Vaccines Everyone Should Know About: Who Needs Them and Why

It’s officially September, which means pools are closing, back to school shopping is upon us, and most importantly we have to get up to date on our health! Vaccines are a big part of preparing for the upcoming season, whether you are 6 months old or 106!

 

VACCINES BASICS

 

Vaccines work by introducing a minimal, inactive part of an infectious agent (bacteria, virus) into our body. Our immune system then reacts by developing antibodies against the infectious agent within about two weeks. These antibodies give us immunity against these infectious agents if we come up against them in the real world.

 

By the way, the most common SIDE EFFECTS of the vaccines to be discussed are a result of why they work in the first place. Within 24-48 hours of a vaccination you may develop a very mild version of the illness the vaccine is preventing! A low fever, muscle aches, headache or runny nose may occur but will be very mild and short lasting. This is why it is important not to get your vaccine when you are already feeling rundown or ill.

 

Vaccines are nothing short of a modern medical miracle. Chronic diseases such as polio and diphtheria used to kill people less than a century ago but today are basically eradicated because of vaccines. We cannot underestimate the value of this preventive medicine, so it is unfortunate that many groups advocate against vaccinations. To read more on my take on why childhood vaccinations are so important to our society, click https://www.docannie.com/the-american-medical-association-speaks-out-about-vaccines/

 

I’d like to highlight 3 important vaccines that aren’t just for children but are important for a wide spectrum of society.

 

INFLUENZA

The dreaded “Flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. Every year, the flu can wreak havoc on our society, causing thousands of lost work and school days, as well as up to 50,000 deaths annually, 90% of which occur in those over 65 years old.

 

The influenza virus, which causes the flu, can come in many serotypes. Each year, researchers determine the serotype of flu virus that will most likely occur in the upcoming season. This is basically a research-based, educated “guesstimate” each year, and for now it is the best option we have! The vaccine is then developed to protect against the influenza viruses that research shows will be most likely to be prevalent.

 

What is the flu?

 

Infection with the influenza virus can cause a rapid onset of high fever, muscle aches, generalized fatigue and headache. One day you’re fine and the next day you can’t even get out of bed.

 

So who’s most at risk?

 

• Children under 5 years old, especially under 2!
• Adults over 65 years old
• Pregnant women and women in early postpartum period
• Nursing home and assisted living facility residents AND employees
• All people with chronic diseases such as asthma, heart disease, COPD and   emphysema, diabetes, and neurologic diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s
• All who are immunocompromised (chronic steroid treatment, cancer, HIV/AIDS)

 

In these high-risk people, within a few days, the flu can go from fever and muscle aches to potentially deadly complications! That’s why it is so important for not only these people to get vaccinated, but for those who care for them (including healthcare workers) or live in close contact with them.

 

When you look at this list of high risk people and the potential complications, it’s clear: everyone 6 months or older should get a flu vaccine each year – healthy people can have it and pass it on to those at risk for more serious fatal complications.

 

When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.

 

When to get the vaccine?

 

Late September is the ideal time to get the flu vaccine, so your immunity lasts throughout the flu season, which can go as late as May. If you don’t get it in early fall, you can still get vaccinated as late as December or January and still be protected, if you haven’t already contracted the flu!

 

 

Tips for parents:

 

The younger your child, the higher his or her risk of developing serious complications from the flu.

 

• The CDC recommends use of the nasal spray vaccine for healthy children age 2 through 8 as soon as it becomes available.

 

• There is some evidence that the nasal spray vaccine may work better in younger children than a regular flu shot!

 

• It’s usually easier on your child (and you!) to get a nasal spray versus a shot! Check with your pediatrician if your child doesn’t have a contraindication to the nasal spray (some kids with an egg allergy, asthma, or weak immune systems may not be able to take the spray).

 

Researchers are working on an ORAL pill form of the flu vaccine. We are also hopeful that soon we will have a vaccine that covers all possible serotypes in a season in one shot. STAY TUNED!

 

 

PREVNAR

There are more than 90 types of pneumococcal bacteria.

The Prevnar vaccine (PCV13) prevents infection caused by 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria.  These 13 strains are in this vaccine because they cause the most severe infections in children and adults.

Another pneumococcal vaccine called Pneumovax (PPSV23) protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is recommended for all adults age 65 or older, as well as all adults smoke or who have asthma.

 

How do you get pneumococcal disease?

 By getting infected with the streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. These bacteria can spread from person to person through coughing, handshaking, sneezing and other close contact with someone who is infected.

 

What can pneumococcal disease lead to?

Signs you’ve been infected include fever, chills, sore throat, cough and weakness. An ear infection (otitis media) is also common, and if left untreated can lead to permanent hearing loss. Untreated, these bacteria can cause a wide range of health problems, from chronic upper respiratory infections to full-blown pneumonia and infection in the blood.

