Childhood Vaccines: Welcome!

Hello and welcome to Group 16's pharmacology blog on Childhood Vaccinations. We've got a variety of topics posted here for you to browse through, so please feel free to read through and enjoy!

VACCINATIONS 101

Getting a vaccination (aka immunization) is a way of building immunity to diseases. This is done by using very minute amounts of a killed or weakened microorganism (virus or bacteria) that causes the particular disease. Once the vaccine is injected, it stimulates our body's immune system to attack and fight off the weakened version of the virus/bacteria and then memorizes the organism so that it can fight it immediately the next time it invades the body.

Some parents worry about their kids having serious reactions or getting illnesses from vaccinations; however, current medical research shows that serious complications are rare. In fact, most medical experts and researchers agree that the benefits associated with vaccinations greatly outweigh the risks.

http://kidshealth.org

http://familydoctor.org

History of Vaccinations

Have you ever contracted smallpox? Most likely you haven’t thanks to a physician named Edward Jenner! Dr. Jenner created the world’s first vaccine for smallpox in the 1790’s practically eliminating smallpox worldwide. It all started when Dr. Jenner took pus from a cowpox lesion on a milkmaid’s hand, and then inoculated an eight-year-old boy, James Phipps. Six weeks later Dr. Jenner injected smallpox onto two sites of Phipp’s arm, as a result Phipp was successfully unaffected. A little more than a century ago, the U.S. infant mortality rate before age five was a staggering 20% because of the common infectious diseases such as measles, diphteria, smallpox, and pertussis. Fortunately, these horrible diseases are controlled thanks to Dr. Jenner and the widespread distribution of safe, effective, and affordable vaccines.

After Dr. Jenner’s milkmaid experiments, they offered the scientific basis for vaccinology. French chemist Louis Pasteur, developer of the rabies vaccine, produced an antitoxin that functioned as a post-infection antidote, expanding the term beyond its association with cows and cowpox. Ultimatly, thanks to Pasteur today’s definition of vaccine is a “suspension of live or inactivated microorganisms or fractions thereof administered to induce immunity and prevent infecitous disease or its sequelae.”

Here is a timeline of the development of vaccines:

18th century

* 1796 First vaccine for Smallpox, first vaccine for any disease

19th century

* 1879 First vaccine for Cholera
* 1881 First vaccine for Anthrax
* 1882 First vaccine for Rabies
* 1890 First vaccine for Tetanus
* 1890 First vaccine for Diphtheria
* 1896 First vaccine for Typhoid fever
* 1897 First vaccine for Plague

20th century

* 1926 First vaccine for Pertussis
* 1927 First vaccine for Tuberculosis
* 1932 First vaccine for Yellow Fever
* 1937 First vaccine for Typhus
* 1945 First vaccine for Influenza
* 1952 First vaccine for Polio
* 1954 First vaccine for Japanese encephalitis
* 1957 First vaccine for adenovirus-4 and 7
* 1962 First Oral Polio Vaccine
* 1964 First vaccine for Measles
* 1967 First vaccine for Mumps
* 1970 First vaccine for Rubella
* 1974 First vaccine for Chicken Pox
* 1977 First vaccine for Pneumonia (Streptococcus pneumoniae)
* 1978 First vaccine for Meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis)
* 1981 First vaccine for Hepatitis B
* 1985 First vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae type b (HiB)
* 1992 First vaccine for Hepatitis A
* 1998 First vaccine for Lyme Disease
* 1998 First vaccine for rotavirus

As this timeline shows, we have come far with the prevention of serious deadly diseases since Jenner’s time. However, effective vaccines for two of the world’s leading killers, HIV and Malaria, are still being researched for a curable vaccine.


http://www.askbaby.com/timeline-vaccinations.htm
http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/24/3/611

General Types of Vaccines

There are numerous vaccinations available in today's world that can offer immunity to various diseases. There are four main types of vaccines that are used:

• Live Attenuated Vaccines: These contain live microorganisms that have been chemically altered so that they will be weaker and not cause disease. After growing and re-growing the organism in a lab, the viruses become weakened (attenuated) and once in the body they will hassle the body and provoke immune responses. These types of vaccines work well and are preferred for use in healthy adults,and examples include:

1. Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
2. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)
3. Varicella (chickenpox) Vaccine

• Killed/Inactivated Vaccines: These contain viruses that have been killed using chemicals (formaldehyde) or heat and are not capable of causing illness, though they can still stimulate immune response. Examples include:

1. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV)(injection)
2. Inactivated Influenza Vaccine

• Toxoid Vaccines: These vaccines are used to treat toxins, which are poisons created by germs (either microorganisms or a nonliving thing). The toxoids are actully inactivated toxins that were treated in order to obliterate their disease-causing abilities. Toxoids are still able to trigger a protective immune response. Examples include:

1. Diptheria Toxoid Vaccine
2. Tetanus Toxoid Vaccine

• Component Vaccines: The vaccines use only a part of the disease-casuing agent, rather than the whole particle. They are not capable of causing disease but are able to stimulate the immune response that will protect the body from the entire germ. Many new vaccines are made using components, including:

1. Haemophilus InfluenzaeType B (Hib) Vaccine
2. Hep A and B Vaccines
3. Pneumoccocal conjugate vaccine

The common theme with all these virus type is that once they are injected into the body, they are not able to cause disease (except for live-attenuated vaccines, which have a very rare chance of causing illness.) In order for vaccines to be the most effective and provide full immunity, booster shots are often required.The vaccines that are most commonly required for children include the following: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio,mumps, measles, rubella, diptheria,pertussis, tetanus, HiB, chicken pox,rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, and pneumonia.

(For more information on virus types, visit Dr. Spock and Wikipedia.)

Recent Cases Regarding Vaccinations

Vaccinations have been getting a lot of media coverage with the ongoing controversy regarding the effectiveness and safety of vaccines. The medical field firmly advocates getting vaccinated and states that the benefits greatly outweigh the risks. Opponents argue that vaccines may be dangerous, may not work, and laws mandating vaccinations are a violation of individual rights.Recently, there has been much attention drawn to the parents of autistic children who claim that vaccinations are to blame for their child's autism. Hollywood celebs Jenny McCarthy and boyfriend Jim Carrey have brought much attention to this issue with McCarthy's son's recovery from autism. There have also been protests by many who are against state-mandated vaccinations. Visit the links below for articles and videos on vaccination-related current events.

HPV Vaccine: Why so unpopular?
It's been hailed as one of the most effective ways to prevent cervical cancer, but millions of young women have yet to get immunized.

Should parents worry about HPV Vaccine?
A vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer is coming under fresh scrutiny amid thousands of complaints linking it to a range of health problems.

HPV Shot blamed for Illnesses
Two girls claim that the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, caused them to become seriously ill.

Jenny McCarthy: My son's recovery from autism
Article written by Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey

Larry King Live: Autism (with Jenny McCarthy)
Larry King talks with Jenny McCarthy about her son's battle with autism. Plus, a panel weighs in on the autism debate.

Flu Shots a Tough Sell to Healthcare Workers
Haven't got your flu shot? Chances are your hospital nurse, doctor haven't either

Does the Flu Vaccine Really Protect Kids?
For the first time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends this year that all children aged six months through 18 years receive the flu vaccine; previous advisories included children only up to five years old.

AIDS Chief Still Hopeful For Eventual Vaccine
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, world-renowned HIV/AIDS researcher who has been on the forefront of battling the disease since it was discovered, previews his speech to this week's International AIDS Conference.

Omnibus Autism Proceeding

Beginning in 2001, parents began filing petitions for compensation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP or Program), alleging that certain childhood vaccinations might be causing or contributing to a neurodevelopmental disorder known as “autism spectrum disorder,” or “autism” for short.

NJ Flu-shot Mandate for Preschoolers Draws Outcry
Jon S. Corzine to allow parents to opt out of new vaccines required by the state. They say the decision should be the parents', not the state's.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine_controversy
http://www.cnn.com

Who All Is Involved?

With all the different types of vaccinations out there, sometimes it's difficult to keep track of all the different information that is being thrown at us. From the time we enter this world as infants, all the way through secondary school, and even as adults, it seems as if we just can't get enough of those vaccines. So let's face it. Whether we can stand those scary needles or not, vaccinations affect us at every level: personal, medical, governmental, educational, etc. Many people are required to get certain vaccines, others are depending on their circumstance. Parents need to be aware of the current vaccination schedules for their children. People planning to travel out of the country need to know what shots to get before they leave. Healthcare personnel have to be vaccinated before they can work. Aside from the people getting poked by the vaccine needles, there are also the doctors and other healthcare professionals who are responsible for informing patients about vaccinations. And then there are the agencies who regulate and provide information on all these vaccines such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You can find a plethora of information regarding vaccines by visiting the websites of any of these respective agencies.

