Vaccines are among the most successful and cost effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only protect individuals who are vaccinated, but also protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Vaccines also have positive economic value. An example is the parent who often had to stay home from work while their child’s chicken pox dried up. Bottom line: The risk of vaccines is way less than the risk of illnesses. Nothing, including vaccines, are without any risk. If you read the PDR (Physicians Drug Reference) about most drugs you wouldn’t take them and certainly wouldn’t give them to your children. Vaccines are divided into the primary series, normally completed by 18 months; the school entry series, required for school attendance in the 4-6 year olds; adolescent series, offered at Kentucky’s required sixth grade physical; and the adult vaccines, pneumovax, zoster (shingle preventative), and Tdap (Tetanus diphtheria and pertussis). The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for all series. Primary series includes Tdap, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), Varivax (chicken pox), HIB (Hemophilus influenza) and pneumococcal vaccines. The introduction of the HIB vaccine in the late 1980s has essentially removed bacterial meningitis as a diagnosis. MMR got some bad press as an autism cause
which was unfortunately based on tainted research. Fairly new studies in California involved 30,000 children and those who received MMR actually had less autism diagnoses than those whose parents refused the MMR. Hep A is optional in this age group but is recommended. School entry series include Tdap/MMR and Varivax boosters. Children must be four and should be done prior to starting preschool or kindergarten. Currently some children may also receive a pneumoccal booster. Adolescent series include Tdap, meningococcal which are required. Varivax booster if not received at school entry, Hep A series and HPV series are all offered at this visit. HPV is our cervical cancer vaccine preventative. It is now also being offered to boys to decrease their chance of venereal warts and passing the virus onto their partners. It may seem unusual that some sixth graders are prepubertal, but the immunity is better in the 11-13 year old than in the older adolescent. Adult vaccines include the pneumonia shot in high risk adults. Zostavax prevents shingles. Tdap is also recommended for adults who have not had a tetanus booster in the last five years. It is extremely important for those around infants including new parents and grandparents. If you have questions about vaccines, ask your provider. Do not rely on the internet or tabloid reports.<
bowling green
PA R E N T
Photo by Jenn Cady Design Photography
Vaccinations Spread the Word - Not the Disease
Pictured: Knox, son of Justin and Tyra Palmer of BG. About the author: Dr. Debra Sowell, a pediatrician at the Graves Gilbert Clinic, is a Bowling Green High School and Western Kentucky University alum who received her medical degree at the University of Kentucky. She enjoys needlework and watching BGHS, WKU and UK sporting events.
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july / august 2012
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