Ask Dr. Sears: Vaccine Book Updates

bob Ask Dr. Sears: Vaccine Book UpdatesPlease welcome Dr. Bob Sears back to Metropolitan Mama.

Sears is a nationally known pediatrician, father of three, and author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child. Sears has graciously offered to extend his expertise about vaccines through a bimonthly column where YOU ask the questions…and he answers them. See the bottom of this post for details about how you can submit a question.

Today’s question was submitted by…me! I just had a baby and we’re now trying to make the best decision for our daughter regarding vaccinations.  

QUESTION: ”I bought your book and love it! But I’m concerned because it was written in 2007 and I’m sure there have been a lot of changes since then. What do I need to know now that it’s 2009? What specific new “updates” should I keep in mind as I make vaccination decisions for my child?

ANSWER FROM DR. SEARS: ”Very little has changed since 2007 that isn’t discussed or predicted in the book.  Here are the only two issues that have come up that are worth mentioning:

  • The separate MMR vaccine components are no longer being made. Parents can only now get it as the full MMR. My blog provides details on this dilemma: Separate Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccines No Longer Available? What Can Parents Do? {January 2009}. 
  • There is a HIB vaccine shortage until the end of 2009 because one manufacturer had to stop making their brand (PedVaxHIB) for several months. Until this supply is back up again, kids aren’t supposed to get the toddler booster dose of HIB.

Those are the only two changes in vaccines that aren’t part of the book.

41ipqxqihfl aa240  150x150 Ask Dr. Sears: Vaccine Book UpdatesFor more information, see The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child or visit www.TheVaccineBook.com.

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If you have a question about vaccines for Dr. Sears, send an e-mail with “Ask Dr. Sears” in the subject line to stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

Fevers Are Our Friends…Sometimes

picture 17 Fevers Are Our Friends...SometimesIf you’ve perused my “Favorites” page with all of my favorite blogs and websites, then you know that I’m a huge fan of the Sears family of pediatricians. They’re “naturally-inclined” and not afraid to question the status quo…and they dole out medical advice that I can feel good about taking to heart. 

In preparation for this post about the Exergen TemporalScanner, I decided to bring you some basic information about fevers – what is considered a “high fever,” when to call the doctor, etc. – courtesy of the Ask Dr. Sears website:

ARE FEVERS DANGEROUS?

No. Many parents have a misconception that fevers are a bad thing and a sign that there is some serious underlying illness. This simply is not true. Fever is a normal and healthy response of the body to an illness. The body’s immune system releases chemicals that raise the body temperature. This is part of the normal infection-fighting process.

WHAT TEMPERATURE CONSTITUTES A FEVER?

  • Normal temperature – 97 to 99 degrees (36 to 37.2 Celcius).
  • Low-grade fever – 99 to 100.9 degrees (37.3 to 38.3 Celcius).
  • Common fever – 101 to 103.5 degrees (38.4 to 39.7 Celcius).
  • High fever – any fever over 103.6 degrees (39.8 Celcius).

WHEN NOT TO WORRY

  • Low-grade fevers are generally not serious, are easily treated, and can wait until the morning to be evaluated by your doctor.
  • Fevers of 101 to 103 (38.4 to 39.5 Celcius) are also generally not serious and can wait until morning to be evaluated (there are some exceptions…).
  • High fevers of 104 (40 Celcius) or higher that quickly come down to 100 or 101 (37.8 to 38.3 Celcius) when treated are also generally not serious and can wait until morning (there are some exceptions…).

WHEN TO PAGE YOUR DOCTOR

  • If your infant is 6 weeks or younger, and has a fever of 101 or higher, this is considered a medical emergency. 
  • Infants age 7 weeks to three months with a fever over 101 warrant an appointment with your doctor within the next several hours.
  • If your child of any age is lethargic, irritable, exhibits signs of meningitis, or has a temperature of 104 or higher that won’t come down even after being treated, then you should page your doctor.

To read the full article (it’s a “goodie”), click here.

img35 67x150 Fevers Are Our Friends...SometimesTo take your child’s temperature quickly, painlessly, and comfortably, consider investing in an Exergen TemporalScanner. It’s a “a totally non-invasive system with advanced infrared technology providing maximum ease of use with quick, consistently accurate measurements.” Just swipe the scanner across your little one’s forehead (or your own)…and a temperature will appear in seconds (In fact, this method is so gentle that you could probably take your baby’s temperature in his/her sleep). I just took mine and the display screen promptly told me that my temp is 98 degrees. I expect that the temperature is correct since the scanner has been proven to be more accurate than ear thermometers by a Harvard Medical School Study.

The scanners retail for between $30-$50 (depending on where you shop) and are available at Walmart, Babies R Us, Costco, and other big box shops.

WIN IT! One winner will receive an Exergen TemporalScanner. To enter, leave a topic-related comment on this post prior to Monday, February 16 at midnight (Don’t forget to follow the rules…all generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified.). * Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.

*UPDATE* The winner is #148 Bess. Congratulations!

