Kiddyatrics  is “pro” shots.

Historically, vaccines  were borne of necessity as infectious diseases have been and continue to be the top killer of children worldwide.  Due to the massive effort of vaccination, most of us have been fortunate to live in a time where polio, diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, and rubella no longer cause countless, pointless deaths.  Based on national reports, most of the family choosing not to vaccinate their child or children,  whose child later  suffered from any serious preventable infectious illness, change their mind about vaccinating their family.  Since the implementation of the HIB vaccine in 1985, the incidence of Haemophilus Influenza type B (HIB) meningitis has been drastically reduced. Better hygiene has had nothing to do with it.

Polio will hopefully be eradicated worldwide by 2010. There was a recent outbreak in 2002 in the Dominican Republic and in Angola. International travel has allowed the threat of many diseases to become a real possibility.  Thanks to SARS we now know it takes 18 hours for a virus to traverse the globe. Just because we have not had any problems in the US does not mean there could not be a problem from international travel in the future.

I do not think vaccines are all benign without reactions.  There are individuals with very sensitive immune systems who do not tolerate vaccines and can suffer long-term problems.  The problem is that we do not know who they are. Our best screening information asks if there are any family members you know with adverse reaction to vaccines.

Our immunization schedule is arranged  that we give no more than two shots at 2 months of age when baby is scheduled to receive the first sets of vaccines. We have all single dose vials now which eliminated the need for preservative (Thimerasol) in our vaccines. We do not begin Hepatitis B (HBV) until after 9 months of age unless there are specific risk factors: Mom has hepatitis B or baby expose to someone with risky behavior.  You still have the choice of giving all 4-5 vaccines at a visit as recommended by the AAP and CDC.  You need to discuss the schedule with the doctor.

Because of the media coverage linking MMR and autism, we do not give the MMR until age 2. While there is no scientific proof of a link between these two elements, I choose to believe there may be a problem. Because autism, as a naturally evolving disorder, will be evident MOST of the time by age two. We feel that delaying this vaccine until 2 years gives any patient with developing autistic features time to manifest the process.

We must not QUIT giving vaccines as there will be a huge recurrence of these infectious diseases and increased death rates from these same diseases. The first step, in my opinion, is being aware. Giving fewer shots at a visit, screening family histories, and listening to parents when they tell us “things are not right” can help prevent permanent vaccine injury.

We respect the rights of parents to refuse to immunize their children. We do NOT agree with it, but will not criticize you.  We will help you tailor your child's shot schedule to his or her particular situation.  We do have an informed consent explaining what vaccines you are refusing and what can happen without vaccines. It clearly states that you, the parent, accept all responsibility for this decision and will not hold us liable for your decision should your child contract an illness for which there is a vaccine that we did recommend.

There are new vaccines being recommended at adolescence now. The Td (tetanus booster) is changing to a TdaP adding a safe form of Pertussis-whooping cough back in due to outbreak reports.

Recommendations also include the Menactra: a shot to protect against meningococcal meningitis. This is an uncommon but deadly form of bacterial meningitis that presents like the “flu” but progresses rapidly.  It is most prevalent in dormitory like college or military living. The media is marketing to 11-15 year olds. I still believe that it is best administered at the end of high school when they are going to college to live in a dorm.

The Gardasil is being marketed heavily to teenage girls and is being advised to be given at the 11-13 year visits.  I believe that educating and instilling values can decrease the incidence of the human papilloma virus and cervical cancer by reducing early sexual activity.  Right now we are only discussing this vaccine with female patients in high school.