Immunizations

A new study is indicating that more than half of mothers are declining their doctors’ offers and the government’s guidelines to vaccinate their young daughters, those under 13 years, with Gardasil. The vaccine known as Gardasil offers protection for women against the human papillomavirus (HPV.) The FDA approved the Gardasil vaccine in 2006 for girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. It is the primary cause of cervical cancer. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention is currently recommending that girls between 11 and 12 years old receive the vaccine before becoming sexually active. The vaccine offers the most protection to women when administered to them before they are exposed to HPV. However, a current… [more]

Last week our 15-month-old daughter’s health care provider suggested that both she and our four year old be immunized with the flu vaccine. They are more vulnerable because of their young ages. However, we couldn’t get the vaccine right then because their office had run out. Today the office called to say they had received a regular supply and wanted to schedule a time to bring the children in to receive the shots. Unfortunately, only our 15-month-old daughter was eligible for the shots they have in stock because she is adopted and on our private medical insurance. Our four-year-old daughter has Medicaid and isn’t eligible for the regular shot, so she has to wait until they receive their health department supply of shots. Great, now I… [more]

Advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Wednesday June 27, 2007 that all 11 to 18 year olds be vaccinated against potentially deadly bacterial meningitis with their routine vaccinations. Only one shot is required and they say you cannot contract the disease from the vaccination. The previous recommendation was for 15 to 18 year olds to be vaccinated, and was apparently based on limited supplies of the vaccine according to Baker, who is president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. However, there now seems to be a sufficient supply of the vaccine to protect more adolescents from becoming infected with this potentially vaccine-preventable disease. The recommendation by the… [more]

According to the FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, under the Freedom of Information Act, there were 1,637 reports of adverse reactions to the human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV), called Gardasil. The vaccine is designed to help protect women from developing a certain type of cervical cancer. The virus HPV, human papillomavirus, is spread through sexual contact and the vaccine blocks two types of HPV before they can begin. Researchers are recommending the vaccine be given to girls around 11 or 12 years of age, in three separate doses, so their immune systems can be activated and build up antibodies, prior to beginning sexual activity and being exposed to HPV. Three of the reports of adverse reactions involved the deaths of young women and are believed to be related to the… [more]

If you have a daughter you’ve probably heard something about a vaccine now available to help prevent cervical cancer by offering protection against the virus that is responsible for most cases. The virus HPV, human papillomavirus, is spread through sexual contact and the vaccine actually blocks two types of HPV before they can even begin. Researchers are recommending the vaccine be given to girls around 11 or 12 years of age, in three separate doses, so their immune systems can be activated and build up antibodies, prior to beginning sexual activity and being exposed to HPV. However, it is also recommended that the vaccine be given to older girls, those under 26, who are already sexually active, even if… [more]