Ask Dr. Sears: Alternative Vaccine Schedule for Babies in Daycare

bob Ask Dr. Sears: Alternative Vaccine Schedule for Babies in DaycarePlease welcome Dr. Bob Sears back to Metropolitan Mama.

Sears is a nationally known pediatrician, father of three, and author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child. Sears has graciously offered to extend his expertise about vaccines through a bimonthly column where YOU ask the questions…and he answers them. See the bottom of this post for details about how you can submit a question.

If you want more information now, you should really just buy his book (read my review here). It’s comprehensive, objective, and the only one of its kind on the market.

Today’s question was sent in by Rebecca.

QUESTION: You list three different potential ‘paths’ for vaccinating babies in your book. My child is currently in a daycare setting. Is the Alternative Schedule safe for him?

ANSWER FROM DR. SEARS: “I believe my Alternative Vaccine Schedule is a good way to go for any baby. Yes, being in daycare does increase disease risk, but my schedule makes sure a baby is vaccinated with all the most important diseases first, especially those that run through a daycare setting like Rotavirus, Pertussis, and Meningitis.  I do believe that spreading out the shots like I suggest maximizes the safety of the vaccines.”

NOTE: To obtain a copy of Dr. Sear’s Alternative Vaccine Schedule, please pick up a copy of his book (see below) from your local library or a bookstore near you.

41ipqxqihfl aa240  150x150 Ask Dr. Sears: Alternative Vaccine Schedule for Babies in DaycareFor more information, see The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, or visit www.TheVaccineBook.com.

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If you have a question about vaccines for Dr. Sears, send an e-mail with “Ask Dr. Sears” in the subject line to stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

Ask Dr. Sears: Splitting Up MMR Vaccine, What to Do When Vaccines Aren’t Available

bob Ask Dr. Sears: Splitting Up MMR Vaccine, What to Do When Vaccines Arent Available

Please welcome Dr. Bob Sears back to Metropolitan Mama.

Sears is a nationally known pediatrician, father of three, and author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child. Sears has graciously offered to extend his expertise about vaccines through a bimonthly column where YOU ask the questions…and he answers them. See the bottom of this post for details about how you can submit a question.

If you want more information now, you should really just buy his book (read my review here). It’s comprehensive, objective, and the only one of its kind on the market.

Today’s question was sent in by Scott of Indiana.

QUESTION: We had split up the MMR for our son. After receiving everything but the mumps vaccine, our clinic discontinued offering them being split up. We were told they were not making enough of a profit that way. In searching to find a mumps vaccine we are unable to locate any. We are willing to pay out of pocket or whatever else it may take. We get the crazy look when we ask doctors about it, and are told that he will just need to receive the MMR now. We refuse to do this. Please Help!

ANSWER FROM DR. SEARS: “There is a shortage of the plain Mumps vaccine. No more will be available from the company until early 2009.  Some pharmacies that stock and ship single doses of the separate components of the MMR vaccine may still have some plain mumps in stock. Try Hopewell Pharmacy in New Jersey.

There are a variety of vaccine brand choices parents may prefer, and a doctor might now always carry a desired brand.  You can ask your doctor for a single dose prescription, take that to a pharmacy, and it’s possible the pharmacy may be able to obtain that dose for you. You take it back to your doctor’s office to get the injection done.”

41ipqxqihfl aa240  150x150 Ask Dr. Sears: Splitting Up MMR Vaccine, What to Do When Vaccines Arent AvailableFor more information, see The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, or visit www.TheVaccineBook.com.

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If you have a question about vaccines for Dr. Sears, send an e-mail with “Ask Dr. Sears” in the subject line to stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

Ask Dr. Sears: Test to Determine Immunities to Diseases

bob Ask Dr. Sears: Test to Determine Immunities to DiseasesPlease welcome Dr. Bob Sears back to Metropolitan Mama.

Sears is a nationally known pediatrician, father of three, and author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child. Sears has graciously offered to extend his expertise about vaccines through a bimonthly column where YOU ask the questions…and he answers them. See the bottom of this post for details about how you can submit a question.

If you want more information now, you should really just buy his book (read my review here). It’s comprehensive, objective, and the only one of its kind on the market.

Today’s question was sent in by Jen.

QUESTION: “I have a friend who says that there is a test that children can take to determine what immunities are already in their systems and, therefore, if particular vaccines are unnecessary. What test is it that kids can take and is this recommended?”

ANSWER FROM DR. SEARS: These blood tests are called “titers.” They can determine if a person has been exposed to a disease and has good immunity (as with chickenpox, for example). They can also measure how much immunity a person has gained after one or more doses of a vaccine.

Overall, titers aren’t really practical during infancy or toddlerhood for many vaccines for a variety of reasons (mainly because of the cost and the trouble of blood tests). But here are a few examples of when titers can be useful:

  1. If parents skip any vaccines in the early years, but wish to consider getting some vaccines at a later age, I recommend checking titers for measles, mumps, rubella, and Hep A around age 10. If these titers show immunity, you wouldn’t need the shot.
  2. If parents skip some shots, but state laws or other requirements mandate that they either get the shots or prove immunity to the disease, titers can be done to demonstrate the immunity.
  3. If a child had one dose of MMR or Chickenpox vaccine during infancy, but the parents are considering skipping (or delaying) the 5 year boosters, titers can be checked to see whether or not the child still has enough immunity from the first shot.

