Dr. Sears's site

[Guest guest]

http://askdrsears.com/drsearsnews.asp

I thought this was pretty interesting. He's such a big vaccine advocate yet on

each vaccine he basically is saying its " no big deal " to delay. HMMM.

L.

Proud mom to Autumn 1-13-97 & Zoe 8-8-00

NATIONWIDE VACCINE SHORTAGE

What you need to know

In the past six months there has been a shortage on a variety of vaccines. It

has become increasingly difficult to keep certain vaccines on hand in the

doctor's office. Vaccine orders take weeks or months to fill. Some patients have

to come back on another day to get shots because the doctor is out of the

vaccine when they come in for their check up. One particular vaccine has been

out of stock for three or four months now (I've lost count). While there has

been an occasional delay in one or another vaccine in the past, I do not

remember there being such a widespread shortage in many years.

Many parents are naturally concerned that their child will not be able to get

the necessary vaccines on time, and therefore go unprotected from a variety of

illnesses. As a doctor, I am also concerned that my patients are going

unprotected. However, I also understand that going for several months without

most of these shots poses very little risk to children's health.

In this article, I will explain which vaccines are in short supply (or

completely out of stock), why the vaccines shortage is occurring (in part at

least), which of these illnesses you should be more concerned about, and finally

which of these illness are less serious and should not keep you up at night

worrying.

a.. Prevnar - for several months this new vaccine, released early in 2000, has

been almost completely out of stock. My own office has not had any for about 4

months. One reason for the shortage that has been reported is that the FDA made

some changes in its approval process, and many batches of the vaccine were

delayed because of this. Another reason is that only one company makes this

vaccine (as opposed to most vaccines that are made by several companies).

Do you need to worry? Well, this vaccine protects against the bacteria

pneumococcus, which causes meningitis, pneumonia, blood infections and ear

infections. Protection against this bacterium is very important, since a severe

case can be fatal. Keep in mind, however, that this is a new vaccine. Prior to

2000, virtually all infants grew up just fine without ever catching this

disease. So don't lose sleep over this, but do try to get it as soon as your

doctor gets it in.

The regular schedule for this vaccine is 4 doses - 2 months, 6 months, and

12-15 months of age. Children age 2 to 5 who did not get the shot as an infant

may get one shot during this age to offer protection. During the shortage, the

CDC has recommended the following restrictions:

1.. All infants less than 12 months of age should receive 3 doses of the

vaccine, but not the fourth booster dose at 15 months.

2.. Children between age 1 and 5 years who are at high risk for catching

this particular illnesses should get the vaccine (chronic immune deficiency

sickle cell anemia, and those with no spleen).

The following children should wait until the shortage is over:

1.. Children over age one who are NOT at high risk.

2.. The regularly scheduled 12 - 15 month shot.

b.. DTaP - the Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine has just recently

become more difficult to get. Manufacturers and doctors are not completely out,

but there is a smaller supply available right now. Shipments may by delayed, and

your doctor may run out for a brief period of time. Diphtheria is a serious, and

treatable, infection that can cause severe respiratory illnesses. It occurs in

outbreaks, but now is very rare in the U.S. Tetanus is a bacterium in nature

that can cause serious, but usually treatable, paralysis when allowed to fester

in a deep and dirty wound. Pertussis or " whooping cough " is transmitted just

like a cold, and causes 1-3 months of severe coughing fits. It is not so rare,

and there are periodic outbreaks as well as a low level of disease year-round.

Do you need to worry? No, you do not need to worry about a delay in this shot

for several months. In older infants and children, pertussis is an extreme

nuisance, but generally not serious. However, in infants less than age one, and

especially in infants less than 6 months, pertussis can be life threatening. So

for this age group, try to get the shot as soon as it is in stock, but do not

lose sleep if it is delayed for a month or two.

c.. Hepatitis B - there have been a number of brief shortages of this vaccine

over the past few years. This shortage should be temporary and not cause much

delay. This is a viral disease that causes acute and chronic liver damage. It is

transmitted by contact with the blood of an infected person (the same way HIV is

transmitted).

