Posted in 
Previous: 
: 
Unsolicited Advice
Sign In >>
Dr Shapiro completed his undergraduate education at UC San Diego earning a B S in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a B A in Political Science He furthered his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters Degree in Public…
FAST FACTS
Immunizations IV: The Tween/Teen Years
OK. So we've now reached the tween/teen years (where 11 appears to be a good age to describe when this period begins). And while there are 2 new immunizations that occur during this age range, a third vaccine not to be overlooked is the one covering tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and diphtheria (similar in coverage to the DTaP given in the first few years). In the U.S., depending upon which vaccine used (as there are two available), it may be given either at age 10 or 11. And for all parents and adults reading this, at one point, this vaccine should be given instead of the routine tetanus booster secondary to the wave of adult cases of whooping cough these past few years. But as far as the other 2 vaccine preventable illnesses I first mentioned, here we go:
Meningococcal disease: The story often associated with this illness involves a college student living in the dorms (or a military recruit living in close quarters with other recruits) who becomes infected with the bacteria (Neisseria meningitides) and causes either a serious bloodstream disease or meningitis or both...often leading to limb loss, neurological deficits, or even death. When the bloodstream is involved, a rash that includes little red spots scattered through out the body or purplish/reddish skin discoloration will occur. And as with any meningitis, presentation is often with fever, vomiting, headache, and neck stiffness but the greatest concern is because things may move so rapidly, death may follow (in up to 10-15% of those who become infected) in just 24-48 hours. One reason for wanting to get this vaccine during the tween/teen years is it is highly communicable (i.e. easily transmitted) among close contacts. Dorms, military bases, summer camp lodging are among the locales where easy spread of this disease may occur among non-immunized individuals. Furthermore, those with spleen issues and certain immune system disorders also need to be protected from this disease. And one thing about the vaccine (in fact, there are actually two vaccines but one is primarily used in the U.S. as it appears to have longer-lasting protection) is anyone with a prior history of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS-a progressively worsening nervous system disorder) should not receive it. Although no causal association has been shown, the decision has been based on the concern of a temporal relationship of GBS after administration of the vaccine.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Although many different types of the virus exist, HPV Types 16 & 18 cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases and Types 6 & 11 cause 90% of genital warts cases. This virus is transmitted by genital sexual contact and many infected persons do not realize they are infected or have transmitted the virus to someone else. And although it is very uncommon, genital HPV can also be transmitted to a newborn during delivery...where warts can ultimately develop in the throat of the child. And how common is HPV? Well, these days about 20 million individuals in the U.S. are infected and estimates include 11,000 U.S. women were diagnosed with cervical cancer just last year. So yes, this is a sexually transmitted disease and, of course, not engaging in sexual contact is the surest way of avoiding this virus and any unfortunate disease outcomes. However, one has to be very careful in assuming adolescents will always avoid risky behaviors. Consequently, a 3 dose vaccine now exists to cover the HPV Types mentioned above...6, 11, 16, and 18. Think of it as the first cancer preventing vaccine we have...a remarkable thing indeed. As far as any concerning adverse events, after 20 million doses of the vaccine, there is no evidence indicating an increased incidence of GBS above what we would expect to see in the general population. What we do see, however, is the occasional fainter...which is a reason why a tween/teen should sit or lay down a few minutes after the vaccine administration before leaving the office. And yes, studies are currently underway to determine if adolescent males can receive the vaccine as well.
Well, that about covers it...at least for the pediatric/adolescent population. Any questions or further concerns about any of the vaccine preventable diseases I've discussed over the past few weeks, I'd enjoy hearing from you.
