I was talking to a friend 2day.... - NOT trying to start a debate......
punkeemunkee'smom wrote: A friend of mine called me on her way home from an ENT appointment for one of her kids today and he told her that it is now MANDATORY for any child under 5 to recieve an ear infection vaccine before they enter school  A vaccine for EAR INFECTIONS??????  I have never even heard of it....Has anyone else?
ALL children don't get ear infections and I know that some get continual ones and have to have tubes inserted BUT isn't there a such thing as going to far? I mean some things are just childhood illnesses...Shouldn't they fight some germs off on their own? 
mummy2girls replied: Y es I think that is going overboard there! Expecially ebcause alot of kids dont get ear infections...
Maddie&EthansMom replied: mandatory by whom, I wonder. they certainly can't make you get one, but if the public schools require it i wonder how one would get past it.
Maddie had a couple of ear infections as a baby, but outgrew it by the time she was one. Ethan has never had an ear infection.
This is just ridiculous imo. 
punkeemunkee'smom replied:
Aimee~  Haven't talked to you in a while 
Anyway he(the doctor) said it is a new state law-they use manatory so flipantly   Here we can opt out of any shot by filling out a paper with the school. BUT alot of people don't know that and so when they hear it from the doctor they just do it. I just thought an ear infection vaccine was a little much!
Maddie&EthansMom replied: Hey girl  Been busy?
I'm definetly going to ask my ped about this when I take Tater in next week. I'm curious. 
punkeemunkee'smom replied:
It has been busy around here and so hot we have been laying under the ceiling fans to keep cool!   I wonder now too-like I said I had never heard of it before but Tay in contraindicated anyway so I don't always hear about the 'new shot list' That's why I was curious if anyone else had
redchief replied: I understand your reluctance to go forward with the vaccine, but perhaps if you knew a little more about the benefits of the vaccine, you might change your mind?
The vaccine in question protects against colonization of Pneumococcal Bacterium. If you read into that you can extract the word pneumonia. The bacterium that cause otitis media (ear infections) and pneumonia are the same. So by having your children vaccinated you won't just be protecting them from ear infections, you'll also be protecting them from pneumonia and bacterial meningitis. This vaccine is protein based, like the polio, MMR and hepetitis vaccines so there is no active bacterium in the vaccine. Finally, in wide ranging studies across the country, there was a success rate of over 97% in preventing bacterial pneumonia after all boosters. It was nearly 94% effective in preventing pneumonia in exposed children after a single dose.
I know many don't like vaccines, and in all honesty I'm not real crazy about sticking needles in kids either, but think about the longterm benefits of nearly wiping out childhood pneumonia. I like the way that looks. 
~~*Missi*~~ replied: the ear infection shot Vaccine that she is referring to the shot called
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which is given to 18m or older.
I know sabrina will get it at her 2 yr appt if not 18m, I really don't remember the schedule but yes the pneumococcal conjugate in "madatory" because of the prevention of highly infectious illness such as pneumonia menigitis etc...
here are some sites on the shot
clickhere1
BEST SITE FOR INFO...
huggybugboy replied: Well why the heck dont they offer it to the kids like Miles who are getting them every two weeks, or who have to end up with tubes in their ears?!?
CantWait replied: I have never heard of an Ear Infection Vaccine. I think it's a GREAT idea. My friend's kids have both been very prone to them, and she's constantly at the doctor. Her youngest one has got surgery sceduled to get tubes put in at the end of the month. Her oldest one got them as a toddler as well. I do think making it mandatory is rediculous. Ear infections aren't contagious, as with the flu, so I don't see what business it is of the schools. Not to mention that ear infections normally clear up by the time kids are in school.
luvmykids replied: Is your doctor talking about prevnar? When Colt was getting ear infections frequently thats the one the doc suggested. It seems like it was actually for other illnesses believed to contribute to ear infections. I could be wrong, thats just what came to mind. To make a long story short, if thats what it is he's referring to, then yes, I've heard of it. (Don't mind my rambling, it's late!)
