Combination Vaccination: A Cause For Concern?

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By mia bolaris-forget

When it comes to vaccinating children there's always the question of should you or shouldn't you. And, there is typically two schools of thought on this issue. But, regardless of where you stand, there now seems to be some reason to be concerned...at least when it comes to a new combination chickenpox and the joint measles, mumps and rubella shot, or MMR. According to experts, this combination vaccination raises the risk of fever-related seizures in toddlers, though some suggest that the overall risk is very low.
Each (individual) vaccine is very important, say authorities and they urge parents not to forgo getting them for their children...even with the (slight) risk of fever-related seizures. They note that while the "increased" risk may be frightening for parents, the seizures (even if they "do" occur) aren't very serious and do not cause permanent damage or harm.
However, for parents who remain trepidatious, there are options. They can ask for two separate shots....MMR and chickenpox in lieu of the combination vaccination known as ProQuad.
In a recent study of 459,000children, experts found that Proquad resulted in one extra seizure for every 2,300 doses, with risk increased only in children ages 1 to 2, and only during a three-day window, seven to 10 days after vaccination.
And, it is this study and its results that last year resulted in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changing the vaccine recommendations. In fact, although the CDC favours combined shots, in an effort to limit how many shots kids get, they now recommend separate shots, especially since both can be given on the same day.
Still some strongly suggest that there is no need to split up the two vaccines since the risk imposed is, according to some, very slight and potentially negligible. And, they add that there is really no need for parents to "lose" confidence in vaccines since they are overall responsible for having saved the lives of thousands of children. In fact, they add that common colds and viruses result in many more fever-related seizures than vaccines.
About 4 percent of children ages 6 months to 5 years of age experience a fever-related seizure, but that reaction can be caused by almost anything that can cause a seizure in children and are often accompanies by other symptoms, such as a cough, congestion, vomiting and diarrhea.

Long Island Safety Articles > Combination Vaccination: A Cause For Concern?