Dr. Jeremy
CATEGORIES:
Answers
CONDITIONS AND COMMUNITIES:
Adoption
•
Breastfeeding
•
Cervical Cancer
•
Family Issues
•
Gay Parenting
•
Grandparents Raising Children
•
Immunizations
•
Military Families
•
Parenting 'Tweens (9-12)
•
Parenting Big Kids (5-8)
•
Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1)
•
Parenting Preschoolers (3-5)
•
Parenting Teenagers (12-18)
•
Parenting Toddlers (1-3)
•
Pregnancy
•
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Female
•
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Male
•
Single Dads
•
Single Parenting
•
Twins, Triplets & More
Displaying comments 21-2 of 21
Got a Question?
Are you Drs. serious,the amount of viral overload from all these vaccines and all the money the drug companies are making is reckless. As a man and Dr be honest and tell teens there is no real evidence that any of these vaccines work.
Example,8 girsl sitting around a table all educated all different color all had hpv all had vaccine.They were upset,guys do not get tested and they are spreading it Health class just said ,get vaccines it will protect you from a few strains. Tell the teens how many strains are out there.My neiborhood whooping outbreak every child had been immunized.
When are Mothers and young girls going to understand that when it comes to science we are the guinea pigs when all females are gettting vaccines and males are being ignored there is something seriously wrong.
When girls are discussing there health they believe a cure for all of this is in the future. Meningitis vaccine also just fights against one strain.
Lyme disease is so prevalant,when teens get there vaccinations Drs should do blood test,ask girls what there afraid of getting Mono"when a young girls immune system is weak periods every month, there system does get weak why would you advocate an overdose of vaccines..hp hpv dpt meningitis what am i missing
Can you tell me hpv,meningitis,other vaccines willnot affect reproduction in females in the future?
Why oh why are we not getting any vaccines to males.
Old historical medical practise HYGIENE,know your body protect it do not abuse it.You cannot say hpv vaccines protects. It is an open invitation to girls thinking I am protected if you have girls be honest how many vaccines would you give them entering 9th grade.
We still cannot figure out autoimmune and drug companies find a vaccine for girls but you may get GBS please we treat are animals better than the female population.
affordable brand-name clothing?? WHat immunizations should a cat have?? Are you for real or just pushing your resveratrol? Are you being paid for your mindless posting, now Im interested
I'm pretty skinny for my age. (Note: I'm not anorexic, just skinny.) I have trouble finding clothing that would fit my breast-less body.
Buy Resveratrol
I still am looking for someone who chose to go ahead and get the Meningococcal vaccine for their child going off to college.
Thanks, Becky
I'm moving into an apartment soon and want to get a cat, the rules are they have to be fixed and they have to be current on shots. I've had cats before but have never taken them to the vet. I know I'm a bad owner but this time I want to do right by my future feline friend. So can someone help me? What immunizations should a cat have and at what ages? Is it just rabies or are there more?
Resveratrol Ultra
LEADING scientists and doctors have raised fresh concerns about the safety of a cervical cancer vaccine.
They have accused the manufacturers of Cervarix and another jab, Gardasil, of making misleading claims.
More than 1,300 British girls have reported adverse reactions to Cervarix, ranging from paralysis to convulsions and sight problems.
Hailed as a wonder drug, it is claimed the jab will give 70 per cent protection from the disease to every girl under 18 by 2011.
Earlier this month the Sunday Express revealed the story of Rebecca Ramagge, 13, of Reigate, Surrey, who has been unable to walk for six months because of a joint disorder.
Rebecca’s paediatrician blames her condition on Cervarix.
In Germany, 13 distinguished professors have complained that the jab makers, Glaxo SmithKline and Sanofi, have been guilty of giving “incorrect” information.
Professor Martina Doren, of the Charitie Hospital in Berlin, said: “What concerns us is that the two manufacturers of the vaccine aren’t always using facts. They claim that a lot of high-risk strains of cancer-causing virus are protected against but equally there are others that are not.
“If protection is not more than 20 per cent then that is an awful lot of money to be spending, particularly as the vaccines have quite serious side-effects.
