Little Kids Get So Many Shots …As a Parent I’m Concerned
Last updated on August 30th, 2015 at 02:59 pm
“There are so many shots these days. As a pediatrician… what are your thoughts on spreading out the timing of the vaccines? What do you recommend?”
First, allow me to make the argument for never saying the work “shots” when referring to immunizations or vaccines given to children. Coming from a parent, this sounds very much like throw your child under the bus now that he is in the Dr.’s office, and pretty much you have become part of the enemy. Coming from a Physician or a nurse or other office staff, this merely confirms the awful images already conjured up by your child. Let me suggest “immunization” or “medicine to keep you healthy”.
Next, let me deal with the perceptions out there that somehow these immunizations are actually “bad” for your child.
1. “That’s too many to give to a very young child/infant at one time”. Every vaccine currently given to your child has been exhaustively researched and evaluated from every direction. Many times, the vaccines used in this country have been used for some time in another country. Not only are these found to be effective to prevent disease (not completely, but enough to want to protect someone), but they have been given in various combinations with other vaccines and found to be as effective when given together as when given individually. The individual side effects have also been carefully evaluated and it has been found that side effects (usually very mild) are no more frequent or severe when several immunizations are given together.
It has also been shown, unfortunately usually by trial and error, that for the most part the diseases for which there are vaccines tend to cause a much worse problem in the very young and the very old. So if the parental decision is to postpone or divide these up in some random schedule they are actually doing a disservice to their child by not protecting him/her as early as possible. In addition to which, a random schedule makes it more unlikely that the entire batch of suggested vaccines will ever be completed. It can also lead to confusion in office records and neither is recommended by the Academy of Pediatrics and all significant groups doing research on these topics.
2. “My child’s immune system is too immature to bombard him/her with all these manmade chemicals at such an early age”. Bingo! It is just because an infant or child’s immune system is incomplete that we aim to protect him/her from what is potentially out in the community. These vaccines have also been studied as to the best timing (age) for each of them so as to afford the greatest protection with the fewest side effects.
3. “I’d rather have him/her get the disease and develop immunity the ‘natural’ way”. Oops!, you really didn’t say that, did you? To answer this I can only ask the question, at what price? These diseases are very dangerous and can be fatal in the very young. This is the chance a parent will be taking while awaiting an unwanted illness. There is also the concept of “herd immunity” in which, if a certain percentage of the population can be immunized, the entire population may be protected. Every child who is not immunized decreases the possibility of success with the theory of “herd immunity”.
4. “We have read that certain vaccines (MMR) can cause serious problems such as autism, etc. If you aren’t up to date with the latest information on this topic, you should be, and it is readily available on the internet. It so happens that the only information that has ever linked immunizations to autism was based on a single study involving very few patients and published in England by a physician who used very poor scientific methods more than a decade ago and has since lost his license. Furthermore, the journal that published this paper has since denounced this as false information and retracted the article.
5. Finally, since this is the Flu season please allow me to approach the topic as it relates to the previous information. There are two main types of Flu vaccines, the injectable, which is composed of totally killed or inactive Flu viral particles, and the active or live vaccine which can be given intranasally (spray into the nose). Flu vaccine is currently recommended for everyone above the age of 6 months. The injectable is incapable of transmitting the illness or similar symptoms to anyone receiving that vaccine and can be given to all ages. The live intranasal vaccine can only be used in children over the age of two and may cause mild cold- like symptoms for 1-2 days.
In conclusion: Try to follow the recommendations from the Academy of Pediatrics guidelines in which your Pediatrician is well versed and can explain them to you. These recommendations are well thought out and tested and you will be protecting your children as well as you can.
How Long Do Babies Carry Their Mother’s Immunity?
Last updated on August 7th, 2017 at 11:51 am
During the last three months of pregnancy, antibodies from the mother are passed to her unborn baby through the placenta.
This type of immunity is called passive immunity because the baby has been given antibodies rather than making them itself. Antibodies are special proteins that the immune system produces to help protect the body against bacteria and viruses.