Do you need to worry? This is both an STD and transmitted by sharing IV drug

needles. Infants and young children are therefore not at much risk of catching

this disease. So do not worry if your doctor is out of this shot during your

infant's check-up. There will be plenty of time to catch up later.

d.. Tetanus - the dT (or adult tetanus vaccine) has been in very short supply

for 6 months or more. This is usually given as a booster shot between age 12 and

15 years, and every 7 to 10 years after. So this does not really affect younger

children. Tetanus is a bacterium in nature that can cause serious, but usually

treatable, paralysis when allowed to fester in a deep and dirty wound.

Do you need to worry? Not really. What the medical community is doing during

this shortage is we are not giving this vaccine to healthy people as a simple 7

to 10 year booster. We are only giving it to people to receive a deep, dirty

wound and who are not up to date (had a tetanus shot within 7 years). We are

waiting until the shortage is over before we give routine boosters again. For

infants and children who are not getting the DTaP vaccine, and instead are

getting this DT vaccine, doctors are giving the initial series of three shots,

but may delay any boosters beyond this until the tetanus shortage is over.

e.. Flu shot - well, this isn't really news. It seems that every year there is

a shortage of flu vaccine, and there is a mad scramble to get the shot. One

reason for the short supply this year is that one company stopped making the

shot, and the remaining companies were unable to make up the difference.

Do you need to worry? No. 99% of children do not even need a flu shot. Flu

shots are ONLY indicated for children who, if they got the flu, are at a high

risk of becoming seriously ill. This includes children with moderate to severe

asthma, heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney dysfunction, immune deficiency,

and those taking chronic aspirin therapy. So this shortage is not even an issue

for children. As for adults, there is debate over who should get the flu shot.

Many healthy adults want the flu shot simply for convenience. Many health

experts, however, only recommend the flu shot for adults with the above chronic

diseases. Therefore, if used appropriately, there really shouldn't be any

shortage of flu shots at all. Most doctors are not giving the shot to healthy

people until December, to allow their chronically ill patients time to get the

shot first.

f.. MMR - this is the combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. Recently

it was announced that there is now a low supply of this vaccine. One reason is

that there is only one manufacturer that makes it. Any delays in supply of this

vaccine should be relatively short.

Do you need to worry? No. These three illnesses, especially rubella, are

usually benign, with no long-term consequences. They are also fairly rare.

Measles is a generally benign illness causing fever, cold symptoms and rash.

It occurs in outbreaks. Rarely it can be life threatening, and approximately one

in every 1000 cases can be fatal or cause brain damage. However, only several

hundred cases occur each year in the U.S., so the chance of your child catching

this illness during the several months the shot may be delayed is virtually

zero.

Mumps is also generally a benign illness in children causing swelling of the

salivary glands in the cheeks, sore throat and fever. Serious complications and

fatality are extremely rare in children, but do occur. It can have more serious

consequences in adolescents and adults, such as sterility in men and

miscarriages in women, although these complications are rare. Outbreaks do occur

in the U.S., but there are less than 1000 cases per year in the U.S. The risk

here is similar to measles - your child is safe during the several months that

the vaccine may be delayed.

Rubella is a mild illness causing fever and rash. It virtually never causes

any serious complications in children. It can, however, cause birth defects if a

pregnant women contracts the illness for the first time. It is therefore fine if

your child goes without this shot for several months if your doctor is out of

it.

g.. HIB - Supplies of this vaccine seem to be fine, but very brief shortages

may occur. Haemophilus influenza is a common bacterium that causes severe blood

and bone infections and meningitis in young children. It is transmitted by close

contact or like a cold.

Do you need to worry? The risk of this disease is similar to Prevnar above.

