Side Effects of the DTaP Vaccine

Vaccinating infants and children against infectious diseases is a choice parents must make. One of the most common vaccines in the United States is the DTaP vaccine, which consists of a series of shots given by a healthcare provider. The DTaP vaccine prevents the spread of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis from an infected or exposed person to another person. The Federal Drug Administration introduced the DTaP vaccine in 1997 to replace the DTP vaccine formula, which was linked to safety concerns in young children. Similar to other childhood immunizations, DTaP side effects are minimal when compared to the risks of contracting one of the three diseases it protects against.

What is it and who needs it? read the full article: Side Effects of the DTaP Vaccine

HPV Vaccine Overestimated

Merck’s Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix vaccines protect against strains of the humanpapilloma virus or HPV that cause cervical cancer. Gardasil also protects against some strains of the virus that cause genital warts, but neither vaccine can prevent other forms of sexually transmitted diseases.

Read about the dangers young girls are putting themselves in: HPV Vaccine Overestimated

Reactions to Tetanus Shot

Immunization against the tetanus virus is part of the childhood vaccine schedule, which calls for four injections between 2 months and 4-6 years of age with a booster provided at 11-12 years. Adults are generally provided the option of one booster every ten years thereafter. Anyone can experience a reaction to tetanus shot. Reducing the risk after possible exposure is often done with tetanus globulin injection, which is purely antibodies and not a vaccine.

Read on: Reactions to Tetanus Shot

One doctor’s opinion of the HPV vaccine

In a very lengthy article found online at The Star Online, the author, Dr Milton Lum, a member of the board of Medical Defence Malaysia, gives his opinion on the highly controversial vaccination for HPV, Human papillomavirus.

Dr. Lum focuses on several aspects of the virus and vaccine in the article. He also discusses safety, effectiveness, vaccination for males, and sexual activity.

He begins the article by stating, “Based on current evidence, the benefits of HPV immunization far outweigh the risks, which are minimal.”

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine which helps in the prevention of HPV infection, a leading causative factor of genital warts and cervical cancer, became available in 2006.

Although Malaysia started its national HPV vaccination program in 2010, certain quarters still have reservations. He states, “This article was written to enable parents and vaccinees to make an informed decision.”

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a DNA virus, is a common sexually transmitted infection. There are different HPV types. The cutaneous types cause non-cancerous warts (papillomas), which affect the hands and feet. These types differ from the mucosal types that affect the mouth, respiratory tract, and genitalia.

Many HPV types are transmitted sexually. The low risk types, HPV 6 and 11, cause benign genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomas, while persistent infection with high-risk types, HPV 16 & 18, is associated with an increased risk of developing high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), which is a precursor of cervical cancer.

HPV is a major cause of genital warts and cervical cancer. HPV infections by the high risk types are common in young, sexually active women and men. Most clear spontaneously without ever causing CIN, while some develop a persistent infection. Hence, cervical cancer is considered a rare consequence of persistent infection with one or more high risk types, with other factors playing a role.

HPV 16 and 18 together account for up to 70% of cervical cancers across the world. Other high risk types like HPV 31, 33 and 45, are also associated with cervical cancer.

HPV infections are more likely to occur in people who have more than one sexual partner or whose sexual partner has more than one partner.

Factors like smoking, multiple sexual partners, having many children, oral contraceptive use and HIV infection are associated with an increase in the risk of developing cervical cancer.

HPV also causes cancers of the vulva, vagina and anus. As HPV may have no symptoms, it may be more common than is thought.

There are two types HPV vaccines, bivalent (HPV 16 and 18) and quadrivalent vaccines (HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18). Both contain inactivated extracts from HPV. This means that it does not cause HPV or any conditions that HPV causes. Both vaccines provide protection against 70% of the HPV types that cause cervical cancer.

In addition, the quadrivalent vaccine also provides protection against 90% of the HPV types that cause genital warts, and HPV types that cause cancers of the vulva, vagina and anus.

HPV vaccines do not provide protection against the HPV types that a person has been exposed to. However, a person who has had HPV may still benefit from the vaccine because most people are not infected with all the types of HPV contained in the vaccine.

HPV vaccines also do not provide protection against other sexually transmitted infections (STI). This means that even after vaccination, safe sexual practices, including the use of condoms, are needed to prevent STIs.

He ends the section on the vaccine by saying, “HPV vaccination is no substitute for cervical screening. Those who have received HPV vaccines should continue cervical screening.”

