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The vaccine for Rotavirus was discontinued in the 1990s. An undeniable link between the vaccine and a troublesome condition called Intussusception in which a portion of the bowel twists or slides into another portion of the bowel. In 2006, a new vaccine has been granted FDA approval and will be used regularly this fall.
Rotavirus is an intestinal virus that causes diarrhea in young children. Rotavirus is more prevalent in children under the age of six, as proper hand washing is the key to prevention. Usually the disease is mild and lasts only a few days, no more than a week.
In more severe cases (1 out of every 50), the diarrhea can lead to dehydration requiring hospitalization. In third world countries, the disease leads to around 500,000 deaths every year.
For some parents, the choice to have his or her child is extremely difficult. For other parents, it seems the only path to choose. Either way, it is a personal decision that must be made as soon as the baby enters the world.
There are reasonable arguments both pro and con having a child vaccinated. There are risks to vaccinations. Some children have died after being vaccinated. However, vaccines do work. Potentially harmful viral and bacterial diseases have vanished or dwindled severely as more children are vaccinated.
If you are struggling to decide, there are some things to consider. If your child is allergic to yeast, eggs, alum, latex, MSG, aluminum, lactose, sorbitol, gelatin, and some other substances, some vaccines contain them as ingredients, so you are better off skipping the vaccinations or talking to your child’s pediatrician to find a vaccine that is clear of an possible allergens.
Many people know of the current vaccinations on the market. Those vaccines included MMR (Measles, mumps, and rubella), varicella (chickenpox), tetanus and more. There are many vaccinations that are currently undergoing intense rounds of testing, however. Do you know about those?
In August 2006, China began the first round of testing on a vaccine that will prevent HIV (the virus that causes AIDS.) Forty-nine volunteers were paid approximately $250 to take part in this test.
After receiving the vaccine, the volunteers were checked regularly to ensure they were not having any side effects and that antibodies to HIV had built up in the bloodstream. After 180 days, all forty-nine volunteers had demonstrated no side effects and all showed antibodies against the horrifying disease.
Traveling to other countries often requires additional vaccinations. While you must have proof that your vaccines are up to date (MMR, Tetanus, Diphtheria, etc.), you may need to be vaccinated against rare diseases. It depends on the country you will be visiting.
If you are going to Mexico, Central America, Trinidad and Tobago, or South America, the vaccine for Yellow Fever is required in most rural areas. Vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B, Rabies, and Typhoid are recommended. It is also urged that you see your health care provider for a prescription for anti-malarial drugs before you leave.
Travelers to Western and Eastern Europe do not need additional vaccinations. However, it is recommended that you receive the vaccine for Hepatitis A and B. If you are going to a warmer area (Spain, Greece) where mosquitoes may be present, you will want a prescription for anti-malarial medication.
Though not a common vaccination, the vaccine for Typhoid fever is suggested for those traveling to certain countries and to military members. Typhoid Fever is caused by a bacterium called Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi.
The infection is spread be ingesting fecal material. If you eat vegetables or fruit grown in gardens fertilized by infected manure or river water that is contaminated with human waste, you are at risk for Typhoid fever.
Symptoms include fever, abdominal cramps, stomach cramps, headache, appetite changes, and weakness. As the infection spreads, it can cause the intestines to rupture. Thirty percent of those infected with Typhoid die.
More people never show symptoms but become carriers who then pass the disease on through their feces, if they are not careful about washing, they can pass the disease on by touching food items.
To battle deadly and potentially life-threatening diseases, scientists create vaccines/vaccinations that can prevent a virus from causing damage to your organs, blood stream, and muscles. The vaccines include a shot or a series of shots that can be given to a patient by a medical professional.
Vaccines can be used to prevent the spread of disease among children, adults, and the elderly. Vaccinations are especially useful for soldiers and missionaries who often travel to poverty stricken countries where some deadly viruses have not been eradicated.
To give a person a vaccine, the administration site (location on the body where the shot will be given) is sterilized with either an alcohol solution or iodine, the vial of medicine is attached to or placed into a syringe, and then the syringe is tapped to ensure there is no air bubble that can be injected with the medication.
Commonly called chickenpox, varicella is a common childhood disease that many adults have had during childhood. In 1995, a vaccine to prevent chicken pox entered the market. Today, the vaccine is highly recommended to parents of children between the ages of twelve and eighteen months. Unvaccinated children reaching the age of thirteen without having contracted chickenpox should have two doses of the vaccine spaced about six weeks apart.
Varicella or chickenpox is a virus that causes itchy red bumps all over the body and can cause a fever. While chickenpox in children is an itchy annoyance, it can be deadly for adults. There is a slim chance that chickenpox (1/10000) can lead to death.
Only humans and monkeys can contract Yellow Fever, yet the disease is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Currently, you can only contract Yellow Fever if you travel to South America’s tropical areas or certain regions of Africa (Saharan).
Yellow Fever is a virus that mimics the flu. Common symptoms are fever, headache, nausea, muscle pain, and backache. The symptoms tend to disappear after four days. In 15% of those infected, the fever reappears and leads to hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever (bleeding from the mouth, nose, eyes, and intestines.) If hemorrhagic fever hits, odds are high that the ailing patient will die within ten days. Those who are able to recover count themselves as being very lucky.
When discussing vaccinations with your doctor or your child’s doctor or while researching vaccines your child will need, the terminology can be confusing. This simple guide may help you better understand some of the more troublesome terms used when vaccinations are involved.
Acellular vaccine – A shot that contains a portion of the virus or bacteria that it is meant to prevent in the future.
Active Immunity – The response in which your body produces a life-long defense system against a certain disease.
Adjuvant – A common ingredient added to the medication in a vaccine such as eggs, milk, or gelatin.