Conference moira::parenting_v3

    I know what you mean - my daughter Avanti (15 months) got the shots
    last week - one in each arm . Poor thing screamed at each one and if I
    could I would have cried with her. I felt so sorry for my munchkin. I
    don't know why they cannot be given as one shot - I wish they did
    rather than hurting the kid in 2 limbs.
    
    The shots themselves did not bother Avanti - the one with the HIB shot
    was a slightly sore for only about 4 hours after the shot was
    administered. The dr had warned us of soreness in that arm for about 24
    hours but luckily Avanti had no such problems.
    
    Shaila

    Lexi's doctor recorded which shot went into each arm, so that if she 
    had a reaction to one they would know which one she reacted to.   It
    made sense, but was still hard to watch my daughter so unhappy.  Lexi
    had to have blood drawn at the same visit.  I took the rest of the day
    off to be with her and it took Lexi a couple of hours to recover from
    that vist.  (Me too!)
    
    Penny

    I was told by my doctor that the HIB is usually administered when
    the child is 15 months, then the MMR when child is 18 months.
    My son went for his HIB (he got this in the leg and no reaction
    at all) last month and is scheduled in November for the other.
    I hate to see a child suffer needlessly.  I felt bad enough for
    him when he just got the one shot, never mind two at once, poor
    thing!

    Yes, Daniel had one in each arm at 15 mos. A possible reason for two
    not one shot.....If the quantity of vaccine is such that it can not all
    fit into the appropriate sized syringe, they would probably give two.
    The size of the syringe is related to the size of the needle itself,
    and a small, fine needle, has a smaller syringe. Not sure if this is
    the reason, but it might be!
    My wife asked the reason for giving them at the same visit, as opposed
    to the MMR at 15 mos, and the HIb at the 18 mos. visit. The dr. told
    her that by giving all the vaccines at once, in additon to the oral
    polio, that it increases the body's immune response, and they end up
    with better coverage for a longer period of time. It made sense. They
    gave Daniel the shots simultaneously...one nurse for each arm! That way
    he only howled and squirmed once, poor kid!
    Not fun, but they are necessary.
    --dave--

    
    JA has had reactions to her vaccines ... so I give her a dose of
    Tylenol when we leave the house.  When I booked her upcoming
    appointments, I asked the "nurse" what shots she'd be getting 
    (re: Tylenol).  Nurse told me:
    
    	15 mo.		MMR		no Tylenol necessary!
    	18 mo.		DPT		Tylenol
    
    (I don't recall HIB being mentioned!).  I should reverify the HIB in 
    case she'll need the "pre"-Tylenol.
    
    But "as expected"!!, each Pedi has their own style!
    
    Dottie
           

    RE: Having to deal with kids and shots.  
    
    I have to give Shayne a daily shot, now when ever we are in the
    hospital or office and he needs a shot, the nurses usually ask if I want to 
    give him the shot.  I have noticed that if they talk to him and I 
    do the shot, he doesn't even notice he got one!!!!
    
    The needle size does depend on the size of syringe and how much
    medication is needed. 
    
    
    

    re .5, when my pedi gives shots they also give you one or two sample size 
    bottles of Tylenol to take home, AFTER they've given the child a dose
    of it.  They say give it to them before you leave the office "just
    in case".  I can't remember AJ getting two shots at once, but then
    again his shots never were on schedule anyway.
    
    Take comfort everyone, I think that after about 2 years, no shots are
    necessary until age 5.  (This is the gospel according to my pedi)
    Lyn
    

	There can be numerous reasons for giving the vaccines in two shots.

1) The shots may be given in a different manner.  (For example our cats get
Rabies intramuscular in the hip and the distemper shot subdermal in the 
shoulder.)  I doubt that's a factor in this case though since they are done 
in the same place in the arm.

2) Some ingredients in one vaccine may react unfavorably with the some in the 
other vaccine.

3) As mentioned, the amount of vaccine can cause you to go to a bigger syringe
and therefore a bigger needle.

4) Measuring two fluids into the same syringe can be a pain in the ass to get 
right/accurate.

	re: that last point, why don't they make a combined vaccine?  

1) The doctor may want the discretion to delay one or the other of the vaccines.

2) It is only recently that the HIB shot has been reccommended at 15 months. 
It used to be MMR at 15 and HIB at 18.  However, I just read that 8%  (or was it 
18%?) of meningitis fatalities occur between the ages of 15 and 18 mo.  Also the
vaccine has now been shown to be safe and effective at 15mo.  For this reason, 
Amer. Ped. Assoc recently reccomended moving the HIB shot to 15 mo.

	Katie had her MMR and HIB shots at 15 mo a 2 weeks ago.  Other than 
hollering at the time of the shot and a slight fever about a week later (which 
the doctor warned us could happen) she never looked back.

Tracey

    Derek had his MMR and HIB last week, and he cried for a couple of
    minutes, but that was all.  I think he put up more of a fuss getting
    weighed for some reason!  To me, I'd rather him put up with the pain
    and aggravation of the shots, than to get sick.  I'm relieved that he
    got the HIB at 15 months instead of 18 months because he had meningitis
    when he was 5 months old, and the doctor said that until he got his
    shot for it, he could get it again.  So, belive me, after what we 
    went through, I'd rather see him fuss for a little while than go
    through having meningitis again!  I still hate it when he gets shots,
    but I know it's better than getting sick.  Thank goodness to that
    they're small enough that they usually forget that the shot hurt a 
    little while later.
    
    
    Barbara

    re .9
    I was so glad when Ryan began standing on the big scale - he always
    hated having to lie, or even sit, on the baby scale at the doctor's
    office!
    

    
    Just had my second baby vaccinated 2 weeks ago. She had DPT and HIB,
    at 2 months. They are actually giving the HIB a lot younger these
    days. The pedi. was saying that they are working to combine the
    DPT and HIB into 1. The baby didn't like the needles, but it was over
    in a couple of minutes, my older daughter (5) was rather upset
    watching it!
    
    
    
    Eva.