11/17- Pediatric Health Maintenance and Vaccination Controversy Flashcards

1
Q

Key notes to start:

The ACIP recommended immunization schedule is safe and effective.

  • Vaccines are given to infants & children to offer the most protection when they need it most.
  • The immune system is not overwhelmed.
  • It is NOT “too many, too soon.”
A

Yup

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2
Q

T/F: Vaccine concerns have arisen mostly in the past generation

A

False- started way back in revolutionary times

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3
Q

What were some of the concerns about variolation?

A
  • Idea that intentional disease exposure could make a person healthier was counterintuitive.
  • Intentional exposure was a violation of God’s will; one should die a “natural death” and not change the course of natural events.
  • Fears of contracting the disease or dying from the vaccine
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4
Q

What may have contributed to distrust of vaccines?

A

Cutter incident

  • Polio vaccine issue in which small plant failed to fully inactivate the virus
  • Many kids got mild polio, some were permanently paralyzed, and 10 died
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5
Q

The modern American anti-vaccine movement started with what vaccine?

A
  • DPT (mom made DPT group- Dissatisfied Parents Together)
  • This has become National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC)
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6
Q

Who is Dr. Bob Sears?

A

Medical doctor

  • Wrote the vaccine book with “alternative” and “selective” vaccination schedules
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7
Q

What caused the worry about linkage between vaccines autism?

A

Wakefield published case report of 12 children with IBD and regressive developmental delay with the hypothesis that MMR caused bowel dysfunction which resulted in neurodevo disorders

  • Article was retracted
  • Study labeled as an “elaborate fraud” (license revoked)
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8
Q

Why was MMR a victim of timing?

A
  • Can’t be given until maternal antibodies wane (12-15 mo)
  • Language begins at 4-5 mo with babbling sounds, but not usually noticed by parents until 9-12 mo (“mama/dada”)
  • Lack of devo may not be noticeable until 12-15 mo; coincidence
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9
Q

So to recap: which vaccine was targeted as causing autism?

A

MMR

  • MMR DOES NOT HAVE ANY LINK TO AUTISM; no causal relationship
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10
Q

What is another concern about vaccinations (component)?

A

Thimerosal (mercury derivative) thought to be harmful

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11
Q

What is thimerosal?

  • Chemically?
  • Risks
  • Not risks
A
  • Vaccine preservative
  • Only known risk is hypersensitivity
  • Almost 50% by weight ETHYL mercury
  • Short half life
  • Does not cross the blood brain barrier due to its molecular size
  • WAY different from the methyl mercury pregnant women are warned about (found in fish, animals, and humans; known toxin)
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12
Q

Is mercury linked to atuism?

A

No

  • Even with methyl mercury poisoning (fumigated grain), pregnant women delivered babies with epilepsy and mental retardation… not autism
  • Denmark stopped using thimerosal… autism rates have risen since then
  • Different symptoms of mercury poisoning and autism
  • Exclusively breastfed babies will ingest more than 2 times the quantity that was ever in vaccines and 15 times that contained in the influenza vaccine
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13
Q

What is another concern (about quantity of vaccines)?

A

Vaccines worried to overwhelm the immune system; worried that too many are given too soon

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14
Q

Why is the concern about overwhelming our immune system impractical?

A

Our immune system encounters challenges every day

  • Even an UR viral infection exposes child to 4-10 antigens; case of strep throat is 25-50
  • Children today are exposed to fewer vaccine antigens today than in past (due in part to elimination of smallpox and acellular pertussis)
  • 30 years ago: 7 vaccines with > 3,000 bacterial/viral proteins
  • Today: 14 vaccines with 160 immuno componenets
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15
Q

Another concern about vaccines causing disease?

A

People worried vaccines cause other chronic diseases

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16
Q

What have studies found in regard to people worried about vaccines causing other chronic diseases?

A

Studies have found no link between vaccination and any of theses:

  • Diabetes
  • Allergies/asthma
  • Sudden infant death syndrome
  • Multiple sclerosis (after Hep B vaccine)
17
Q

T/F: There has been some evidence that the immunization schedule is unsafe or that the schedule is linked to autoimmune diseases, asthma, hypersensitivity, seizures, developmental disorders, learning disorders, and/or ADD

A

NOOOOOOOO

  • Autoimmune diseases
  • Asthma/hypersensitivity
  • Seizures
  • Devo/learning disorders
  • ADD
18
Q

Are vaccine ingredients safe?

A

Yes, but should be examined

19
Q

What are some vaccine ingredients and their function?

A
  • Antibiotics; prevent vaccine contamination
  • Gelatin: stabilizing agent
  • Aluminum: adjuvant which stimulates immune response
  • Formaldehyde and egg protein: used in vaccine production (byproducts)
20
Q

If vaccines don’t cause autism, what does? Risk factors?

A

Risk factors:

  • Male (4x)
  • Genetic (high concordance in monozygotic twins)
  • Advanced paternal age
  • Conditions that compromise perinatal and neonatal health (low birth weight)

Certain genetic disorders:

  • Tuberous sclerosis
  • Fragile X
  • Angelman syndrome (15q deletion)
  • Rett syndrome
  • Hot spots on chromosome 2, 3, 7g, 17. 22q, 15 q duplication/triplication, X
21
Q

How have parents responded to these concerns? What are vaccine exemptions?

A

Vaccine exceptions by state:

  • Philosophical exceptions
  • Religious exceptions
  • Medical exceptions (only MS and WV)
22
Q

Rates of vaccine exemption by state?

A

State rates of exemption:

  • Alaska (7%)
  • Colorado (6%)
  • Washington (5%)
  • Vermont (6%)
  • Texas (2%)- and on the rise
23
Q

What are characteristics of parents who delay/refuse?

A
  • Non-Hispanic white (50-60%)
  • Privately insured (60-70%)
  • Married (60-80%)
  • Maternal age > 30 (60%)
  • English speaking preferred (80-90%)
  • Higher levels of education
  • Household income relatively high