My identity as both a mother and a nurse are so enmeshed, that separating the two has at times, been challenging. When my kids were babies, I was the overprotective mom who carried around hand sanitizer and shielded them from anyone perceived to have the plague. I knew when to be concerned and when a scrape or a bump could be cured with a hug. My nursing education taught me that prevention superseded treatment-based health care. Combined with my maternal instinct to protect my kids at all costs, I knew that they would be vaccinated. But with so much controversy and confusion surrounding the topic, I found myself asking repeat questions, re-reading old medical textbooks, and researching the latest information about vaccines.
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What You Need To Know About Vaccines
Perhaps the single most important thing I took away from my interview with CHOC Children’s Hospital Community Pediatrician Marisa Turner was that as parents, we need to seek out reputable sources of information when it comes to our kids’ health. The internet makes access to information as easy as the touch of a button. But identifying accurate information is the key to making important decisions that will positively or adversely affect our kids’ health and well-being. During my recent interview with CHOC Children’s Pediatrician Marisa Turner, we discussed the current vaccine recommendations for kids, why vaccines are important, potential vaccine side effects, and popular vaccine trends. She also helped to dispel common myths surrounding vaccines.
Vaccines are used to help the immune system build a defense against a disease such as Measles, Polio, and Chickenpox. The vaccine that is administered, exposes the body to a weakened form of the disease. The result is protection from serious illness and even death from these diseases (CHOC Children’s).
Public Health and Vaccines
“Vaccines are one of the most important things we do for children in health care (Turner).” There are diseases we do not see today (i.e. Polio) because vaccines have been successful in eradicating them. If our population as a whole begins to get lackadaisical about vaccinations, it is likely that we will see a resurgence of these illnesses. Additionally, there are certain populations who are unable to receive vaccines due to a medical condition. If as a whole, the number of people immunized against these diseases wane, vulnerable populations will be at risk for contracting these diseases.
2018 Vaccine Schedule for Kids
The current vaccine schedule is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control. This schedule coincides with a child’s wellness check-ups, particularly when they are infants. According to Turner, it is recommended that parents stick to this schedule because it has been “studied and verified to be safe and effective.” The vaccine schedule shown above is what most Pediatricians will adhere to.
What About Delayed or Alternative Vaccine Schedules?
Delayed or alternative vaccine schedules gained popularity several years back over concerns regarding a possible link between vaccines and autism. According to Turner, delayed or alternative vaccine schedules do not offer children any benefit over the traditional schedule. “By delaying vaccines, you end up putting the child at risk for catching one of these preventable diseases (Turner).” Additionally, children typically end up with more visits to their Pediatrician when they are following a delayed or alternative vaccine schedule, which causes undue stress for both the parents and their children.
Parents typically seek out a delayed or alternative vaccine schedule because they have concerns over a child getting too many vaccines at one time. “The truth is [that] their system can handle everything that is being given to them (Turner).” Delayed or alternative vaccine schedules have never been tested for safety or efficacy. And by delaying vaccines, the child is at risk for contracting one of these potentially preventable diseases.
Are There Any Contraindications to Vaccines?
There was a time when those with allergies to certain vaccine components were not allowed to get certain vaccines (i.e. egg allergies and the influenza vaccine). According to Turner, this is not true anymore. There are certain instances when a vaccine is contraindicated for a child and he/she is not able to receive it. This can be due to immunodeficiency (such as patients with cancer) or an allergy to a specific vaccine or one of its components. If you have concerns about whether your child can receive a vaccine you should address it with your pediatrician.
What Are the Most Common Vaccine Side Effects?
The most common vaccine side effects include redness, swelling, and tenderness at the site of the injection. A young child may also experience fever, malaise, fussiness, and decreased appetite after receiving a vaccine. Side effects depend on the age of the child and the vaccine being administered. Some vaccines cause specific reactions (i.e. a hard bump or swelling at the site of a Tetanus vaccine or small bumps around the site of a Chickenpox vaccine). Any questions regarding vaccine side effects should always be addressed to the child’s physician.
What are the Most Common Vaccine Myths?
According to Dr. Turner, the number one myth surrounding vaccines is the link between the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine and autism. The paper that suggested a possible link was found to be fraudulent with information that was falsified. And while the journal that published the paper retracted it, the seed of doubt had already taken root. Multiple studies subsequently demonstrated that there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Additionally, the ingredient Thimerosol, which was thought to be complicit, has been removed from the vaccine, although there was no evidence of a link between Thimerosol and autism.
“We would not give anything to a child that [we] didn’t think was safe or effective (Turner).” The benefits of vaccines far outweigh the side effects. And while some also feel that children receive too many vaccines, advances in the way they are manufactured have resulted in a decrease in the number of proteins children are exposed to overall.
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