For more information regarding vaccines, please visit any of the websites below:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Many vaccines are routinely recommended for most people; these include polio, mumps, measles, rubella, and tetanus vaccines. Other vaccines are recommended for people because of their age, health, or circumstances. To read more about vaccinations, click here.

World Health Organization
To read about facts, research, and publications regarding immunization and vaccinations, click here.

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
The VICP was created to provide a federal no-fault system for compensating vaccine-related injuries or death. It was established after the 1980s DPT vaccine scare.The U. S. Court of Federal Claims decides who will be paid. Many autism-related claims are currently pending before the court, and have not yet been resolved. For more information, click here.

Vaccine Adverse Event Report System
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a national vaccine safety surveillance program co-sponsored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The purpose of VAERS is to detect possible signals of adverse events associated with vaccines. VAERS collects and analyzes information from reports of adverse events (possible side effects) that occur after the administration of US licensed vaccines. For more information, click here.

http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.who.int/topics/immunization/en/
http://www.fda.gov/CbER/vaers/vaers.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine_controversy

Research and Vaccinations

In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health asked the Institute of Medicine to put together a research team to find the outcomes of vaccinations. As of today, the Center of Disease Control (CDC) still do research studies to find the effects of vaccinations to make sure that no further effects are popping up that they do not know about. The most popular side effects that the public are interested in are autism, ADHD, and other neurological delays such as speech delays caused by vaccinations. Researchers have not found a direct correlation between autism and childhood vaccinations.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/faq_vaccines.htm
http://marloelaine.com/2006/08/05/childhood-immunizations-and-autism/

Why Nurses and Consumers need to know about Vaccinations

Not only should consumers be informed about childhood vaccinations but so should nurses and everybody in the healthcare profession. Consumers should know what type of vaccinations their children are supposed to get, the vaccination schedule, what ingredients make up the vaccinations, and what possible side effects could happen. As a consumer you should know what disease that vaccine is preventing, how that disease is transmitted, and how it can be prevented. Know what the actual symptoms are of the disease versus the symptoms of the vaccine, such as redness around the injection site. Some vaccinations should not be given to children who are allergic to eggs, gelatin, or the antibiotic neomycin. There are three exceptions from mandatory vaccinations and those are religious, medical, and philosophical. Any consumer should do their research before getting any vaccine or major medical procedure.
Nurses and healthcare professionals need to be informed because they are the people doing the exams on the patients, giving the shots, and overlooking the patients overall health. If a child has just come in for a vaccination and then returns with fever and swelling around the injection site you, as the nurse or healthcare provider, would want to be informed as to what was going on. Is this child having an allergic reaction, or is this just normal for this type of vaccination? Also, if a child is coming in with certain symptoms of a disease, you would want to know if it was because they had not had a vaccination and they were in need of a vaccine or if they had actually developed that disease. These are all important questions to know whether you are a consumer or a nurse or a healthcare provider.


http://www.preciouspassage.com/informed%20consent%20vaccinations.htm

Why Vaccinate?

Why Vaccinate?
The motivation behind vaccinating our children is to prevent the transmission of infectious disease and in turn save lives. Vaccination is the reason that many diseases once common in this country are no longer a problem. Polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis, rubella, mumps, and tetanus are now well controlled in the United States. Certain individuals such as the young, elderly, and immunocompromised are particularly susceptible to many vaccine-preventable diseases. Because they may not be able to fight off infection, these groups of people especially benefit from the protection vaccination provides. Epidemic outbreaks of many diseases are unlikely because of the high number of vaccinated individuals in this country. The continuation of immunization is essential to protecting our future. If we stopped vaccinating many diseases that are now rare would make their comeback. Thanks to vaccinations many people are spared death and debilitation every year.

Why Question Vaccination?
As with any medical intervention, there are risks involved with vaccination. Minor side effects are common in some people. The most common are redness, itching, and swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever, chills, muscle aches, and temporary nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. Many people are starting to question whether or not there are long term effects of vaccination. There is ongoing debate of the link between childhood vaccinations and diseases like autism, attention-deficit disorder, allergies, asthma, diabetes, learning disabilities, mitochondrial disease, and some chronic neuroimmune diseases. Ultimately it is up to the parents whether or not to vaccinate. Being informed about the risks involved is the most important factor that should weigh in their decision.

Vaccination Schedule

The the current childhood, adolescent, and catch-up vaccination schedules can be found at on the Center for Disease Control website. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm .