Guest guest Posted September 23, 1998 Report Share Posted September 23, 1998 Please forgive me, I don't remember who asked about this vaccine. It seems like many doctors think this vaccine is very important. I am currently digging up some info on this vaccine for someone off this list but someone did ask on this list. So...what are your opinions on the HIB vaccine? Does anyone have some info to pass along?? Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 1998 Report Share Posted September 23, 1998 At 09:16 23/09/98 -0600, you wrote: >From: Mom2Q <mom2q@...> > >Please forgive me, I don't remember who asked about this vaccine. It seems >like many doctors think this vaccine is very important. I am currently >digging up some info on this vaccine for someone off this list but someone >did ask on this list. So...what are your opinions on the HIB vaccine? > Does anyone have some info to pass along?? My first daughter got HIB when she was 17 months old. She was pretty sick and when she got the rash and started throwing up I took her to the hospital as I thought she might have meningitis. (She didn't but they admitted her because they were worried about the same). She had the rash for only a couple of hours and recovered incredibly well - within 24 hours. I don't feel concerned she might not have got it if she were vaccinated as she contracted the disease from a child who had been vaccinated against HIB. That child also gave it to another child who had recieved the HIB vaccine. Both vaccinated children had the rash for two weeks and were quite sick though not as sick as my daughter was for a much shorter time. I don't have much faith in the HIB vaccine because of this. Apparently HIB is a bacteria that lives in the throats of most people and a child's risk of getting it is one in 300 before the age of five. HTH. Judy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Judy <earthmum@...> My homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/3144/ Mother to 2/93, 2/95, and 11/97. " If you educate a man you educate an individual, but when you educate a woman you educate the whole family and the community. When the woman moves forward, the family move, the village moves and the nation moves forward. " Mahatma Gandhi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 15, 1999 Report Share Posted October 15, 1999 Hib meningitis/vaccine Haemophilus influenzae type b is a bacteria that causes upper respiratory and ear infections, pneumonia, epiglottis and meningitis. Meningitis is an inflammation of membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Symptoms may include: stiff neck, persistent headache, vomiting, moaning, unexplained fever for 3-4 days (doesn't have to be high), drowsiness, a rash, irritability and sensitivity to light; in infants they may also include convulsions, bulging fontanels, and shrill cry (due to headache). Meningitis is caused by: bacteria (Hib, pneumococcus, and meningococcus), viruses, and fungi. Hib meningitis can occur unexpectedly, but usually occurs after another illness such as mumps. It most often affects African-Americans and Native Americans, including Native Alaskans. Formula-fed babies are more likely to contract meningitis of any kind. The peak incidence is between 6 and 7 months of age. Over 50% of cases are in children under the age of one. It was originally thought to be highly contagious, but recent studies have shown that this is not the case---1/772 got it from close contact in a daycare setting in one study (1). Mendelsohn writes that doctors are taught to identify meningitis in med school, but don't often remember it for various reasons (2). If you suspect meningitis, insist on all of the appropriate tests---this will include a spinal tap. Wootan writes that after a febrile seizure doctors may insist on a spinal tap to " rule out " meningitis. He recommends you withhold permission for the procedure unless you see other meningitis symptoms (your best judgement in co-ordination with the doctors') (3). Treatment: Needs to be treated promptly. Rush to a hospital for care. You can give homeopathic apis mel. every 15 minutes on the way. Antibiotics are given intraveneously. Duncan recommends insisting on IV vitamin C as well.(4) Outcome: With prompt care, full recovery from any bacterial meningitis is likely. There is a 5% mortality rate (no one says how this was concluded). Deafness and brain damage are also possible. Prevention: 1. A strong immune system and a watchful eye. Maternal antibodies are thought to provide protection for the first 6 months of life. Breastmilk provides protection even longer. 2. immune globulins: taken from the plasma of vaccinated adults. Effective for a short period of time and runs the usual risks of contamination as any blood product. 3. Vaccination: The Hib vaccine is often referred to as " the meningitis " vaccine. This is inaccurate as any protection it offers is only for Hib meningitis. The Hib vaccine is not able to affect other Hib illnesses. The following is a summary taken from Mendelsohn (5) and (6). The first Hib vaccine was licensed in 1985. This one is no longer in use, but offers an excellent example of the problems with vaccine efficacy and safety, and vaccine politics in general. The first type of vaccine was a polysaccharide capsule (PRP). It was tested in Finland and was found to have a 90% effectiveness rate. It was given to children at 2 years of age and, before it was pulled, it was given to children at 18 months of age. It was completely ineffective in children younger than this who were over 75% of the cases of Hib meningitis. It was tested in the U.S. in Dallas, northern CA, CT, Pittsburgh, PA and MN. It was found to be 41-88% effective in most studies. These studies left out the data from MN: 41% of the children who got the vaccine got Hib meningitis. The efficacy rate in MN was -58%. The vaccine wasn't pulled, however. The AAP sent out a bulletin to all of its members recommending that Hib vaccine use be discontinued where it was not effective. No research was done to try to find out why children in MN were more likely to get the disease from the vaccine so it isn't clear how was one to know where it would be effective. The bulletin also said that the vaccine was " similar to " the one used in Finland, but did not explain what was different. In all populations it was found that the vaccine left a three-week window of vulnerabilty to develop Hib meningitis (as measured by antibody levels). Around 1988 researchers discovered that when the PRP (fragments of the polysaccharaide) was joined to a protein carrier (usually diphtheria) the vaccine was more effective and was able to " trick " the systems of younger children with " poorly developed immune systems " (PROHibiT). In 1990, the " new " conjugate vaccines were licensed for use on 2 month olds. It had been tested in Finland again (there were questions raised the first time about accepting test results from a homogeneous population for such a heterogeneous one). Four doses are now mandatory due to the temporary protection it offers. They are given at 2, 4, 6 months of age and a " booster " at 15 months. The vaccine should be stored in a refrigerator with a temperature between 35 and 46 degrees. It should never be frozen. It is good only thirty days after it has been mixed with the diluting fluid. Each vaccine is designed to be injected in a specific area: i.e. subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly. There have not been studies done to see if it is safe or effective to mix the different kinds of Hib vaccine. Doctors should take a careful medical history and look for signs of any illness. The vaccine insert also states that a syringe of adrenaline should be ready to inject in case of shock The vaccine contains Hib saccarhides, sodium chloride, (aluminum hydroxide,) and thimerosal when mixed. Side effects include: fever, redness, warmth, swelling at injection site, rash, seizures, irritability, restless sleep, diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. There is also a two-week period after the vaccine has been administered before it offers any " protection " . There have been reports of Hib meningitis within 5 days of vaccination with the new vaccine. If you choose to get this vaccination keep an especially watchful eye out for signs of meningitis (7). Other adverse reactions associated with the vaccine as reported to VAERS include: Guillain-Barre syndrome (an autoimmune illness characterized by paralysis and demyelination of the nerve sheaths), transverse myelitis (paralyzing disease of the spinal cord), and thrombocytopenia (a blood disorder causing clotting and spontaneous bleeding, usually internally-bruising). (8) One vaccine insert clearly states that the vaccine " has not been evaluated for its carcinogenic, mutagenic potential or impairment of fertility. " The safety and efficacy trials that were done for this vaccine (HibTITER) followed most infants for only seven months. The vaccine is generally 95% effective (length not determined). In Australia, since the Hib vaccine has been introduced, Hib meningitis has decreased 95%, but meningitis rates have not decreased overall. More are caused by pneumococcal bacteria. As Meryl Dorey of Vaccine Awareness Network (VAN/Australia) states: " Nature loves a vacuum " . (1) C. Eugene Emery Jr., " In the Public Health, " The Providence Journal-Bulletin, (December, 1986) in Neil 's Vaccines: Are they Really Safe and Effective? (p. 43). (2) Mendelsohn, . How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor. (3) Wootan, . Take Charge of Your Child's Health. (4) Duncan, Alice Likowski. Your Healthy Child. (5) Mendelsohn, . Immunizations: The Terrible Risks Your Children Face.... (Second Opinion). (6) , Neil. Immunization: Theory vs. Reality and Vaccines: Are they Really Safe and Effective? (7) Basson E., et.al. " Haemophilus influenzae meningitis AFTER vaccination. Consequence or Coincidence? " Archives de Pediatrie, April 1996;3(4):342-344. (8) and general information: Neustaedter, Randall, Vaccine Guide: Making an Informed Choice. Other helpful books: Lockie, . The Family Guide to Homeopathy and Zand, Janet, Walton, and Bob Rountree. Smart Medicine For a Healthier Child. >> HIB Vaccine From: " Dill, " <gherkin@...> I have a friend whose doctor is pressuring her to get this vaccine. I don't know much about it (I just choose not to vaccinate AT ALL), so would appreciate any websites or article links that I can forward to her... she wants to know ingredients, known reactions, etc. Her daughter is 3 months old. I am on digest, so I would appreciate any direct replies. Thanks so much, Blessings! Dill gherkin@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 15, 1999 Report Share Posted October 15, 1999 , This is a great little piece. But I think one sentence is incorrect. You wrote: " The Hib vaccine is often referred to as " the meningitis " vaccine. This is inaccurate as any protection it offers is only for Hib meningitis. The Hib vaccine is not able to affect other Hib illnesses. " My concern lies with the last sentence " The Hib vaccine is not able to effect other Hib illnesses " . To the best of my knowledge, the vaccine is designed and supposed to prevent Hib infections. The main one being meningitis, but the others are epiglottitis, pneumonia, septic arthritis, cellulitis, pericarditis, empyema and osteomyelitis. These other illnesses are also supposed to be preventable by this vaccine. Sebastiana At 10:40 PM 10/15/1999 -0600, you wrote: >From: " Mom2Q " <mom2q@...> > >Hib meningitis/vaccine > >Haemophilus influenzae type b is a bacteria that causes upper respiratory >and >ear infections, pneumonia, epiglottis and meningitis. > >Meningitis is an inflammation of membranes that cover the brain and spinal >cord (meninges). Symptoms may include: stiff neck, persistent headache, >vomiting, moaning, unexplained fever for 3-4 days (doesn't have to be high), >drowsiness, a rash, irritability and sensitivity to light; in infants they >may also include convulsions, bulging fontanels, and shrill cry (due to >headache). > >Meningitis is caused by: bacteria (Hib, pneumococcus, and meningococcus), >viruses, and fungi. Hib meningitis can occur unexpectedly, but usually >occurs after another illness such as mumps. It most often affects >African-Americans and Native Americans, including Native Alaskans. >Formula-fed babies are more likely to contract meningitis of any kind. The >peak incidence is between 6 and 7 months of age. Over 50% of cases are in >children under the age of one. It was originally thought to be highly >contagious, but recent studies have shown that this is not the case---1/772 >got it from close contact in a daycare setting in one study (1). Mendelsohn >writes<snip> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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