Meningitis Vaccination Pros & Cons

Parents Forum
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<p>One reason to wait on Gardasil for a 9 year old is that there is another vaccine on the horizon that will cover a few more HPV serotypes. The last article I read was that the time frame was 2-4 years for this competing vaccine to be on the market. I would consider waiting if I had a 9 year old for that reason only.</p>

<p>Otherwise, I look forward to the point when HPV vaccination is recommended for infants/young children, and we can get away from the whole moral, condoning sexual activity part of the argument, and look at HPV prevention as a personal and public health issue which is what it should be.</p>

<p>By the by, i think that Gardisil will eventually be shown to convey immunity beyond 5 years, the data just isn't there yet. But, there is a small chance that it won't be lifelong, so some would use that as a weak argument against early vaccination.</p>

102

<p>lkf,</p>

<p>I apologize for my typo that led to confusion. I meant to say 14+5=19, not 4...</p>

<p>Regarding the duration of immunity, you seem to have it backward. Just because ONE vaccine discussed here declines in effectiveness does not mean this one will. Just because physicians recommend boosters for some vaccines does not mean those vaccines decline in effectiveness for most people. Will Gardasil decline? Maybe. We won't know until that amount of time passes. But why assume it will? Why gamble with a child's life, especially when the alternative is so simple (hint: effectiveness declines? get a booster.) This is not a now or later mutually exclusive decision.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Many drugs are approved by the FDA and later withdrawn from the market. <a href="without%20sounding%20Clintonesque">/quote</a> please define "many"....IMHO the reason these drugs get so much press is because they are so rare. I don't want to get sidetracked into a discussion of FDA safety standards. They are tough.</p>

103

<p>NMD:</p>

<p>I missed the info on your D getting typhoid! I'm so glad the worst is over.</p>

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<p>The only way to tell if immunity declines is to document oubreaks or to get periodic titer information. I'm not saying it will or it won't. I'm just saying that we only have information for 5 years. </p>

<p>HPV vaccine works, it has a low incidence of serious side effects, and it probably will last longer than 5 years. I am absolutely not trying to discourage anyone from being immunized. Please vaccinate your daughters if you want to!</p>

<p>As I said, I was only giving MY opinion on MY reason for waiting a little bit for MY daughter.</p>

<p>As to how many drugs are withdrawn from the market or late phase clinical trials, I don't know. Not every one gets media coverage. But I have been a working pharmacist for over 25 years, and it's probably more than you would think.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Just because physicians recommend boosters for some vaccines does not mean those vaccines decline in effectiveness for most people.

[/quote]

Yes, it does. If boosters are recommended, please get them because you may no longer be covered for that disease. (Boosters, not original series of vaccinations). "Boosters" boost your declining immunity.</p>

<p>All immunizations are valuable. Before I leave this discussion, let me say that I personally think the meningitis vaccine is important for students with no contraindications to the product. The disease can be catastrophic and not easily treatable, so any mild adverse effect is worth it.</p>

<p>There are many private and public health resources available, so there is lots of information out there for interested parties.</p>

105

<p>I'm not overly concerned about the HPV vaccine wearing off and the need for boosters because the disease in question does not become more severe if you contract it later in life. A young woman who gets the initial shots and then doesn't get additional shots later on (if they are recommended) has still enjoyed some years of protection, with no downside risk.</p>

<p>The same thinking does NOT apply to chickenpox vaccine. Here, we know by now that the immunization DOES wear off and that it is MUCH more dangerous to contract the disease as an adult than as a child. So everyone who ever had this shot should be scrupulous about getting whatever booster shots the experts recommend.</p>

<p>A few decades from now, the scientific community may well conclude that the chickenpox vaccine was not worthwhile if it leads to an increase in serious adult cases of the disease while only having prevented mild childhood cases.</p>

106

<p>"A few decades from now, the scientific community may well conclude that the chickenpox vaccine was not worthwhile if it leads to an increase in serious adult cases of the disease while only having prevented mild childhood cases."</p>