CAMSMOM1 replied:
Ed, thanks again for giving such helpful information. Most people don't take the time to do their research on vaccines, or anything of that matter, before forming opinions. So it's nice to know what the vaccine is for, and as you said, it's not just for ear infections, but for pneumonia, and bacterial meningitis.
I like the success rates!!! Wow...97% & 94% is great sucess rates!!!
I know that Cameron has had a FEW ear infections, and it would be great to get this vaccine, especially for the protection against the other conditions you listed.
And ITA, the longterm benefits of wiping out childhood pneumonia, meningitis, and ear infections would be awesome!!! Thanks for sharing this info!!
amynicole21 replied: I thought that vaccine just came out?! I don't understand why they would make a vaccine for a non-life threatening illness mandatory! It's like the chicken pox vaccine - yea, chicken pox suck and they make a kid miss some school, but to make the vaccine mandatory is stepping over the line in my opinion 
And I just heard a news report that the ear infection vaccine only reduced the number of ear infections by 30%...
3_call_me_mama replied: AS Ed stated it is teh pneumonalcoccal conjugate (sorry if I butchered that word)
It is teh prevnar shot. (The one Kimberly asked about a few weeks ago)
It is designed to exactally what Ed said. And yes they have seen a high effective rate, but there is also a high reaction rate with that, and it is difficult to gauge how accurate effective rates are on somethign like this shot because some childrne appear to just be prone to earinfections and others not. Same with pneumonia. It's hard to say "Oh it's cut pneumonia way down, when in fact those children may never have gotten pneumonia in teh first place"
This is teh first shot Kathleen had a reaction to and she doesn't get it anymore (after her 2 month visit) and she's had 1 ear infection to date. (She's 18 months)
Cameron has all teh reccommended doses and he's had 5 or 6 ear infections. Neither has ever had pneumonia. My best friends kids have both had teh shot, full series, and 1 has been hospitalized for teh pneumoina twice and has ear infections on a regular basis and is getting tubes once teh weather warms up. He son has had pneumonia each winter and is on his 3rd double ear infection this year (He just turned 1)
Like all vaccinations it is best to do your research adn figure out teh risks and teh benefits and what you want for your family. HUGS to all that are struggling with infections  It's never fun when kids get ill.
MamaJAM replied: I have never heard of an 'ear infection vaccine'. I'll have to ask my ped about it. If it's a vaccine that is _only_ for EIs then I will certainly be refusing it for my kids....though if it's a vax that covers other illnesses that are more serious - I'll have to think it over a bit more.
Considering that only one of my children has ever had an EI...and that was only ONE time -- I see an EI-vax as completely unimportant. (JMO)
Kirstenmumof3 replied: Claudia had he vaccine only because she was getting so many ear infections. It didn't really help and she still ended up having tubes put in her ears.
booey2 replied: My boys had ear infections a lot when they were little, but once DH stopped smoking they almost disappeared. I know that the Canadian government has now made 3 more vaccines available free and I think one was chickenpox, one the ear infection on but I can't remember the 3rd.
luvbug00 replied: never heard of it!!
~~*Missi*~~ replied: here is a "sample" vaccine schedule if you follow what your doctors suggested then your children have had the PREVAR "ear infection" vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and 12 (or somewhere around this schedule)...
""""Standard guidelines and practices are an important part of modern medicine. They have helped to elevate our health and to provide a framework in which we can evaluate how well we are doing in particular areas.