To read more Dr. Lum‘s opinions, that include sections on safety, effectiveness, male vaccination and sexual activity, please visit the article here.

Fewer doses of Cervarix may be just as effective, according to new study

In an article found at Medical News Today, a recent study has evaluated the effectiveness of decreased doses of a cervical vaccine. The article states, “Fewer than three doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Cervarix may be just as effective as the standard three-dose regimen when it comes to preventive measures against cervical cancer, according to a new study published September 9 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.”

Cervarix is a virus-like particle combination vaccine consisting of self-assembling, virus-like particles based on HPV-16 and HPV-18. It was designed to elicit an immune response against the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, and was FDA approved in October 2009.

To continue reading this article, click here.

Chronic Inflammatory Polyneuropathy After Flu Shot

The flu is annoying and contagious. It causes sneezing, coughing, high fever, aching muscles and fatigue. It may also result in hospitalization.

In most cases, a vaccine may be a good idea. But in some cases, a severe reaction can cause illnesses that affect the nervous system. One of these illnesses is chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy.

Chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy involves nerve swelling and inflammation that lead to a loss of strength or sensation and a common type of damage to nerves outside the brain or spinal cord.

Weakness will cause such symptoms as difficulty walking and using arms, hands, legs and feet. Facial muscles will also be weak. Sensation changes will occur first in feet, then in the arms and hands. These include: numbness or decreased sensation, pain, burning, weakness, tingling and other feelings of abnormality.

Other symptoms caused by this disease can include: bowel or bladder issues, difficulty breathing and swallowing, fatigue, hoarseness, facial paralysis, muscle contractions, and speech impairment … to name a few.

Treatment would depend on the severity of the symptoms. Corticosteroids could reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms. Plasmapheresis or plasma exchange could remove antibodies from the blood. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) involves adding large numbers of antibodies to blood plasma in order to reduce the effect of antibodies that cause the problem.

Although a complete recovery may be possible, there may also be permanent loss of nerve function. Also keep in mind that medications used to treat the disease may have side effects.

If you have loss of movement or sensation in any area or your body and symptoms get worse, contact your health care provider immediately. If you are living with chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy, you may consider consulting a support group in order to help deal with pain and other problems associated with the disease.

Cocooning to Protect Unvaccinated Babies, Beneficial or Not?

According to Reuters Health, a large group of U.S. doctors have given the go ahead for pediatricians to offer vaccines to close family members of babies who are too young to get shots themselves. It’s also becoming a remotely popular thing to do when a sick child is unable to get CDC recommended vaccinations. But, what exactly is cocooning, and do you believe it is beneficial or not?

The “cocoon strategy” aims to protect newborn infants from becoming infected with pertussis by administering Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) booster vaccines to mothers and family members of newborn infants. In this way, mothers and family members are protected from getting pertussis and passing it on to their young infants. It has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 2006 but is not routine in healthcare organizations.

Read more: Cocooning to Protect Unvaccinated Babies, Beneficial or Not?

Lower Your Chance For A Reaction To Flu Vaccine

You can reduce the chance of a reaction to Flu vaccine if you listen to the contraindications or precautions on the label.  What is a contraindication or precaution? Read this article to learn more Flu vaccine contraindications and precautions.

 

There is an increase in the risk for a reaction to Flu vaccine if you ever had an anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine, a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to any component of the vaccine or a confirmed anaphylactic hypersensitivity to egg products as the vaccines are prepared in hens’ eggs.

Read more about reaction to Flu vaccine here

IOM report admits vaccines cause measles, seizures, anaphylaxis, etc.

Mainstream media is now in a frenzy over a report just released from the Institute of Medicine linking or not linking common vaccinations to health problems or adverse reactions.

Research it yourself, Google it, whatever way you’d like to do it and you’ll find countless news reports that say, “US Study: Vaccines are Safe,” “Vaccine gets another clean bill of health, but no one is listening,” or “Report Finds Few Side Effects For Vaccines.”

But is the truth really being reported concerning what the IOM report actually states? And does the report have any bearing on if in fact we can say vaccines are safe? Some absolutely disagree.

To continue reading this article, click here.

Institute of Medicine report shows vaccines linked to some health troubles

According to results of a review of more than 1,000 research articles conducted by a committee of experts convened by the Institute of Medicine, few health problems are caused by or clearly linked to vaccines.

The 647-page report was commissioned in 2009 by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which administers the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The agency asked the institute to review the evidence linking eight vaccines and a suite of possible adverse effects that have been the subject of compensation claims.