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.
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.
Related: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
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.
Related: International
Nurses Association
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