IVIG Based on Failed Pneumococcal Vaccine

[Phasmid]

Well, my son's (age 12) doc emailed me with results from last week's labs done at UCLA. Even after getting Prevnar last year, he still has little protection against pneumococcal bacteria!

 

Based on this, his doc told me he recommends IVIG and is ordering. I assume insurance will cover now? Never been so happy to receive bad news!!

 

Yay!!

 

 

[norcalmom]

Congratulations ? !

 

Did you do the "challenge test" - where they give the vaccine and then test several weeks later to see if a response was mounted?

 

My ds failed all but one of the 14 titers...but I'm too chicken to revaccinate. Did your son have an exacerbation a few weeks after vaccination?

[Phasmid]

 

My memory is failing, but i think he received Prevnar in September of 09, and I never had him rechecked until last week. If there was a response, it has fallen. I cannot remember if there was backsliding last year at that time, but he was bad all around anyway. I don't think it made him any worse, but obviously didn't help him any.

[tpotter]

Our never did the prevnar, given the fact that we've had too many really serious reactions to vaccines, and our immunol. said not to do it.

 

I would highly suggest that you get your insurance company's policies on IVIG approval, and read it very carefully. Ask your dr. what the actual diagnosis is, and see if it's listed. Then, make sure that you address all issues that they say to address. The fact that you revaccinated, and still failed, will probably result in an easier time getting IVIG.

 

Good luck, and keep us informed.

[Phasmid]

Thanks- gonna do that over next few days.

 

 

[Phasmid]

It wasn't Prevnar, it was Pneumovax- i dunno if it makes a difference which.