BCG, it is recommended to be given in this part of the world...To the OP, please find yourself a good pediatrician and get his/her advice regarding your child's vaccination as they are the professional ones to give you the best answer..As for other vaccines like HEP A and Meningitis, they are prevalent in the middle east and by the way, HEP A can be contracted from water and food, not bodily fluids ( ie HEP B) as the other poster said..please seek a professional's advice before making any decisions regarding the health of your baby..

my son hasn't seen a paediatrician in all his time here... just a GP on occasion and A&E even more rarely (thankfully!) I'm following the UK vaccination plan too, as it is a basic one that covers all bases but doesn't overdo it (one perk of government-funded healthcare - they concentrate on what isn't a waste of time and money!). For example, in the UK they don't do the Rotavirus one (there's a fundamental conflict of interest behind it being approved in the US anyway), nor Chicken Pox (it doesn't stop the child getting CP). The BCG is now no longer a requirement in most parts of the UK (although a friend said it's no longer required anywhere in the UK now) and it's definitely not a requirement for coming to Dubai, because Dubai is a low-risk TB area (anyone with TB is kicked out after their visa medical)... same with Hep A, which is transmitted by bodily fluids. The Hep A & B vaccines are generally given in Europe at around 12 years old, before the child is, er, likely to start exchanging bodily fluids! Anyway, at the end of the day, it's all about what you feel is best and what you feel comfortable with. Do your research thoroughly and decide what [i'>you[/i'> want to do.