<p>Following one varicella vaccine (chickenpox), acquisition of the disease leads to a much milder case than in those who have not had the shot. Having the 1st shot and then the booster that is now recommended should decrease significantly the incidence of chicken pox occuring in those people who have received both recommended shots.</p>

<p>Adults who have had no prior disease or immunizations can often get more severe cases than unimmunized children do.</p>

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<p>Personally, I'm just glad both my kids had the actual chickenpox when they were young (6 and 3). I didn't feel that way at the time, though!</p>

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<p>^^You may be glad they had chickenpox but they won't be when they come down with a painful and even debilitating case of shingles in their 60s and 70s. Shingles is caused by the same virus that caused their childhood chickenpox. If they never get the virus thanks an effective vaccine they'll never have to suffer through shingles.</p>

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<p>so since chicken pox is a relatively new thing- as neither of my kids were young enough to have it- I imagine that there is a high indicidence of shingles in the current population?</p>

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<p>^^^Yes, among older folks, although I know 3 people who were struck by shingles in their late teens.</p>

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<p>From mayoclinic.com:</p>

<p>Shingles — also known as herpes zoster — is a viral infection that causes a painful rash.</p>

<p>Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you've had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in your nerves. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.</p>

<p>Although painful, typically shingles isn't a serious condition. Sometimes, however, the rash can lead to a debilitating complication called postherpetic neuralgia. This condition causes the skin to remain painful and sensitive to touch for months or even years after the rash clears up.</p>

<p>Early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and reduce the risk of complications.</p>

<p>Shingles is a second eruption of the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox.</p>

<p>Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses, which includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. Many of these viruses can lie hidden in your nervous system after an initial infection and remain dormant for years before causing another infection.</p>

<p>Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. If your immune system doesn't destroy the entire virus during the initial infection, the remaining virus can enter your nervous system and lie hidden for years. Eventually, it may reactivate and travel along nerve pathways to your skin — producing shingles.</p>

<p>The reason for the encore is unclear. Shingles is more common in older adults and those who have weak immune systems.</p>

<p>About one in 10 healthy adults who've had chickenpox eventually develop shingles, usually after age 50. Most people develop shingles only once, but recurrences in other areas are possible.</p>

<p>A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who hasn't had chickenpox before. This usually occurs through direct contact with the open sores of the shingles rash. Once infected, the person will develop chickenpox, however, not shingles. The infection can be serious for certain groups of people with immune system deficiencies.</p>

<p>Until the shingles blisters scab over, avoid physical contact with:</p>

<pre><code>* Anyone who's never had chickenpox
* Anyone who has a weak immune system
* Newborns
* Pregnant women (A chickenpox infection can be dangerous for a developing baby.)
</code></pre>

<p>For about one in five people who develop shingles, the pain continues in the same spot long after the blisters have cleared. This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia.</p>

<p>When you have postherpetic neuralgia, damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain. This leaves the affected area of skin sensitive to even the slightest touch. For some people, the brush of clothing or a breeze can be excruciatingly painful.</p>

<p>Pain medication, antidepressants or anticonvulsant medications may help provide relief until the pain subsides.</p>

<p>Shingles can also lead to other complications, including inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and other neurological problems. If shingles occurs on your face, it can cause hearing problems and temporary or permanent blindness. Loss of facial movement (paralysis) is possible as well. If blisters aren't properly treated, bacterial skin infections are another potential problem.</p>

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<p>This meningitis thread has morphed a bit. If we're talking about chicken pox, I'd recommend doing a little research. The pros and cons are all out there, with experts on both sides. For example, go to <a href="http://www.news-medical.net/?id=12896%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.news-medical.net/?id=12896&lt;/a> for one expert view -- that the chicken pox vaccine INCREASES incidence of shingles in the population. The CDC gives the opposite view. (Hint: follow the money.)</p>