A little pain; a lot of protection Shots keep deadly diseases away

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Tuesday January 31, 2006 LIFESTYLE MOMENTS OF LIFE

A little pain; a lot of protection

Shots keep deadly diseases away

KATHRYN DEUEL / Press & Sun-Bulletin

While sitting on her mothers lap, Tess Holbert gets examined before receiving

her vaccinations at Endwell Family Physicians. KATHRYN DEUEL /

Press & Sun-Bulletin

Kelley Holbert comforts her daughter, Tess after she receives her vaccinations

at Endwell Family Physicians. KATHRYN DEUEL / Press & Sun-Bulletin

Kelley Holbert holds the legs of her daughter, Tess while she recives an

injection in her thigh at Endwell Family Physicians. RECOMMENDED

VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 2

•Hepatitis B: birth, between 1 and 4 months, and between 6 and 18 months.

•Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis: 2, 4 and 6 months, and between 15 and 18

months.

•Haemophilius influenzae: 2, 4 and 6 months, and between 12 and 15 months.

•Polio (inactivated): 2 and 4 months, and between 6 and 18 months.

•Measles, Mumps and Rubella: between 12 and 15 months.

•Varicella (chickenpox): between 12 and 18 months.

•Pneumococcal (conjugate): 2, 4 and 6 months, and between 12 and 15 months.

•Hepatitis A: two doses, spaced 6 months apart, first administered after 12

months.

•Influenza: one dose every year, first administered after 6 months.

Many of the vaccinations come in combined forms, such as Pediarix, which is a

combination of the hepatitis B, diptheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio

vaccines.

Many of the immunizations require booster shots before a child enters

kindergarten, and again in high school.

Information provided by the United States Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention.

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By Debbie Swartz

Press & Sun-Bulletin

Kelley Holbert mistakenly thought her years of being a nanny had prepared her

for the day her own daughter, Tess, would get her first vaccinations. Then she

made the mistake of looking at the needle.

" Wow! That first time, that was hard, " Holbert said. " That was really hard. "

For the rest of the day, she relived the moment, which included her daughter's

painful cries.

" I just kept seeing that needle go in her thigh, " Holbert said.

Today Tess, nearly 7 months old, is becoming a veteran, getting her third

round of vaccinations.

The Pediarix and Prevnar shots will help protect her from diphtheria, tetanus,

pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, polio and some pneumococcal bacteria.

Amy , a licensed practical nurse with Endwell Family Physicians, gives

Tess her injections. said it took a while for her to get used to giving

shots to babies, but the payoff has been worth it.

" Knowing that it keeps them healthier, " she said, " makes it easier. "

Holbert said she is aware of the possible side effects of vaccinations as well

as the debate about the use of thimerosal, a vaccine preservative made out of

mercury. She said she asks questions about all of the vaccinations and has faith

in her health care providers.

Certified Medical Assistant Regina Looby said an important part of her job is

to make sure parents get a vaccine information statement for each of the shots.

" A lot of parents are leery of their child getting shots, " Looby said.

The sheets, created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

give information about the disease or diseases the shot will help prevent; the

vaccinations that should be given; the risks involved, including allergic

reactions; and contacts for more information.

A vaccine information statement also has contact information for the National

Vaccine Injury Compensation Program created by Congress in 1986 as a no-fault

alternative to injuries caused by vaccinations.

According to the CDC, before the law, many pharmaceutical companies stopped

producing vaccines because of the cost of lawsuits. The program was enacted to

protect the vaccine supply, stabilize vaccine costs, and allow compensation for

those harmed by vaccines.

Looby said vaccines, like any medication, can cause allergic reactions in some

people. Typical reactions include a low-grade fever, and soreness and redness in

the area where the shot was administered. Looby said she recommends a child

receive a dose of Tylenol or other non-aspirin pain reliever/fever reducer about

an hour before the visit.

Also important is the child's health at the time of the vaccinations. A

physical is given before shots are administered to make sure there isn't an

undiagnosed ear infection or other problem, Looby said.

Severe reactions to vaccinations are very rare (1 in 1 million in many cases),

according to the CDC and can include dizziness, hives, swelling of the throat,

seizures and brain damage.

In some cases — such as with the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) and

MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) — vaccinations, the incidents of severe

reaction are so few that it is unknown if the shots were the actual culprit.

Thimerosal, which is used in multi-dose vials of some vaccines to prevent the

growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, has been criticized by some, who say

it could cause autism and other neurodevelopment disorders.

A 2001 U.S. Food and Drug Administration study on links between exposure to

thimerosal in vaccines and autism could neither be proved nor disproved.

The FDA encouraged pharmaceutical companies to reduce or remove thimerosal

from their vaccines. Today, routine vaccines including MMR, varicella (chicken

pox), inactivated polio, pneumococcal (conjugate), hepatitis B, haemophilus and

DTaP do not contain thimerosal.

Tess' nurse practitioner, Gloria Block, said the benefits of vaccinations far

outweigh the risks.

" In this day and age, " she said, " we need to protect them from preventable

diseases as much as we can. "

Block said vaccine safety is constantly improving.

Some parents don't want to get their children vaccinated, in which case, some

doctors will refuse to care for the child, Looby said.

Some health care professionals theorize that many people have forgotten the

devastation caused by now-preventable diseases. The fewer children who get

vaccinated, the greater the chance of outbreaks of life-threatening illnesses

such as whooping cough, bacterial meningitis and polio.

, who had all four of her children vaccinated, said medical studies

have shown that the new combination shots, such as Pediarix, are better for her

little patients. For one, combination vaccines cut down the number of shots a

child must receive. More important, the body responds better when it receives

more than one vaccine at a time, said.

Holbert, an elementary school teacher, said she hasn't had any problems with

Tess' vaccinations, but she has learned that it is better to look into her

daughter's eyes while the shots are being given.

Once Holbert picked Tess up, the little girl's cries subsided, and she was

ready for a nap by the time her mother secured her in her car seat.

" I think it's important to get the shots, " Holbert said. " I have trust in the

health care system. "

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