New childhood vaccines schedules released

[thereishope]

Not happy about his...

 

New childhood vaccines schedules released

 

 

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/health/new-ch...sed-161283.html

 

Boys should get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to protect them against genital warts, and all children should receive the H1N1 vaccine to guard against swine flu, according to updated guidelines on childhood and teen vaccines.

 

The new vaccine schedules -- issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Family Physicians -- also recommend using combination vaccines whenever possible.

 

"These are life-threatening illness that vaccines prevent, and if you have a combination vaccine that's safe and effective and requires one less stick for your child and one less trip to the doctor, it makes sense to me -- as a father -- to think about that," said Dr. David W. Kimberlin, a professor of pediatrics and co-director of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Kimberlin is a member of the committee that created the new immunization schedules.

 

The new vaccine schedules are published in the January issue of Pediatrics and online on Jan. 4.

 

The most significant changes are:

 

 

A recommendation that children older than 6 months receive the H1N1 influenza vaccine.

A newly licensed HPV vaccine for girls, known as HPV2, to protect them from cervical cancer, which can be caused by certain strains of HPV. Girls should get their first dose of either the HPV2 or the earlier HPV4 vaccine, which is still considered effective, around age 11 or 12.

A suggestion that a three-dose series of the HPV4 vaccine can be given to boys between 9 and 18 years old to prevent genital warts.

A statement that the use of combination vaccines are generally preferred over separate injections.

The need to revaccinate some high-risk children who have already received the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). Kids at high risk tend to be those with immune system disorders. Booster shots aren't recommended for those whose only risk factor is living in a dormitory setting, according to the new vaccine schedules. Overall, Kimberlin said he thinks most parents are following these recommended schedules and protecting their children against what can be life-threatening illnesses. However, "parents are inundated with misinformation or incomplete information about vaccinations," he noted. "And, with all the noise out there, people start thinking there might be something to what they're hearing."

 

Dr. Michael Green, an infectious disease specialist at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, said that although most children are vaccinated, "there is a fairly large cohort of kids who don't receive optimal immunizations either for religious reasons, or their parents don't believe in immunizations because of health concerns, such as a fear of autism."

 

But the data has consistently shown that the measles vaccine doesn't cause autism, he said. Measles, on the other hand, can cause brain damage, or even kill children, explained Green. And, while some parents may think that they don't have to worry about these diseases because most U.S. children are vaccinated, an outbreak for unvaccinated children might be only a plane ride away. Last spring, said Green, someone visiting from another country brought measles with them. They were in close proximity to an unvaccinated American family who then contracted the measles. The outbreak ended quickly and without any serious consequences, but others might be more severe, he warned.

 

"People forget that when there used to be measles that kids died, or they ended up with brain damage. The risk-to-benefit ratios with today's vaccines are tremendously slanted to the benefit side. And, yet between every one to three months, I see a child with a vaccine-preventable illness," said Green.

 

"The vaccines we have today are the safest vaccines we've ever had, and I hope that parents recognize that it is a matter of life and death, and that they choose to do everything they can to protect their children," said Kimberlin. "Time and time again, when immunization rates fall, diseases come back, and then the immunization rates go up again."

 

More information

 

Learn more about childhood vaccines from the Nemours Foundation's KidsHealth Web site.

 

Copyright © 2010 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.

[ajcire]

This is just suggested right now right? Not the mandatory vaccines right? The thought of mandated hpv vaccines for my ds and my dd really scares me.

 

I can't believe they think that the trouble of having to go back for shots to separate them is worse than the idea of mixing them all together. Goodness!

[thereishope]

It does use the words recommendation and suggest. However, isn't Gardisil mandatory in some states already for girls? And isn't the death rate and injury rate associated with it is considered high?

 

The thing is when parents take their kids to the ped, the ped often presents it as a must, not a suggestion. So, " John is set for his flu shot today". Not, do you want to give John a flu shot. It is not required, but we recommend it.

 

As for combining shots, it's probably an insurance induced suggestion. They only have to pay for the one visit.

[ajcire]

Vickie, no doubt that is an insurance recommendation... for a minute I totally forgot about the insurance aspect...