“Assertions that a vaccine reduces the risk of cervical cancer by 70 per cent or even 98 per cent should not be made at this point.”
Professor Doren criticised the fact that the only trials for the vaccines were carried out on women aged between 15 and 26 while the vaccine was being given to 12 and 13 year olds.
She said: “It is wrong to vaccinate these girls when it has not been tried on this age group. It is unethical.
“We are meant to be in an era where drugs and vaccines to be used on children are given trials on that age group first before awarding a licence. Otherwise you are experimenting on children, which is wrong.”
Last night a spokesman for the German national vaccines committee told the Sunday Express that a review of the evidence was under way.
Meanwhile in the Netherlands there has been mass resistance to the vaccine with only 49 per cent of girls turning up to have the first jab of the three- injection course.
Six Dutch girls were taken to hospital after being inoculated and there have been reports of more than 500 other adverse reactions.
Doctors there are calling on their national vaccines committee to reconsider its decision to back vaccination of schoolgirls. Many scientists claim the figure of 70 per cent protection against cervical cancer is not based on scientific evidence and has been used to convince parents that their girls ought to have the jab.
Experts in Scotland, where the Health Service has spent more than £64million vaccinating schoolgirls, are also expressing concerns.
Scottish Conservative health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said: “Given this new research, it is incumbent on the Scottish government and the chief medical officer to review the vaccination programme to ensure that it lives up to the expectations of preventing cervical cancer.”
Last February 80,000 jabs in Valencia and the Balearic Islands were withdrawn after three girls ended up in hospital with convulsions and loss of consciousness within hours of being inoculated.
Spanish heath officials later concluded the vaccine had not caused the problems.
A spokesman for GlaxoSmithKline said: “These vaccines provide young girls and women valuable new protection against cervical cancer and have been thoroughly tested by vaccine experts.
“The German health authorities have reiterated their positive assessment of these vaccines and continue to make them fully available.”
And a very lenghty research article on Gardasil by Judicial Watch:
http://www.judicialwatch.org/docum...
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/v...
Dr. Jeremy
BTW this vaccine was tested on girls ages 15 and up in trial studies, yet recommended for ages 9-26, and in some states it's "mandated" for all 6th graders and that is clearly under the age this vaccine was tested at. I laugh as I type that as we all know no vaccine in truly mandated. Something that also irks me when you talk of vaccinating at such a young age is this vaccine is shown to mount a sufficient immune responce for 5 years, but is not known if it lasts longer (and it's highly unlikely it's a lifelong responce) so wouldn't common sence state its not practical to vaccinate children whose protection may very well be gone by the time they become sexually active (I know I am being idealistic thinking 13 year olds aren't sexually active or that girls at least wait until they are 16) unless a profit is being made which...it is. Hmmm
Lastly, regarding your responce about GBS. The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) analyzed the adverse events reported to the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), an association between Gardasil and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) was found. A statistically significant increased risk of GBS (and other serious adverse events) were noted when Gardasil is co-administered with other vaccines, especially the meningococcal vaccine Menactra. This vaccine is riddled with associations to GBS and its blatently ignorant not to inform people of that risk or to down play it the way you did.
CayleeBugsMom- it used to be that once people got chicken pox they didn't get it again because you would commonly be exposed to the disease naturally (moms would take care of their children re-exposing them, people would encounter the disease in public from children who were exposed etc) now however, thanks to the routine vaccination of CP people are no longer exposed losing their "natural booster" and thus increasing incidence of Shingles (chiken pox you get when you have already had it) also, chicken pox is far far more of an issue when it is contracted in adulthood, because of routine vaccinations children no longer get chicken pox however artificial immunization is not as reliable as natural immunity (immunizations vs disease) and it is highly likely that children who grow up will lose the protection from the disease the shot gave them at a time it could be deadly. The truth is we often immunize children to protect the adults around, I feel the CP shot is one example of that sad reality.
See no name calling, just an educated opinion.