US: vaccination vs. autism?

[Helevitia]

Just read this today, thought I'd pass it along. This seems insane to me. Why would we want to make an exemption to allow mercury back in flu shots? Is there a corporate money greed reason behind this? The companies asking or the exemption are Kaiser, the California Medical Association and the California Academy of Family Physicians
.

State asked to allow mercury in flu shots

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/local/15909299.htm?source=yahoodist&content=cct_news

[Umfriend]

Is it normal practice in the US to vaccinate kids against flu?

[ND66]

Just read this today, thought I'd pass it along. This seems insane to me. Why would we want to make an exemption to allow mercury back in flu shots? Is there a corporate money greed reason behind this? The companies asking or the exemption are Kaiser, the California Medical Association and the California Academy of Family Physicians
.


http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...ntent=cct_news

Just watch this:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8521979193606132627&q=Autism&hl=en

.

[ND66]

Is it normal practice in the US to vaccinate kids against flu?

Should be.

Many young kids not getting flu shots
By Kevin Freking, Associated Press Writer | October 4, 2006

WASHINGTON --Far too few young children get annual flu shots, particularly those who are most at risk of serious illness or death because they have asthma or other chronic diseases.

A survey released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that only about one-third of children between age 6 months and 2 years get a flu vaccination. A different survey, conducted by state health departments, says about 48 percent of children in that same age group are getting their flu vaccine.

"The real message is, no matter what survey you look at, we're nowhere near protecting the number of children that we're supposed to," said Dr. Jeanne Santoli, a pediatrician at the CDC.

This year, medical experts have expanded the age range of children who should be vaccinated. Health officials now say children between 6 months and 5 years should get flu shots; previously the range was 6 months to 2 years. Many parents may not be aware of the change.

Regardless of age, if children have such chronic conditions as asthma or diabetes, they should get a flu vaccine. However, only about a third of children in the high-risk categories do.

The primary reason for the low vaccination rates is that many Americans don't take flu seriously. Less than half of the people who responded to a consumer survey plan to be immunized against the flu this year, says the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Of that group, 43 percent did not think the flu was serious enough to warrant vaccination.

Many others, 46 percent, worried that getting a vaccine would cause them to get sick. Occasionally, people getting the vaccine experience a mild fever and fatigue for a day, but recipients cannot get the flu from the vaccine. "That's a very persistent myth, but a myth nonetheless," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University.

This year, a vaccine shortage won't be a credible excuse for failure to get a shot. More than 100 million doses of vaccine will be available -- the most ever. The dosages are available as a shot or through nasal spray.

"Vaccine that remains in the refrigerator cannot prevent influenza," Schaffner said.

The stakes are high when it comes to the flu, said officials who attended a press conference designed to raise awareness of the illness. It kills about 36,000 people each year and puts more than 200,000 people in the hospital. Most of the deaths and serious cases are among the elderly.

Officials noted that the government pays for influenza vaccination for Medicare beneficiaries, yet only about two-thirds of seniors get a flu vaccine. The vaccine is one way the Bush administration is trying to get beneficiaries to focus on preventing disease, said Dr. Mark McClellan, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"What we have here is another example of a prevention gap," McClellan said.

Officials are also trying to get the word out to families that children ages 2 to 5 have been added to the list of groups that should get vaccinated.

For that age group, officials noted the flu leads to a higher rate of clinic and emergency room visits than do other illnesses.

While children under the age of 6 months should not get vaccinated, it's important that their siblings and parents do. First-ever vaccination of a young child requires two separate doses.

Other priority groups for vaccination include: all people 50 and older, all people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and AIDS who are older than 6 months of age, all pregnant women and all health care workers.

Each year, reports of a vaccine shortage invariably flare up as doctors report not being able to get all of the vaccine that they ordered the previous February. Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC, said there is often a mismatch in the early part of the season with some health care providers getting too many doses, and some not enough. However, overall, there should be plenty of vaccine this year.

[Umfriend]

I can see that for the elderly and all who suffers from diseases or conditions which increase the probability of complications with a flu. But I suspect that a tiny bit less than 40% of the kids are either elderly, suffer from asthma or diabetes etc.

Let me rephrase: is it normal practice in the US to vacinate kids who have no medical indication against flu?

[Dr Mordrid]

Young ones over 6 mos. old, yes.

These are the 2006 CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendations;

* persons aged 65 years and older, with and without chronic health conditions
* residents of long-term care facilities
* persons aged 2 to 64 years with chronic health conditions
* children aged 6 to 23 months
* pregnant women
* health-care personnel who provide direct patient care
* household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged less than 6 months

Vaccination is also recommended for all people 6 months of age and older who have been displaced by hurricane Katrina and are still living in group settings.

This list is shorter than usual due to a slight shortage of this years vaccine.

Who should not get vaccinated;

* People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
* People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
* Influenza vaccine is not approved for use in children less than 6 months of age.
* People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
* People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.

[Umfriend]

Amazing. We don't have that over here for normally healthy people under 65. I am not sure we should.

[Dr Mordrid]

If you're offered a bird flu shot take it. If that becomes virulent it's likely to be evil.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4308872.stm

[Gurm]

Any government that would do nothing about this because it is being bribed by a megacorp that wants to make a few pennies more needs to be taken down.

Oh hush!

It's not the pharmaceutical companies' fault.

The demand for Vaccines is sky high, especially flu vaccines. Due to high demand, unless you order your vaccines ahead of time and specifically ask for them without Thimerosal, they might not have fresh stuff for you.

[Jammrock]

Let me rephrase: is it normal practice in the US to vacinate kids who have no medical indication against flu?

Yes and no. Doctors advise from 6 months to 3 or 6 years, depending on how bad they suspect the flu season will be, should get a flu vaccines. But most American's don't. Either because supply is low, costs too much (there is a special 2 dose vaccine for children so their immune systems don't overload), they are against vaccinations, or they simply don't care.

Jammrock

[Dr Mordrid]

That said most health plans provide them free or for a nominal fee and go so far as to bug you by mail to get one if you're in a risk group. They sent me 3 notices (asthmatic) before I finally succumbed to Margies harassment

Another source is retailers and malls by way of the health dept. or some hospital groups setting up a flu shot clinic. The Kroger's grocery store near us is hosting one of these clinics & you can get a vaccination for ~$20 USD.

[Paddy]

My son got all his vaccines on time until he was two and he has near autism, though not autistic, symptoms. Yes, little boys are hyper, but he is above and beyond the call of duty.

My daughter has not received any, save for one that was required by law at birth. She's the happiest, healthiest baby I know.

*shrug* coincidence? Maybe. But if you have read what happens to some kids after getting vaccinated you would think twice. As for the people who are going to automatically jump on me, the US is pretty much the only G8 nation left that uses thimerosal to preserve vaccines. So anyone from Europe and non-North American countries who says, "I've never seen it happen..." you haven't. Because your government outlawed thimerosal a long time ago.

The reason why thimerosal is still in use in the US? It allows pharmacuticals to use larger jars, thus less production costs. Or something along those lines. The vaccines themselves are mostly harmless, but the preservative many say is very harmful ... so this isn't an anti-vaccine post, just an anti-thimerosal post.

Jammrock

If you saw any of the conditions that the vaccines are trying to prevent then you would not think twice! My 6month old is fully vaccinated. Sorry if that sounded harsh i'm leaving for work and skimmed over the thread.

[KvHagedorn]

I've seen the flu and I've seen autism. Unless it's some weird strain like the 1918 flu, people get over it. Autism is forever. Why is there no alternate preservative? They can't just freeze the stuff? Under no circumstances would I allow mercury to be injected into a loved one, and if you told me I had to, I would kill to prevent it.

[Gurm]

I've seen the flu and I've seen autism. Unless it's some weird strain like the 1918 flu, people get over it. Autism is forever. Why is there no alternate preservative? They can't just freeze the stuff? Under no circumstances would I allow mercury to be injected into a loved one, and if you told me I had to, I would kill to prevent it.

We did it the once. Jacob was SO sick ALL the time that we couldn't risk Logan bringing home the flu from preschool. We just couldn't.

That said, I have for all their routine non-emergency vaccinations specifically requested non-mercury delivery systems. Period.

[Helevitia]

Took my daughter in today for her 6 month shots. This is the set where they add the flu shot, so I specifically asked about Thimerosal. My doctor told me that all of the normal vaccines are Thimerosal free and this is the first year where the flu shot is free of it as well. Just thought I'd pass along the info.