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US Child Vaccinations
US child vaccinations are usually given once you are home from China with your new son or daughter.
If you’re like us, you may have a difficult time determining exactly what, if any, China child vaccinations were given to your child before being adopted.
Some of the confusion for us was the result of the language barrier. However, we also suspected that our daughter simply did not receive some vaccinations we considered to be necessary.
Her vaccinations history appeared sketchy. So, we followed our pediatrician’s advice and started her US child vaccinations from the beginning. The CDC’s recommended schedule for catching older children up with their US child vaccinations is straight forward. Our daughter was back on track in a very short time.
Currently the recommended US child vaccinations catch-up schedule includes the following vaccines to be given to children ages 4 months to 6 years old: Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus is transmitted via contact with blood and certain body fluids from sources such as blood transfusions, exposure to contaminated needles, sexual contact, or from birth mother to child. Usually the vaccine is given to an infant just after birth in the hospital even if the baby tests negative for the virus.
The symptoms of hepatitis B include jaundice, fatigue, enlarged liver and liver tenderness. The rationale behind administering the Hepatitis B vaccine to infants and young children is to hopefully prevent the virus from being transmitted as a result of possible risky behaviors of future teens and adults.
Health care workers and others who may be exposed to accidental needle sticks should also receive the Hepatitis B vaccine. That is one of the reasons why the CDC recommends this same vaccine to be given as part of China travel vaccinations.
Diphtheria, tetanus toxoids, acellular pertusis vaccine (DTaP) Diphtheria is “an acute infectious disease caused by the toxin-producing bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae.”
It is transferred via droplets in the respiratory tract of someone with the infection or through contaminated food or objects. Symptoms can include sore throat, cough that sounds like a barking noise (“croup”), respiratory distress, fever and fatigue. The disease usually occurs two to five days after an individual is exposed to the C. diptheriae bacterium. About 10% of the cases of diphtheria are fatal. Infants and children are especially vulnerable to this infection. Therefore, the medical community strives to vaccinate as many as possible with this vaccination.
Tetanus or “lock jaw” is caused by the Clostridium tetani bacterium, “which interferes with normal nerve transmission.”
This bacterium is transmitted via wounds such as those caused by rusty nails, scrapes with unknown objects or even fire ant bites.
Classic symptoms include tightening of the jaw and neck muscles. Other symptoms include sweating, high blood pressure and episodes of fast heart beat. Tetanus usually occurs 3 to 21 days after exposure to C. tetani.
Since immunity is not conferred by the disease, this vaccination is part of the US child vaccinations schedule. It is believed to be the best way to prevent this infection even in individuals who have had tetanus.
Medical professionals recommend getting a booster for diphtheria and tetanus every 10 years because protection begins to wane over time.
Pertusis or “whooping cough” is caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. The toxins produced by these bacteria enter the respiratory tract and paralyze the mechanisms that clear lung secretions. As a result, lung tissue becomes inflamed, and secretions are more difficult for the body to clear.
There are three stages of pertusis. 1. The first stage typically lasts for 2 weeks. The individual experiences cold-like symptoms during this stage such as sneezing, runny nose and fever.
2. The second stage is marked by “bursts of coughing followed by long inspirations…responsible for the characteristic “whooping sound.”
Because of the severity of the coughing, oxygen consumption is decreased which leads to the patient “turning blue.” Vomiting can also follow such strong bouts of coughing.
3. The third stage usually lasts for 2 to 3 weeks. During this time the patient recovers from the disease. However, pneumonia, dehydration, seizures, ear infections and other complications can also occur at this time.
Haemophilis influenza typeb (Hib) This bacterium can cause bacterial meningitis in children as well as infections in the blood, joints, lungs and tissue surrounding the heart. It does not cause the "flu." The disease is spread via infected respiratory droplets. Antibiotics are the first line of treatment for Haemophilis influenza infections. The Hib vaccine, as part of the US child vaccinations schedule, is the best means of prevention. Inactivated Polio virus The polio virus is transmitted via the oral to oral route or the fecal to oral route. The infection site is either the throat or the gastrointestinal system.
At the site of infection the virus enters the lymphatic system and then the bloodstream. Afterwards it may be carried to the central nervous system where it can cause paralysis of the arms and/or legs. It can also decrease the normal function of cranial nerves. Since US child vaccinations began for this disease, the polio has virtually been eradicated. Unfortunately, the live polio virus can also cause polio in those who receive this vaccine. Therefore, inactivated polio virus vaccination is now used instead more often than the live polio virus.