These are really the only situations where I would consider getting titer tests. One particular approach that I don’t recommend parents trying is checking titers after 1 or 2 doses of a 4-dose series of any particular shot. Some parents will do this (for example, check Pertussis and Tetanus immunity after 2 doses of the DTaP shot) to see if the rest of the shots in the series are needed. I don’t think this is practical. Most kids won’t show great immunity after just 2 doses anyway, and those that do would probably see their immunity wear off several months later anyway (which you wouldn’t even know unless you check ANOTHER titer) because they didn’t finish the series.

41ipqxqihfl aa240  150x150 Ask Dr. Sears: Test to Determine Immunities to DiseasesFor more information, see The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, or visit www.TheVaccineBook.com.

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If you have a question about vaccines for Dr. Sears, send an e-mail with “Ask Dr. Sears” in the subject line to stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

Ask Dr. Sears: Vaccines and Autism

bob Ask Dr. Sears: Vaccines and Autism

Please welcome Dr. Bob Sears back to Metropolitan Mama.

Sears is a nationally known pediatrician, father of three, and author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child. Sears has graciously offered to extend his expertise about vaccines through a monthly column where YOU ask the questions…and he answers them. See the bottom of this post for details about how you can submit a question.

If you want more information now, you should really just buy his book (read my review here). It’s comprehensive, objective, and the only one of its kind on the market.

Today’s question was sent in by Jen.

QUESTION: My question is about vaccines and autism.  I have a friend who swears that her daughter became autistic because of her vaccines. (Is that possible?!?) What are your thoughts on the vaccines and autism issue?

ANSWER FROM DR. SEARS: The reason that many families with autism believe that vaccines may play a role is that some seemingly normal and healthy toddlers regress into autism between 12 and 18 months. The problems appear to begin after the MMR vaccine (given at 12 or 15 months). The measles component of this vaccine has been shown by some researchers to cause an intestinal measles infection that they suspect may be a trigger for autism.

This theory has not been proven, and the research that suggests a possible connection has come under a lot of fire and has been discredited by most professionals. No one, however, has repeated this research in order to try to prove that kids with autism don’t have a measles intestinal infection. The problem is, even if we some day do discover measles is a problem in autism, we won’t actually know if the virus is actually a cause of autism or simply happens to be there.

Another theoretical connection between vaccines and autism may have been mercury. But now that mercury is out of all vaccines (as long as you know which brands of the flu shot to stay away from), this is no longer a concern for parents today.

The final possible (but unproven) connection may be an overload of the various chemicals all given together at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months in the standard vaccine schedule. We just don’t know whether or not this could trigger autism. Researchers are currently working on ways to test every baby’s genetics and immune system at birth to screen out babies that may be susceptible to damage from chemical overload. We can then be more careful with such infants, both with vaccines and other aspects of daily life. This technology is years away, however.

41ipqxqihfl aa240  150x150 Ask Dr. Sears: Vaccines and AutismUntil we learn more, parents are faced with making a decision based on the information we have now. In The Vaccine Book, Dr. Bob Sears presents all the current research on these issues, and offers parents a variety of ways they can vaccinate their children while minimizing risks and side effects. For more information, and a preview of the book, visit www.TheVaccineBook.com

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If you have a question about vaccines for Dr. Sears, send an e-mail with “Ask Dr. Sears” in the subject line to stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

Ask Dr. Sears: Reactions to Shots in a Series

bob Ask Dr. Sears: Reactions to Shots in a SeriesPlease welcome Dr. Bob Sears back to Metropolitan Mama.

Sears is a nationally known pediatrician, father of three, and author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child. Sears has graciously offered to extend his expertise about vaccines through a monthly column where YOU ask the questions…and he answers them. See the bottom of this post for details about how you can submit a question.

If you want more information now, you should really just buy his book (read my review here). It’s comprehensive, objective, and the only one of its kind on the market.

QUESTION: If my baby/toddler has the first shot of a vaccine series (HIB, DTaP, or Rotavirus, for example) and doesn’t experience any “reactions”/side effects, is it safe to say that he won’t experience them when he gets the second (or third or fourth…) shot?

ANSWER FROM DR. SEARS: While handling the first round of shots is somewhat of an indication that the next rounds will be well tolerated, this is by no means a guarantee. Some babies will show ever-increasing reactivity with each subsequent round. And the toddler round of boosters (the 4th dose in the entire series) is more known for being fairly reactive, even if the first three were fine.

You just never know. A baby could react at any time without any prior indication. Fortunately, MOST babies handle these rounds of shots without much reaction.

If a baby DOES have a tough reaction to any round of shots, I feel it would be safer to spread those shots out more with subsequent rounds. Maybe only get one at a time so you can see which vaccine may be the more reactive one. By spreading the shots out, you would be less likely to have a tough reaction again.

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If you have a question about vaccines for Dr. Sears, send an e-mail with “Ask Dr. Sears” in the subject line to stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.