Guidelines have been set for many health issues. Experts are able to devote a considerable amount of time to a particular question (far more than an individual physician could ever hope to achieve), thus the benefit of many experts' in-depth knowledge on many different questions is now available to individual families and physicians. A subcommittee of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, has established the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule for the United States for 2002:
Hepatitis B #1 -- Birth (may be delayed for up to 2 months if mother is HBsAg(-)
Hepatitis B #2 -- 1 to 4 months
Hepatitis B #3 -- 6 to 18 months
Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis (DTaP) #1 -- 2 months
DTaP #2 -- 4 months
DTaP #3 -- 6 months
DTaP #4 -- 15 to 18 months
DTaP #5 -- 4 to 6 years
Tetanus Booster -- 11 to 12 years
H. influenzae type b (Hib) #1 -- 2 months
Hib #2 -- 4 months
Hib #3 -- 6 months
Hib #4 -- 12 to 15 months
Inactivated Polio #1 -- 2 months
Inactivated Polio #2 -- 4 months
Inactivated Polio #3 -- 6 to 18 months
Inactivated Polio #4 -- 4 to 6 years
Measles , mumps, and rubella (MMR) #1 -- 12 to 15 months
MMR #2 -- 4 to 6 years
Varicella Zoster Virus Vaccine (chickenpox) -- 12 to 18 months
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine #1 -- 2 months
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine #2 -- 4 months
Pneumoccocal conjugate vaccine #3 -- 6 months
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine #4 -- 12-15 months
Hepatitis A #1 -- 2 years or older (in selected areas/situations)
Hepatitis A #2 -- 6-12 months after Hepatitis A #1 (in selected areas/situations)
Influenza -- Annually for children older than 6 months with certain risk factors. May also be given to all others wishing immunity. Children under 9 receiving influenza immunization for the first time require 2 doses, 4 weeks apart.
Meningococcal vaccine-- 2 years or older in high risk groups including college students living in dormitories and military recruits.
Other vaccines may be prescribed by your pediatrician based on risk factors.
If you will be traveling outside the country, contact your physician regarding special vaccines that are recommended for the area in which you will be traveling.
Any dose not given at the recommended age should be given as a "catch-up" immunization at any subsequent visit when indicated and feasible.
As you've discovered in your baby book, the basic immunization schedule for MMR is to do the first immunization between 12 and 15 months of age. Beth, you are right that the immunization is less effective before 12 months. Still, your pediatrician's idea of giving the measles vaccine at eight months in a situation where measles is very common makes sense. This will afford some extra protection for the next several months until your son turns one. The immunization should, however, be repeated between 12 and 15 months in order to insure full protection later. Experts agree that even though an earlier dose is less effective than a later one, in a situation like yours, the extra dose does nothing but provide early protection -- if the normal dose is still given at the appropriate time. In fact, pediatric infectious disease experts recommend the first dose as early as 6 months if the chance of measles exposure is high enough.
The example of your physician's stepping outside of the routine, and your questioning of it, is an excellent illustration of how guidelines should be used -- to delineate what is best for the most common situations, but not to inhibit us from thinking specifically about each individual child.""""""
I am not here to tell debate whatever its your child its your choice to do what you please but if you do the "ear infection" vaccine is the PREVAR and most llikely if they are thru there first two sets of shots they most likely have had it~~~
http://www.drgreene.com/21_203.html
http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/scheduler_le/default.asp
Hope these help. I know that my choice is to vaccinate my children besides the flu and chicken pox vaccine. I have done my research and I think its best for my family....
Plus without the PREVAR vaccine Sabrina could be in the hospital right now as we speak with aeromonas hydrophilic (hydrophilia) pneumonia that she would have contracted from her grandfather. He almost died and well thank god she was vaccinated!!! (he contracted it in the hospital and childrens hospital where sabrina was sunday with a 105.2 fever said the only thing that kept her from not getting it was most likely the protection of the vaccine)...We have been on the phone with infection specialist that were called in because of the rarity of this illness
mom21kid2dogs replied:
Have they perfected this vaccine in the last few years, Ed? (It's been awhile since I've had to do any vaccine research ) When Olivia was little, this was the only vaccine I declined (aside from the flu shot) because of it's "effectiveness". At that time (4 years ago), it was only effective against 8 strains of mennigitis(I believe there are over 20) and two of the most deadly weren't even included. It was fairly effective at preventing pnemonia as I recall, but my daughter wasn't at high risk of contracting that anyway. It does no good against the viral strain, IIRC.
