<p>I'm in a quandary. Have systematically refused to vaccinate kids against Hep B. In Europe, it's not mandatory as there have been a non-negligeable number of pbs. Have called college health services who say that the college doesn't care but it's mandatory in Mass. Family has a history of strong allergy reactions and family doctor advises against it unless there is a VERY strong risk. Will college really refuse to enroll her without it? What should I do?</p>
<p>If you have a note from a doctor advising against the vaccine due to allergy fears, then that should be fine for the school, I would guess.</p>
<p>The school said it was State law. I didn't dare ask them about Jehovah Witnesses and other sects that refuse all vaccinations!</p>
<p>We're struggling with the decision whether to do the recommended rabies shot for pre-vet student . Reading info on the web, it still doesn't fully protect you from rabies. It only means that they give you the first shots in the series. When you're actually exposed to rabies, you have to get the final shots in the series. The side effects sound serious (although they say they're rare). And you need boosters throughout your lifetime. The chances of side effects increase with each booster shot. So are you better off postponing the shots until you actually need them? I'm trying to figure out what the advantage is to getting the pre-rabies series vs. the side effects. Student hates needles and I'm very conservative when it comes to injecting things into the bloodstream, so has anyone else faced this decision and decided to postpone the shots?</p>
<p>AnyMom- that's really a judgement call. We went through the same thought processes with our d, but decided a) at least she has (some) protection; (b) it would minimize some lost time and help logistically if she were bitten as she would need fewer additional shots as she had no car at school and we were 2 1/2 hours away.</p>
<p>If the actual series (in the event of a bite) was available through the school's health and wellness office, we probably would not have gotten the prophylactic series.</p>
<p>Her shots were a series of six, over a six or eight week period. She had no side effects.</p>
<p>From what I remember, you'll need a booster series every two years; d will need her's this summer, but she's in constant daily contact with dogs.</p>
<p>Our basic philosophy is if it's not broke, don't fix it, but we looked at this as "insurance". There's no guarantee of payout, and you've got to keep renewing. And you're taking a chance not having it.</p>
<p>My $.02.</p>
<p>D had Hep B series years ago. The Tetanus and Meningitis were required for a youth trip to Mexico and a 5-week dorm stay.</p>
<p>H asked our pediatrician about the other shots and she recommended:</p>
<p>Chicken Pox Booster for those that received the vaccine (D did)
Hep A
HPV (cervical cancer)</p>
<p>(As I mentioned in another post, we must make sure young women in this country that receive the HPV continue to receive pap smears. The HPV covers only 70% of the cancer causers.)</p>
<p>I've said this in other threads, but it's worth repeating.</p>
<p>If your child is trying to get the HPV vaccine (cervical cancer) or the hepatitis B vaccine (also known as HBV), be EXTREMELY careful to make sure that the health care facility doesn't give the kid the wrong vaccine. The abbreviations for these two vaccines are so similar that mistakes are inevitable. I think this is especially important for just-turned-18-year-olds who have just started going to health care facilities alone and may have difficulty being assertive with health care personnel. They must make sure that they are receiving the right vaccine.</p>
<p>Lostintrans, I did not give my children the Hep B shot when they were children. The chance of them getting Hep B was virtually nil. and I do have concerns about over vaccination...I did just have been oldest take the Hep B series as he is heading off to college and I can no long influence his personal behavior. Our state will waive the public school Hep B requirement if you sign a waiver and have it on file with the health department. Check with the college and find out if there is a waiver you can sign if they will not accept a physician's note.</p>
<p>Just a side note: my husband had a very light case of chicken pox as a child, and when my kids got them, he got blisters in his mouth. No shingles thank heavens.</p>
<p>I think I would rather err on the side of being overly inoculated than have my child get sick while away at school.</p>
<p>Violadad:</p>
<p>I just found these statistics on the website that celloguy recommended. I'm very surprised at the extremely low number of reported cases of actual rabies. I always thought that it was MUCH higher.
<a href="http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.229.12.1897?cookieSet=1&journalCode=javma%5B/url%5D">http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.229.12.1897?cookieSet=1&journalCode=javma</a></p>
<p>
[quote]
my husband had a very light case of chicken pox as a child, and when my kids got them, he got blisters in his mouth. No shingles thank heavens.</p>
<p>I think I would rather err on the side of being overly inoculated than have my child get sick while away at school.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>texastaximom (!!), you bring an interesting detail into the discussion -- some researchers believe that, as a population, we are becoming more vulnerable to repeat infections of the chicken pox BECAUSE of the vaccine; that is, in the past, immunity was reinforced by widespread exposure to varicella in our kids. Now, with chicken pox vaccine reducing the number of cases of the actual (generally mild) disease, overall herd immunity is reduced. This could result in more cases of mild repeat infection and, much more seriously, virulent (deadly) cases of chicken pox in the future. Remember the history of Europeans bringing chicken pox to America and killing off natives who had no immunity (and yes, I do mean chicken pox; smallpox also killed off native populations, but chicken pox was also deadly). Just a thought.</p>
<p>I wonder too if the greater exposure level will affect the spread of disease or subsequent immunity. With more students attending schools that are not as close to home, and doing more study abroad, it might change the mix of "bugs" brewing in the dorms.</p>
<p>I know of one child that had such a serious case of chicken pox, that it left blanks on her EEG and "scalded skin burns" on her legs and arms. Apparently chicken pox can go anywhere there are mucous membranes.</p>
<p>AnyMom- thanks for the link. I too would have thought the incidences much higher.</p>
<p>My daughter had a mild case of chicken pox as a baby and since I suffered through an especially bad case of chicken pox as a college sophomore and missed two weeks of classes and lost almost 20 pounds I definitely wanted to make sure she was covered. Our doctor did a simple blood test to check for immunity.</p>
<p>Okay, I'll bite!
[quote]
I know of one child that had such a serious case of chicken pox, that it left blanks on her EEG
[/quote]
What are "blanks on her EEG???????"</p>
<p>Well..the mom told me when they ran the EEG (that's the one for the brain, right?) there were blank spots where there should have been activity recorded, ie there had been damage from the pox lesions. This was a severe case. I have never encountered another person that had worse. The scars on her child's arms and legs almost looked like ringworm patches, but they were from the chicken pox. The worst I had seen was kids that got them in their throat. :(</p>
<p>I should also add that this child had to have part of their intestines removed as well.</p>
<p>Don't be too quick to jump on the HPV vaccine. Too new. 3 deaths reported from it already, as well as Guillian Bare sydrome. </p>
<p>Oh Lordy, I thought we were safe since DD had chicken pox at 5. OTOH, she had such a mild case that I never even took her to the Dr. (third child, not too sick...) On my list for her summer "off to college" visit, complete review of all shots !
Thanks to all who posted to remind me of this potential problem.</p>
<p>samiamy, thanks for the link. I agree the vaccine risk outweighs its benefit. Our well-cared-for daughters, with good access to Pap screening and aftercare, are at low risk for cervical cancer. I fear that the vaccine's risks, such as Guillain-Barre, might represent only the most immediate side effects. Long term effects simply haven't been studied -- Gardasil is brand new and this type of research has never been well funded. The evidence of corporate greed pushing the vaccine is overwhelming.</p>
<p>My D is going to study abroad in the Fall, and the Uni. is recommending boosters of MMR and DTP. I am really surprised, and uncomfortable doing this, as everything I have read cautions about the un-proven need for boosters. Anyone else have experience re: shots for going abroad?</p>