 

Yes, I think you are right about the gardisil but not sure which states. I sure hope it is not in my state. I am pretty mainstream on the vaccinations (despite hating them, I do what I have to do with the mandatory ones, avoid the flu ones except for my asthmatic little one...) but that one most definitely scares me.

 

 

It does use the words recommendation and suggest. However, isn't Gardisil mandatory in some states already for girls? And isn't the death rate and injury rate associated with it is considered high?

 

The thing is when parents take their kids to the ped, the ped often presents it as a must, not a suggestion. So, " John is set for his flu shot today". Not, do you want to give John a flu shot. It is not required, but we recommend it.

 

As for combining shots, it's probably an insurance induced suggestion. They only have to pay for the one visit.

[thereishope]

I quickly looked into it and Merck really tried to make it mandatory, but I don't think they succeeded.

 

http://www.24-7-news.com/archives/4021

 

"...In Texas, Gov. Rick Perry had tried to order a Gardasil mandate in 2007, but was over- ruled by the state legislature.  That same year, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson vetoed a mandate passed by that state’s legislature.

 

According to the Associated Press, only Virginia and Washington, D.C.  have instituted loose Gardasil requirements for sixth grade  girls.  Those requirements go into effect this school year.  In Washington, sixth-grade girls will not be allowed to attend school unless they have had Gardasil, or their parents provide the school with a form indicating they have opted out.  In Virginia, parents are asked to provide documentation if their daughter had Gardasil, but there is no penalty for not doing so..."

[mama2alex]

Boys should get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to protect them against genital warts, ...according to updated guidelines on childhood and teen vaccines.

 

"These are life-threatening illness that vaccines prevent, and if you have a combination vaccine that's safe and effective and requires one less stick for your child and one less trip to the doctor, it makes sense to me -- as a father -- to think about that,"

 

Yes, I'd much rather risk my child's life or brain damage than risk him getting a "life threatening" case of genital warts. They are really stretching for the $$$$ at this point. We'll teach him to use a condom, thanks.

 

Thanks for posting this Vickie.

[matis_mom]

I think for most of these, even if the child is in school, you can get a religious exemption.

Also, I think they make the schedule thinking of the least educated people with the least access to health care. They want to get everyone in early and do as many shots as possible at the same time because they don't want to "miss" anyone. But, for my part, I don't think my little girls are at high-risk of sexually transmitted diseases or those associated with multiple partners, we can wait for that shot, thank you very much!

[thereishope]

I had to laugh at your response. That's exactly what I thought when I read it. I'll tell him to use a condom or teach him to keep it in his own pants!

 

 

Yes, I'd much rather risk my child's life or brain damage than risk him getting a "life threatening" case of genital warts. They are really stretching for the $$$$ at this point. We'll teach him to use a condom, thanks.

[ajcire]

Yeah, that was the reason they gave me for why they wanted to jab my 1 day old with the Hep B vaccine... because people don't come back for it.... as if my 1 day old was at high risk for Hep B.

 

 

 

I think for most of these, even if the child is in school, you can get a religious exemption.

Also, I think they make the schedule thinking of the least educated people with the least access to health care. They want to get everyone in early and do as many shots as possible at the same time because they don't want to "miss" anyone. But, for my part, I don't think my little girls are at high-risk of sexually transmitted diseases or those associated with multiple partners, we can wait for that shot, thank you very much!

[thereishope]

That's true with the religious exemption. However, there are a few states where even a religious exemption is not available. I was so happy to learn I can take a philosophical exemption in my state! I have not had a ped's appt with a "required" vaccine yet. My 8 year old's bday is in Feb. I think they'll try to sell me a second chicken pox. No way. Are these people going to be expected to get a chicken pox vaccine shot every 7-8 years for the rest of their life?

 

I think for most of these, even if the child is in school, you can get a religious exemption.

Also, I think they make the schedule thinking of the least educated people with the least access to health care. They want to get everyone in early and do as many shots as possible at the same time because they don't want to "miss" anyone. But, for my part, I don't think my little girls are at high-risk of sexually transmitted diseases or those associated with multiple partners, we can wait for that shot, thank you very much!