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| CDC recommending pertussis vaccinations now; adults & teens (meningitis for some too) | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 29 2005, 07:37 PM (122 Views) | |
| Amanda | Oct 29 2005, 07:37 PM Post #1 |
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Senior Carp
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Asked Dr. Moon about this before, but since then, the warnings have stepped up. They DO have this new vaccine available now. I'm saving this article to argue with my son's pediatrician with, if the practice objects again (I asked months ago too and was told they weren't giving it). Last year there were several cases in our town (pertussis=whooping cough). It's VERY contagious and means missing months of school if only on account of communicability. Can be dangerous too. I speak as someone who had it as a kid, and it was NO fun. For a teen to miss that much school would probably mean not graduating on time. BTW for any of you with a child entering college, the recommendation now is definitely in favor of a meningitis immunization too. We've had a few tragic deaths of students in town - remember, we have a university here. It's apparently largely a function of students living in crowded (i.e., dorm) housing. Military recruits are especially vulnerable too. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/515595?src=nldne U.S. Panel Urges Pertussis Vaccine for Adults By Paul Simao ATLANTA (Reuters) Oct 27 - U.S. adults should be vaccinated against pertussis to stop its spread among infants, who are especially vulnerable to the infection, a federal advisory panel recommended on Wednesday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's advisory committee on immunization unanimously approved the recommendation amid signs that pertussis is becoming more common, especially among teenagers. Nearly 19,000 cases were reported across the United States in 2004, a sharp increase from previous years. "This vote will help curtail that trend and help us stop the spread of pertussis," said Dr. Bill Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert and a member of the CDC advisory committee, which met in Atlanta. Health experts advise that infants receive the DTP vaccine at 2-month intervals after birth, followed by a fourth dose about 1 year later and a booster between the ages of 4 and 6 years. Immunity, however, only lasts between 5 and 10 years. Prompted by rising numbers of cases among middle school and high school students, the CDC advisory committee recently recommended that adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18 receive the Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, in place of the previously recommended diphtheria tetanus booster. It extended that recommendation on Wednesday to include adults to protect vulnerable newborns from exposure to an infected parent or other adult. The recommendation, if followed, could also help reduce the number of adults with chronic cough caused by pertussis, Schaffner said. The Tdap vaccine, however, is not licensed for use in seniors. Reuters Health Information 2005. © 2005 Reuters Ltd. |
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[size=5] We should tolerate eccentricity in others, almost to the point of lunacy, provided no one else is harmed.[/size] "Daily Telegraph", London July 27 2005 | |
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| pianojerome | Oct 29 2005, 07:43 PM Post #2 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I had a meningitis shot a few days before I left for college. It isn't required by the university, but's it's very strongly recommended for all students living in a dorm. Apparantly, they just came out with this brand new vaccine (which is the one that the doctor gave me) that prevents more forms of meningitis. But the deadliest form still doesn't have a vaccine, though it's a very rare form, so it's probably not something to worry about so much. |
| Sam | |
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