New back-to-school worry: Unvaccinated classmates

[wtbcrna]

"A growing number of children aren't getting required vaccinations for non-medical reasons. What will this new reality bring this school year?

As parents send their children back to school, some are grappling with a new worry: whether their children's classmates have received all their vaccinations.

An outbreak of measles in Texas this week shows why their concern is not without reason. Twenty-one people linked to a megachurch and its congregation have contracted the highly contagious disease, and the case has put a spotlight on falling vaccination rates in the U.S.

Measles was eradicated in the U.S. as of 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but outbreaks like the one in Texas are increasing, as is the percentage of parents choosing not to immunize their children, which has seen an uptick in recent years. Usually, the CDC expects to see 60 cases of measles per year, but there have been 135 cases of measles so far in 2013, and in 2011, more than 220 people were diagnosed with the disease.

This latest outbreak follows a rash of recent measles cases among New York's Orthodox Jewish population and an outbreak in San Diego in 2008."

http://news.msn.com/science-technology/new-back-to-school-worry-unvaccinated-classmates

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

For those nurses that think not getting the flu vaccine does nothing for their patients:

[h=3]"Impact of vaccination on patient care[/h]Immunization of HCWs has been associated with improvements in patient safety and decreased mortality. In a US study, increases in the level of HCW immunization corresponded to significant reductions in the number of cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza among staff and nosocomial cases in patients (

Salgado et al. 2004). In a study of 20 long-term elderly care hospitals, 50.9% of HCWs were vaccinated at institutions where immunization was offered routinely, compared with 4.9% where it was not. During the influenza season, 22.4% of patients died in the hospitals that did not offer staff vaccination (uncorrected mortality), compared with 13.6% in those that provided vaccines (Carman et al. 2000). In a study in the UK (Hayward et al. 2006), residents in care homes that provided HCW vaccination (coverage rate 48.2%) experienced significantly lower mortality, influenza-like illness and related medical consultations and hospitalizations, compared with homes that did not vaccinate workers (coverage 5.9%)."

Protecting patients, protecting healthcare workers: a review of the role of influenza vaccination

That is with only a 50% flu vaccination coverage just think what hospitals could do with 100% flu vaccination coverage.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

That is perhaps one of the most uneducated statements that I have ever heard. Using your logic, those not vaccinated against small-pox are also a danger to their patients and co-workers (I have been vaccinated twice against small-pox. Once as a child and once in Basic Training).

Please explain. Small pox has been eradicated. The flu has not. So, enlighten us uneducated folks about how they are the same with regards to vaccination.

I find it ironic that those who scorn the traditional medical establishment quickly change their mind when they need it.

I've been getting vaxed since kindergarten in 1969 as well as prepping for Peace Corps deployment, boot camp, and annual flu shots since college. My kid has been fully vaxed on schedule, including annual flu shots.

I was so ticked when the H1N1 strain emerged and suddenly couldn't get my kid her flu shot because suddenly the demand skyrocketed. I finally pulled some strings and blatantly lied (as well as showing up at a vax clinic at 0400) to get it done but it was very frustrating given that the people like my family make vax planning so much easier and cost effective and yet I was competing with people who were seeking out a flu vax for the first time ever.

{Except for this comment, I'll withhold statements on my views of chiropractic.}

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Please explain. Small pox has been eradicated. The flu has not. So, enlighten us uneducated folks about how they are the same with regards to vaccination.

Small pox was mentioned and I took the opportunity to educate that vaccines such as small pox have been highly effective in controlling diseases.

It is also predicted that polio could be the next disease eradicated d/t vaccination efforts.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Small pox was mentioned and I took the opportunity to educate that vaccines such as small pox have been highly effective in controlling diseases.

It is also predicted that polio could be the next disease eradicated d/t vaccination efforts.

I was asking the poster that called your statement uneducated to explain his/her rationale.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I was asking the poster that called your statement uneducated to explain his/her rationale.

Sorry...I am little dense I guess...lol.

[lhflanurseNP, APRN]

Thank god for their vigilance...one week into the school year I got a call right after school started that morning to come pick her up. The teachers had gotten a call from a parent just before the kids bus arrived that of my daughters classmates was diagnosed with the measles, and sure enough, that child's parents were anti-vaccine and they had just returned from a vacation out of the country right before school started...that little boy had never gotten an MMR vax. The teachers didn't even let my daughter go into the school, an aide stayed outside playing with her on the playground. The school had a special cleaning company come in after school to disinfect the building (a two-room schoolhouse) including every single toy. I am very grateful to those teachers, we were very fortunate that my daughter did not contract the disease. Every school year after that, through elementary, I asked my daughter not be placed in a classroom with any unvaccinated children and they were always happy to arrange it.

This is what upsets me about the anti-vaccine parents, no thought is given to the fact that some of their classmates may have actual medical issues that prevent them from being vaccinated on time, leaving them especially vulnerable. Even children who are vaccinated could potentially transmit a disease they picked up from an unvaccinated child at school to an immunosuppressed family member at home. If parents feel so strongly against vaccinations for their children, my opinion is that they should be prepared to home school their children rather that place other children and their family members at risk for potentially fatal illnesses.

What I find astounding and shows a total lack of responsibility is that they sent their child to school anyway! I believe families have the right to decide if they want to vaccinate their children or not (Not advocating non-vaccination, but it is their right), but they should be responsible enough to monitor them and keep them home if they are sick.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

What I find astounding and shows a total lack of responsibility is that they sent their child to school anyway! I believe families have the right to decide if they want to vaccinate their children or not (Not advocating non-vaccination, but it is their right), but they should be responsible enough to monitor them and keep them home if they are sick.

Anti-vaccine people rely on sentiment of people who feel the same way. What you may not understand is that no matter what vaccine you receive or not there still maybe a chance that you or your family/children vaccination might not cause immunity to develop. The chance is low somewhere around 5-15% for most vaccines, but now you are relying on the people around you to be immune/"herd immunity". Do you really want to rely on others to do what is necessary to keep you and your children safe? Lax anti-vaccination laws have lead to preventable outbreaks such as the original story on here.

[SE_BSN_RN, BSN]

My husbands chiropractic college teaches against vaccination. They had an entire course on it one quarter. I wasn't there, nor have I ever attended chiropractic school so I don't know what was taught. He holds a doctorate degree (and he had to take USMLE step 1 and 2 so I know he knows way more than I do) and I don't so I feel easily defeated when discussing this with him. I'll check out your link, but research he has from the CDC shows that polio was declining before the vaccine was available.

On the other hand.....MMR vaccine rates are decreasing, and autism dx's are skyrocketing. Because of better diagnostic methods.....or decrease in vaccinations?

[Ikikaeru]

Lvn2bsoon , if you have a link or copy of that CDC report id love to see it. I have never seen the CDC state this and it would be interesting if they have.

I believe for the most part what I have seen from them is the exact opposite. They do have a section about contraindications but most of the vaccination section has arcticles / links about getting vaccinations.

[Ikikaeru]

To Trinitymaster

There are "inherent riskes" with all medications. If you have a link to that report trinitymaster I would love to read it (have not seen it to be honest). As far as brainwashed most research Ive read has come from independant studies.

You do have the right to decline vaccines, I would whole heartedly agree. I also believe that Health care facilites have a justifiable right to require these vaccines and if you do not want them you have the right to leave these facilites. The benifits far outweigh the risks of vaccines. Thats my two cents at least.

[SNB1014, RN]

Has jenny McCarthy ever ate her words yet on the whole fake vaccine- autism link that she wouldn't shut up about ,now that the study is officially debunked and a joke?