Since the diseases caused by this bacterium can be fatal, it is important to be

vaccinated with this shot. Don't worry, there seems to be plenty in supply right

now.

h.. Polio - there is no reported shortage of this shot right now. This is a

virus that can cause permanent paralysis. Due to vaccination, there have not

been any naturally occurring cases of polio in the U.S. since the 1980's,

although it still occurs in Africa.

Do you need to worry? No. There is no shortage right now, but even if there

was, this disease does not exist anymore in almost all developed countries. Your

child will be safe without this vaccine during any shortage that may occur.

To summarize, here are the vaccines that you should try to get as soon as

possible when supplies become available:

a.. Prevnar

b.. Hib

c.. DTaP for infants less than one year

Here are the shots you do NOT need to worry about, as a delay for several months

will pose very little risk to your child:

a.. DTaP for children over one year of age

b.. MMR

c.. Hepatitis B

d.. Polio

e.. Tetanus

f.. Flu shot

For a discussion on all the vaccinations and routine schedules, click here.

# # #

===========================================================================

" In time and with water, everything changes. " Leonardo da Vinci

[Guest guest]

Kim,

Probably they did not teach adverse vaccine reactions in Medical School or

perhaps a drug company paid the good doctor to forget that part of his

training.

Re: Dr. Sears's site

I wrote him (william sears) a letter asking him why he was said vaccines are

safe, when they are not, and he is such an alternative guy? he took months

to

answer but he finally did. he said he is alternative in cosleeping etc but

totally believes in vaccinations.

kim

[Guest guest]

ya know ... I am not sure they teach it at all. I did my ped. rotation in

nursing school and nothing beyond a fever was ever mentioned in the vaccination

section. Even in the reading the adverse reactions are minimal at best ....

so, I wouldn't be so sure that they leave all the important stuff out of the med

school books as well.

[Guest guest]

Tracey,

My Veterans Administration doctor went through my old medical records (so

she says) and read the literature that I took to her concerning adverse

reactions to the Hep B vaccine and she told me that there is always a risk

when a vaccine is given. She then told me that she does not believe and of

the vaccination adverse reaction information. She had already told me to

only show the information to her and no one else at the VA hospital!!!

I showed it to others but they tried to make me look like a fool!

Re: Dr. Sears's site

ya know ... I am not sure they teach it at all. I did my ped. rotation in

nursing school and nothing beyond a fever was ever mentioned in the

vaccination section. Even in the reading the adverse reactions are minimal

at best .... so, I wouldn't be so sure that they leave all the important

stuff out of the med school books as well.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/30/2001 4:03:02 PM Central Standard Time,

mives@... writes:

> If I really thought vaccines were the medical wonder the doctors say they

> are, then I sure would be upset as a parent that my kid couldn't get what

> they supposedly needed to be healthy!

>

Many parents are terrified. i just want to say. hey you can have ours!!! :}

kim

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/30/2001 6:10:35 PM Central Standard Time,

sharon_etchemendy@... writes:

> My synical side says that he believes in vaccinations because they

> are a major profit center for his practice.

Right, it just doesnt make sense. Anyone with a thought in their head (which

he clearly does have) cannot say they are safe. he says teh new acellular

pertussis is safe. its not. maybe safer but not safe. that is lying!!

His nutrition books are also off. apparently babies do not have ptyalin to

digest starch till 18 months. he says rice cereal is the best thing to start

with. IF this stuff about ptyalin is true, then we shouldnt be giving htme

any starch for a year and a half. otherwise mucus build up again, unless mom

chews food first and gives her ptyalin to baby.

can you verify this sheri.

kim

[Guest guest]

Mabye he gets more clients and more press that way. he is everywhere in all

hte mainstream mags, and im sure he wouldnt be if he was against vaxxes.

someone should send him some info, he could be a good antivax advocate. he

has power here. kim

> Kim,

>

> Probably they did not teach adverse vaccine reactions in Medical School or

> perhaps a drug company paid the good doctor to forget that part of his

> training.

>

>

>