Friday, January 8, 2010

How To Make Sense of the Vaccine Craze


National Influenza Vaccination Month is coming up: January 10-16. This year it will continue its focus on the importance of performing flu vaccinations even after the holiday season, but also making sure everyone receives the H1N1 vaccine specifically.


Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has just released the 2010 Pediatric Vaccination schedule. And guess who made her debut? If you shouted "H1N1," you got it! Find the most up-to-date guidelines on the AAP's new parenting website: http://www.healthychildren.org/.


Over the Holidays some new literature surfaced on "best practices" of childhood vaccinations. There was discussion on whether or not you should decline combo doses, and many medical professionals believe #1 that there is no increased risk with combo doses and #2 that it is much more comfortable for your child to receive less "pokes." Keep in mind, many of the physicians would benefit from your return visit and the extra $15 co-pay, so I'm pretty sure if they felt differently, they'd promote their own business and have you back.


Also, if your first inclination is to use pain relievers prophylactically when your child is scheduled for immunizations, you might reconsider. New research suggests that using fever-reducers such as acetaminophen before or soon after a vaccination may actually reduce its effectiveness. Researchers maintain that the low-grade fever may be a sign of your child developing antibodies and building a proper immune response to the jab. However, if your child gets a spiking fever following certain immunizations, you should always call your Pediatrician. If you are unsure what to expect following shots, ask your doctor.