Measles, mumps, rubella Measles is transmitted via respiratory droplets and enters the body through the nasal/throat cavities. Around 10 to 12 days after infection the disease usually appears. The symptoms include runny nose, fever, coughing and eye irritation.
Afterwards a rash develops starting at the head and neck, moving to the hands and feet. Other conditions that occur at the same times as measles infection may include ear infections, diarrhea, encephalitis and pneumonia.
Pregnant women who are infected with the virus that causes measles can pass this virus to their unborn child. The risks of spontaneous abortion, premature birth or birth defects are higher with this infection. Mumps is transmitted either by respiratory droplets or contact with saliva. Similar to the measles virus, the mumps virus enters the body through the nasal/throat cavities. Fourteen to eighteen days after exposure to the virus the disease occurs.
The classic symptom of mumps is a swollen salivary gland near the ear. Complications of the disease include inflammation of the ovaries, inflammation of the testicles, inflammation of the pancreas, aseptic meningitis or possible deafness.
Rubella is also spread through respiratory droplets and enters the body via the nasal/throat cavities. The disease presents itself 12 to 23 days after exposure to the virus that causes rubella. Symptoms include tiredness, fever and swelling of lymph glands. The primary goal of vaccinating against rubella is to decrease the number of cases of rubella infection in fetuses. The disease can cause spontaneous abortion, fetal death and premature birth. It can also cause cardiac problems, defects in the eyes, deafness and malformations of the nervous system.
Varicella Varicella virus is in the herpes simplex virus family. It causes chicken pox and shingles.
This vaccination was added to the US child vaccinations schedule in 1995. Some parents are concerned that if their children receive the vaccine, their children will either not get chicken pox or just get a mild case of it. They reason this would decrease immunity to chicken pox as an adult when full blown chicken pox could be fatal.
Some researchers echo this concern. “Mass vaccination has two dangers: it could increase the number of varicella cases in adults, where severity is greater, and increase cases of zoster.” They are finding that while the incidence of chicken pox (varicella) may decrease in infants, it may actually increase as children get older or when they reach adulthood. However, the “overall morbidity due to varicella is likely to decrease following mass infant vaccination.”
One other scenario of mass US child vaccinations with the varicella vaccine is the possible increase in cases of shingles (zoster) in older adults.
“Paradoxically, less effective vaccines or vaccine programmes can be more effective in reducing overall morbidity (varicella + zoster) by allowing the virus to circulate more, which produces a smaller shift in the age at infection and a smaller increase in zoster cases.” The medical community’s response is to give a booster to children at ages 4 to 6 years as part of US child vaccinations.
Meningococcal bacteria This is the primary cause of meningitis. It is spread by coughing, kissing, or sharing drinks.
The symptoms of meningitis include headache and flu-like sypmtoms. Approximately 10% of those infected will die even though they may have received antibiotics in the early stages of infection. Meningitis is more common in populations that live together in close proximity. For example, college students living in dormitories.
For that reason, the vaccine is part of US child vaccinations and is recommended for children ages 11 or 12 years old. It is also recommended for those who have not been vaccinated before they enter high school or college.
Pneumococcal This bacterium is the major cause of pneumonia, especially in the community.
The populations most at risk for this infection are small children, children/adults with respiratory complications and the elderly.
Children under 2 years of age are at the highest risk for developing serious complications from the pneumococcal bacterium. Influenza Different strains of this viruse can cause influenza. That is why new vaccines are made and given every year and are included in the US child vaccinations schedule.
Children under 9 years of age should receive two flu vaccines within 4 weeks of each other if they have not received the flu vaccine in the past.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A virus is transmitted via contact with contaminated food or other objects. Its transmission is on the rise because of the influx of immigrants into the US. Vaccination is now recommended by the CDC to try to curb this infection. In addition to being part of the US child vaccinations schedule, the Hepatitis A vaccine is also recommended as part of the China travel vaccinations. Rotovirus A new rotovirus vaccine has been added to the CDC's recommended US child vaccinations schedule. Rotovirus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in young children. The vaccine is taken by mouth and contains live virus. So, it is possible for a child vaccinated with the rotovirus vaccine to transmit the disease to close contacts who are immunocompromised. US child vaccinations recommended by the CDC are updated regularly. Please see www.cdc.gov for an up-to-date schedule. An explanation of the changes for 2007 can be found here. Sources: (1) http://www.netwellness.uc.edu/
(3) http://hlunix.hl.state.ut.us/epi/fact_sheets/hflu.html
(4)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(5) The Pharmacists Letter
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