Childhood Immunizations

Childhood Immunizations Childhood immunizations can be a controversial subject in some settings, and it can make for some major disputes between moms. Some people say that it is one of the subjects of conversation to avoid, such as politics, and religion. However, immunizations have some cold hard facts, and those should be studied and considered when making decisions for a child.

Safety Facts of Vaccines Numerous clinical trials are conducted to evaluate not only the effectiveness, but the safety of every vaccine prior to introducing it to market. First tests are done in laboratory animals, and if the tests indicate the vaccine is safe, it moves to being tested in humans prior to being approved by the FDA. The safety of vaccines is a responsibility of the federal government, state and local health departments. Occasionally other partners are involved, and of course the general public and their needs are appreciated. The safety of vaccines is monitored very closely, and there are sites that parents can view to see specific safety reports. “Vaccine adverse event reporting system”, VAERS and the “Vaccine Safety Data link” VSD project work together to help scientist monitor the safety of vaccines, and parents can access this information as well.

Related: How to Become the Most Efficient Nursing Student Side Effects Many medications including vitamins come with some side effects, and vaccines are no exception. Serious side effects are very rare, although can occur. Common side effects include some slight pain at the site of the injection. This is normal and should disappear on its own within a couple days. Depending on the patient, a slight fever may develop. Again, providing it does not exceed 100 degrees, it can be treated with acetaminophen, and should go away within two days.

Multiple Vaccines Surprisingly, it is recommended to receive several vaccines at once. The result is very few side effects, and of course getting them all over at one time. There are some vaccines that must be given individually, a health

care provider can discuss this information and give advice. When a child receives multiple vaccines, they should be monitored for 24 hours after the shot, just to observe and check for discomfort or fever. After that time most are considered clear to return to normal activities.

Parents that Avoid Vaccinating Children Parents often have a number of reasons not to vaccinate. A common reason is that it hurts the child, which is of course true. One solution to this is to ask about a numbing agent at the site of the injection. Other parents worry about side effects, many of which have never been proven to be of no or little concern. There are religious reasons for some, and of course that is a personal choice, however, some schools and day care centers may refuse to admit a child without appropriate vaccines. The fact is without vaccines, a child’s immune system may be compromised. They are at risk of developing mumps, measles, and whooping cough. There are very few scenarios that doctors would not recommend a child receiving immunizations.

Global Concerns With international travel, and many people moving to the United States from other countries, there are some concerns about proper immunizations of others. It is presumed in time anyone that enters the U.S. to stay will immunize, however, this may not be the case with visitors. There are some countries that are too poor, or unaware of the dangers associated with not getting vaccines.

Opting not to Vaccinate As a parent, it can be a difficult decision if you are concerned about the dangers associated with vaccines. That being said, some parents that opt not to vaccinate can be somewhat outcast by other parents. Doing what is best for our children is not always easy, and parents think differently, so it is understandable that some parents are opposed to vaccines. The issue with this is, society may not be accepting of your decision, so there must be preparedness to accept consequences. Should your child not be vaccinated, extra precautions should be taken to ensure they are not exposed to certain illnesses. They can become infected and spread to other children that have not reached the age of receiving vaccines.

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Many baby boomers remember the days that the polio virus affected so many lives. Polio was a very hot topic in the 50’s and early 60’s, as it could cause permanent paralysis. It was a huge relief to many when the vaccine became available and eventually eradicated this debilitating disease. Most affected by polio take a pretty strong stance on the importance of vaccines, and again, this can create some fairly heated debates.

Flu Vaccines Adult vaccinations are a different situation than children. Although most adults are encouraged to receive the flu vaccine, not everyone does. Most insurance company’s including Medicare; cover a flu vaccination 100%. Flu vaccinations can cause some redness and soreness at the injection site; however, it should not lasts for two more days. Depending on the type of flu strains circulating, not every vaccine protects against every type of flu.

Shingles Vaccine This is a very important vaccination for anyone over 60, or anyone with a compromised immune system. Shingles not only appear on the skin and cause discomfort; they affect the nerves under the skin as well. After the virus has cleared, those nerves can remain effected, and cause pain for an extended period of time. Shingles are painful, and can be avoided with a onetime simple vaccine, so in most cases it is recommended that adults over a certain age receive it. The cost of this vaccine is not covered in most cases for the total cost of the vaccination, so check prior to receiving it exactly what costs are involved. In most cases, some costs can be around $100.

While vaccinating your child remains a personal choice, consider how other parents of properly vaccinated children may behave around you and your child. Some parents insist their child’s playmate is appropriately vaccinated, so again, you may encounter some resistance if you opt not to vaccinate.

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