The amount and type of antibodies passed to the baby depends on the mother’s immunity. For example, if the mother has had chickenpox, she will have developed immunity against the condition and some of the chickenpox antibodies will be passed to the baby. However, if the mother hasn’t had chickenpox, the baby will not be protected.
Immunity in newborn babies is only temporary and starts to decrease after the first few weeks or months. Breast milk also contains antibodies, which means that babies who are breastfed have passive immunity for longer. The thick, yellowish milk (colostrum) produced for the first few days following birth is particularly rich in antibodies.
Premature babies are at higher risk of developing an illness because their immune systems are not as strong and they haven’t had as many antibodies passed to them.
As newborn immunity is only temporary, it is important to begin childhood immunisations when your baby is two months old. This applies to babies who are either premature or full-term.
The first immunisation, given when your baby is two months old, includes whooping cough and Hib (haemophilus influenza type b) because immunity to these conditions decreases the fastest. Passive immunity to measles, mumps and rubella can last for up to a year, which is why the MMR vaccine is given just after your baby’s first birthday.
Further information:
- Can I have vaccinations during pregnancy?
- When are immunisations given?
- The NHS vaccination schedule (UK)
- Your pregnancy and baby guide
- Breastfeeding guide
- The CDC vaccination schedules (US)*
* Provided by Pediatric Safety
From www.nhs.uk
We’re Teaching Kids to Fear Shots: a Pediatrician’s Perspective
Last updated on May 17th, 2018 at 04:38 pm
Editor’s Note: As the events in West Africa show, infectious disease epidemics devastate communities, spread fear, and create civil unrest. Vaccinations – when available – protect our children and society. However, as Dr. Amy Baxter explains in this post and accompanying TEDx Talk video, our vaccination approach is creating the unintended consequence of widespread needle fear in children. In honor of our 5 Year Bloggiversary, we are publishing 5 of our favorite posts – one from each year since the day we started. This is our final “look back” post.
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“How do you respond when the place that you trust to keep you healthy hurts you…or ignores your plan…or ignores you?” …”We have had an erosion of empathy in medicine. Somehow we’ve decided to ignore the fact that shots…hurt.” …TEDx Talks 11/2013
As flu season hits, there is a segment of our society whose immune system health won’t be protected this year – those who fear needles. In a 2012 study, 23% of those who don’t get their shot avoid the protection because of a fear of needles. While needle-less options are improving, they better get here soon: 63% of our teenagers are now afraid of needles.
For most people, the fear of needles develops around age 4-6 years of age. That’s the age when kids born since 2000 are getting 4-5 shots on one day. Before 1983, people only got 6 shots total, and mostly before age two, so not as many adults remember…and consequently, not as many fear needles. Not the same for their kids…
“Last year a paper came out and now 2 out of 3 children have a severe fear of needles. What happens when they grow up? The fear of needles doesn’t usually go away by itself. And adults who are afraid of needles are less likely to get health care, they are less likely to donate blood…and they’re even less likely to vaccinate their own kids. So when these children who were born in 2000 or later are old enough to drive themselves to the doctor…what if they don’t??” …TEDx Talks 11/2013
Given the group of kids growing up now, if we don’t start addressing this, the problems for public health are only going to grow.
“The number and the way we’re giving shots is causing needle fear …and needle fear causes people to avoid healthcare as adults. In order to keep our communities safe, doctors need to own the problem of needle pain…the solution is not to stop vaccinating…it’s to partner to start making the 4-6 year old shots better” …TEDx Talks 11/2013
There are ways to advocate to decrease pain for kids getting shots, as seen here. But to hear more about the rise and consequences of fear of needles and some of the solutions we can pursue, watch my full TEDx Talks presentation below:
We’re Teaching Kids to Fear Shots: a Pediatrician’s Perspective
Last updated on August 30th, 2015 at 03:01 pm
“How do you respond when the place that you trust to keep you healthy hurts you…or ignores your plan…or ignores you?” …”We have had an erosion of empathy in medicine. Somehow we’ve decided to ignore the fact that shots…hurt.” …TEDx Talks 11/2013
As flu season hits, there is a segment of our society that won’t be protected this year – those who fear needles. In a 2012 study, 23% of those who don’t get their shot avoid the protection because of a fear of needles. While needle-less options are improving, they better get here soon: 63% of our teenagers are now afraid of needles.