 

Pneumoccal meningitis is rare but serious enough for us all to be concerned. In children, it is fatal in about 1 out of 10 cases.

 

Meningitis, or infection and swelling of the layers surrounding the brain, can develop quickly and needs to be treated immediately. Signs include neck stiffness and pain along with headache. Meningitis can lead to serious long-term complications such as deafness and brain damage.

 

Who’s most at risk?

• Again, young children, especially under 5 years old, are at greatest risk
• Adults over 65 years old
• Adults who smoke or have asthma
• Anyone who is immunocompromised (cancers, HIV/AIDS, chronic medications)

 

Tips For Parents:

• The Prevnar vaccine is routinely given to children at 2, 4, 6, and 12–15 months of age.

 

• Immunity against pneumococcal bacteria is only provided after all four vaccines have been administered!

 

• This vaccine is only available currently in shot form.

 

Before we had this vaccine, complications from pneumococcal infections caused many health problems in our country, including 700 cases of meningitis and over 200 deaths EACH YEAR.

Again, pneumococcal disease is preventable through vaccination. Both Prevnar and Pneumovax vaccines are safe and drastically reduce the occurrence of disease.

 

MENINGOCOCCAL

Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.

About 1 out of 10 people are carrier of this bacteria, meaning you can find it in the back of their nose and throat but they have no signs or symptoms of disease. It is when Neisseria meningitidis bacteria invade the body that they cause the dreaded disease known as meningococcal disease.

 

Who’s at greatest risk for Meningococcal disease?

• Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but teens and young adults 16 through 25 years old are at increased risk
• Anyone living in a community setting, such as a college dormitory or army barracks. Outbreaks have occurred on college campuses the past few years
• People on certain medications such as chronic steroids or immunosuppressives for Rheumatoid Arthritis or Inflammatory Bowel Disease

• The immunocompromomised, such as people who have had transplants, have cancer, or HIV/AIDS

 

So how is Meningococcal disease spread?

Through person to person contact and exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (like saliva or spit). Close contact like coughing can also spread the disease, especially if you live together. This is why an infection of one person on a college campus can spread rapidly.

The bacteria responsible for this disease have a predilection for the brain and spinal cord’s protective membranes, causing a potentially deadly meningitis. This is why the bacteria are named Neisseria meningitides.

In meningococcal meningitis, the patient typically experiences a sudden onset of fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Additional symptoms are light sensitivity (photophobia), confusion, nausea and vomiting.

These symptoms typically develop within 3-7 days after exposure; but to the patient they can come on very abruptly. With a busy college student, they can feel fine one day at class and be in the hospital barely alert the next day.

Infants obviously can’t report neck stiffness and may just be overly irritable, vomiting or refusing to eat. With any concern they should be brought in for an examination.

Meningococcal disease can also lead to Bloodstream infection (septicemia), causing symptoms such as fever, chills, cold hands and feet, extreme fatigue, muscle pains, rapid breathing and diarrhea.

With any version of meningococcal disease, it is important that treatment with IV antibiotics be started as soon as possible. A spinal tap and blood cultures will usually be performed right away.

 

Why the vaccine is SO IMPORTANT:

 Even with antibiotics, 10 to 15 percent of people infected with meningococcal disease will die. Of those who survive the disease, anywhere from 10 to 20 percent will have long-term complications, such as deafness, loss of limb(s), or brain damage.

Since the first meningitis vaccine was introduced against Hib (haemophilus influenzae), many kinds of meningitis have been reduced greatly, including pneumococcal. Now that we have a meningococcal vaccine those numbers a dwindling even faster!

 

Who should get the vaccine?

• MenACWY vaccine should be given to all children at 10-11 years of age
• MenB vaccine covers a second serotype B of the bacteria and should be given as a 2 dose series to adolescent between 10 and 25 years old
• MenB can also be given if there is an outbreak at a college campus, since most outbreaks are due to this serotype B.
• All those about to start college but were vaccinated as a young adult need a BOOSTER:

Typical vaccine protection lasts for 10 years; however, recent data suggest protection declines in most teens within 5 years. Based on this, if you got a shot at 11 or 12 years old your immunity is probably waning by the time you go to college and are at greatest risk!

 

What about children younger than 10?

There is currently no recommendation in the US for young children to be vaccinated, unless they have a weakened immune system, have had their spleen removed, or actually live in a high-risk environment.

 

It is interesting to note, however, that the UK recently made this a mandatory vaccine given as a 3 dose series to all infants at ages 2, 4 and 12 months. Our government is currently evaluating the safety and efficacy of vaccinating earlier.

 

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT GETTING THIS IMPORTANT VACCINE FOR YOUR CHILD REGARDLESS OF AGE!

 

There is a saying: Your vaccine protects me, my vaccine protects you.  This is how vaccination works!  The healthiest of people who goes unvaccinated can carry a disease he or she passes on to their loved one, proving serious or even deadly.