You guys in FL must have a really bored legislature there between this and determining what age one can pump gas! Those guys need more golf courses or something!!
punkeemunkee'smom replied: Ed,Thank You for the medical info. Missi you too! Like I said I had not heard of it before-sorry if this was a repeat post-guess I missed that one. Taylor reacted severely to her vacinations so like I said I don't always hear about all the shots that are out there.
jcc64 replied: We got Prevnar for Corey, though it wasn't presented as an "ear infection" vaccine- it was more for the protection against pneumonia (which I had as a child, and I was very very sick for 2 months).
And no shots are technically mandatory, if you know your rights. This has been discussed many times on this board, and I know many kids here in our school district who have never received one single vaccine. That wouldn't be my choice, but it is your right as a parent to refuse a vaccine.
amynicole21 replied: OK, well both of my girls have had Prevnar - didn't know that was what you were talking about. Both of my girls also have had CHRONIC ear infections both before and after receiving it.
punkeemunkee'smom replied: I guess the name Prevnar does ring a bell but I have never heard of it as the ear-infection vaccine.
The same friend was telling me that Chicken Pox are going around her daughter's Kinder program and that 4 of the 6 kids who have it had the shot. They think that the one who started it got it FROM the shot. Lastyear it was whopping cough in large #s. They were treating whole classrooms full of kids to try and stop the infection spread. I know that vaccines have stopped many of the dieases that struck fear into the hearts of our grandparents and parents BUT where does the line get drawn? It is TRUE that children are injured by vaccinations,some severely. When does it become a case of too many?
MamaJAM replied:
Same here -- I replied before after just reading the OP....didn't read on until now. My kids definately get prevnar but it was NEVER presented to me as an EI vaccine. Maybe since my kids never got EIs the doc's didn't bring up that side of thing....who knows.
3_call_me_mama replied:
OT but to reply to this.. yes some diseases can infact be cause from recently vaccinated children. Especially those that are considered "shedding " vaccines. Chicken pox and The Flu shot are 2 that I know if.
Mom2BNTN replied: I don't think an ear infection vaccine should be made mandatory at all!! However, I do feel that one should be available to any parents who would at least like the option for their children.
amynicole21 replied: Are we sure they're talking about prevnar when they say the ear infection vaccine? There is a new one that was just announced this week:
vaccine story
~~*Missi*~~ replied: Amy,
everything I can find on GlaxoSmith Kline that its identical to the Prevnar vaccine with the name Streptorix. That is commonly used for the pneumonia and menigitis etc.... I am going to guess that its like every other med in the world that has different names from different developers.... i can't find much on it even on there site.
http://www.gsk.com/responsibility/Download...s_medicines.pdf
http://search.gsk.com/cgi-bin/RS.cgi
there isn't alot of the site about the drug but according to the blurb about the streptorix...who knows
LOL
I know that drugs/vaccines aren't manadory but I know that my doctor has told me that I HAVE to have her vaccinated for flu and CP. Which oh well NO i don't and won't if I have to leave the doctor I will.
If there was a ear infection vaccine that was SOLELY for EI's i would take it after the week I have had with Sabrina and this was her first. She was in the hospital and today is the first day she is acting somewhat back to herself. It will be a week tomorrow
Off to bath the dirty beast
3_call_me_mama replied: Amy i'm not sure.. I am pretty sure that that one is teh same thign as prevnar with just a diferent manufacturer. And i also was reading an article on prevanr adn peopel opting out and one thing that Dr's are doing to encourage peopel to get it is promote the ear infection things since a majority of babies and jkids get them adn they can be quite trouble some and bothersoem to parents and babies. So they are looking to get teh common iollness out there as a reason to use teh vaccine (Does that make sense?) For example... a parent may feel that their child will never get menengitis so they aviod that shot, but the child may have had an ear infection or two adn was miserable so they would be more likely to get it casue they have had experience with the thing it is preventing against. (At lesat that is what some Dr's are thinking)
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