For most people, the fear of needles develops around age 4-6 years of age. That’s the age when kids born since 2000 are getting 4-5 shots on one day. Before 1983, people only got 6 shots total, and mostly before age two, so not as many adults remember…and consequently, not as many fear needles. Not the same for their kids…
“Last year a paper came out and now 2 out of 3 children have a severe fear of needles. What happens when they grow up? The fear of needles doesn’t usually go away by itself. And adults who are afraid of needles are less likely to get health care, they are less likely to donate blood…and they’re even less likely to vaccinate their own kids. So when these children who were born in 2000 or later are old enough to drive themselves to the doctor…what if they don’t??” …TEDx Talks 11/2013
Given the group of kids growing up now, if we don’t start addressing this, the problems for public health are only going to grow.
“The number and the way we’re giving shots is causing needle fear …and needle fear causes people to avoid healthcare as adults. In order to keep our communities safe, doctors need to own the problem of needle pain…the solution is not to stop vaccinating…it’s to partner to start making the 4-6 year old shots better” …TEDx Talks 11/2013
There are ways to advocate to decrease pain for kids getting shots, as seen here. But to hear more about the rise and consequences of fear of needles and some of the solutions we can pursue, watch my full TEDx Talks presentation below:
Winter is Here…And So Is the Flu: What You Should Know
Last updated on August 29th, 2015 at 08:48 pm
With the recent polar vortex creating havoc over significant portions of the US and Canada it’s hard not to notice that winter is truly here. Which makes it a good time for an update on another common winter character: flu season.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes weekly reports on the flu during the peak season, usually December through March. One month into the 2013-2014 season, the virus is steadily increasing, with 25 states – spread across the country – reporting widespread flu activity (see table below). So far this season, 1,583 flu-related hospitalizations have been confirmed and 6 children have died due to complications associated with influenza. While high, these levels are below epidemic proportions according to the CDC. Google’s flu trends report, which analyses the number of online mentions of the flu, indicates that the 2013-2014 season is high but below last year’s exceptional level.
Nevertheless, the current flu season is still a risk, particularly for young children and pregnant women. This is because the year’s major flu strain is H1N1, known for the swine flu pandemic of 2009-2010. This is a recently-mutated flu strain so many people, especially young children, do not have innate immunity. And H1N1 has previously resulted in high rates of complications for pregnant women and their babies.
The silver lining is that this year’s vaccine is a very good fit with the strains currently circulating across the country. Different flu strains tend to be prominent each year, so public health officials use worldwide surveillance data to identify the most likely strains for each year’s vaccine. This year they made a particularly good guess. And although the season has already begun, we haven’t yet reached peak flu activity, so it’s not too late to get protected. There is still plenty of flu vaccine available, including the nasal mist variety, which is great for children (and adults!) who want to avoid a shot.
States Reporting Widespread Flu Activity (Week ending December 28, 2013)
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wyoming
My Son Has the Flu…Should My Whole Family Take Antivirals?
Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 10:27 am
Probably not. Although antiviral meds can prevent the spread of flu, physicians usually don’t prescribe them as a preventative measure for healthy people. Since there’s a limited supply of the Rx, physicians want to ensure that those at greatest risk of flu-related complications receive those doses. So if you have an infant under the age of 6 months, a senior citizen above the age of 65, or someone with a compromised immune system (a cancer or HIV patient) in your home, ask about getting an antiviral medication for your entire family.
Otherwise, bring just your son to the doctor as soon as you notice flu symptoms, such as a high fever, chills and body aches. An antiviral can shorten the duration of the flu by up to two days — but you need to take it within the first 48 hours of the illness.
To keep the rest of your family safe, make sure they get their flu shots. Also remind them to wash their hands often, and wipe down common surfaces — like door knobs and the remote control — daily.
