Shot of Prevention

By Alanna Levine, MD, FAAP (Pediatrician and Spokesperson for the Protect Tomorrow campaign)

I see many children and parents each week in my pediatric practice. Just as I talk to them about healthy habits like proper hand washing, good nutrition and exercise, I also counsel parents about ensuring that their children receive all of their vaccines on time.  This week I am speaking on behalf of a new campaign from the American Academy of Pediatrics called “Protect Tomorrow.” The campaign features public service announcements that bring to life the diseases that were so devastating in the past, but can now be prevented by vaccines. I feel especially connected to this campaign because my own father suffered from polio as a child. His stories of that frightening time have impressed upon me the importance of protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases, because they can re-emerge if parents stop vaccinating. I encourage every doctor and parent to view these compelling public service announcements here.

The Protect Tomorrow campaign from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) brings to life the memories of the terrible diseases of the past and reminds parents that, unless their infants and children are vaccinated, they are at risk for contracting diseases that can lead to hospitalization and even death. The core components of the educational campaign are TV and radio public service announcements (PSA) that help all of us to remember the impact of the diseases that can now be largely prevented by vaccines.

By Alison Singer
President, Autism Science Foundation

I highly recommend PBS’s “The Vaccine War” which first aired on April 27 on PBS, and which will be replayed several times this week on PBS. In a rare display of tv news common sense, one side is simply declared to be wrong. The science is very clear; vaccines do not cause autism and it’s time to move on from this well debunked myth and find out what does.

The show features interviews with Dr. Paul Offit, Dr. Arthur Caplan, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Cynthia Cristofani, Dr. Anders Hviid & Dr. Eric Fombonne, as well as with actress Jenny McCarthy and JB Handley of Generation Rescue. 

“Scientifically, I think the matter is settled,” says Anders Hviid, an epidemiologist at the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark. In one of the largest and most comprehensive epidemiological studies available, Hviid and colleagues analyzed data on more than a half million children and found no link between the MMR “triple shot” for measles, mumps and rubella and an increased rate of autism — a link that’s been strongly asserted for years by anti-vaccine activists. Similar epidemiological studies in Denmark also failed to reveal a link between the mercury preservative thimerosal and autism. In fact, around the world, peer-reviewed epidemiological studies have found no link between autism and either the MMR shot or thimerosal.

You can watch the full episode online here.

View scientific studies regarding autism and vaccines here.

Katie and Craig Van Tornhout with their newborn daughter Callie

By Katie Van Tornhout

After five years and four miscarriages, our daughter Callie entered the world.  Although she was born six weeks early, the doctors felt comfortable letting us take her home after just two weeks in the hospital.  She was truly a miracle.  Our joy quickly turned into grief and confusion just five weeks later, however, when a disease called pertussis claimed her life.  We’ve shared Callie’s story here.

As hard as it is to talk about what happened to Callie, I want to make sure that parents understand how important it is to protect your baby until they are fully immunized.  I wish I had known that Callie was vulnerable to this disease, even while she was sitting in the NICU.  To an adult, pertussis can seem like an innocent cough, but to Callie and other newborns who are too young to be immunized, they aren’t able to fight it off and it can eventually result in respiratory failure.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with pertussis, it is a very contagious illness that is transmitted similar to the way the common cold is. In serious cases like Callie’s, babies with whooping cough may need IV tubes or a ventilator to breathe, and are in danger of having their lungs shut down. As a mother, I can’t tell you how heartbreaking this is to watch.

We still wonder where Callie contracted pertussis. She was only five weeks old and never went anywhere except to see her doctor.  I just wish that I had known about the Tdap vaccine, and how at risk babies like Callie are for contracting pertussis. I would have insisted that I, my husband and our friends and family who came to visit be immunized. I would have asked more questions about the nurses who handled Callie in the NICU, and whether they had been immunized.

We may never have our questions about how Callie contracted this devastating disease answered. The only peace of mind will come from speaking out and preventing other parents from experiencing this heartbreak.  You never know how many people breathe the same air you breathe each day.  Please, get vaccinated and only surround your baby with others who have been immunized.

The Van Tornhout’s story was featured on ABC’s Good Morning America on April 28th.  To hear more about their devasting experience, and the importance of immunization, view the segment “Your Family’s Health: Many Experts Urge Vaccination Against Whooping Cough” here.

By Dr. Ari Brown, Practicing Pediatrician and Author of Baby411, Toddler411 and the soon to be release Expecting 411

My brother passed away recently. He was only 57 years old.

Like so many people whose lives end prematurely, he died from cancer—specifically, liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)—which is often caused by a previous Hepatitis B infection. The cancer shows up several years later. My brother had a Hepatitis B infection about 35 years ago. Because he had other chronic health problems, no one will ever know if this infection is what led to his cancer and subsequent death, but I will always wonder and it will haunt me the rest of my life.

As a pediatrician, I talk about Hepatitis B disease and vaccine with the parents of every newborn patient. One of the really cool advances in modern medicine is the development of cancer-preventing vaccines. Hepatitis B vaccine has the honor of being the first cancer vaccine ever created. It was developed in the 1980’s and it became part of the routine childhood immunization schedule in 1991. Babies usually get their first of three doses before they even leave the hospital.

Over the years, I’ve encountered parents who have reservations about giving their child this vaccine. I hear, “My baby isn’t at risk,” or “It’s spread by having sex, so why give it to my baby now?” But like every other vaccine, it is all about prevention. It doesn’t matter when you THINK your child might encounter a potentially deadly infection. The truth is, you never know and cannot control when that might happen. About 30% of people who get Hepatitis B infections are not considered “high-risk” for getting infected.

After losing a loved one to liver cancer, I can’t imagine why a parent would opt to leave their child at risk.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I think my brother would have agreed.

Dr. Ari Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in child development from the University of Texas at Austin and a medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine.  She completed her pediatric residency and a fellowship in developmental/behavioral pediatrics at Harvard Medical School/Children’s Hospital Boston.

Dr. Brown resides in Austin, Texas, where she has been in private practice since 1995.  She is the co-author of Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for your Baby’s First Year, Toddler 411: Clear Answers for your Toddler and her latest book Expecting 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for your Pregnancy (June 2010 publish date).  Dr. Brown serves as a spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics and as a medical advisor and child health expert to Parents magazine and WebMD.

By Frankie Milley, Meningitis Angels

Meningitis Angels was founded in memory of Ryan Wayne Milley, only child of Bob and Frankie Milley. Ryan died at the age of 18 from meningococcal meningitis. Frankie now leads a large network of “angels” who have been affected by meningitis and speak out to raise awareness about this disease.

 Just a little over a month ago I went to Oklahoma to help out the little town of Oologah during a serious outbreak of meningococcal meningitis with Angels Amanda and Abby at my side.  It was devastating to see what this horrific vaccine-preventable disease could do in just a few short hours. It brought back those horrible memories of watching my only child, my precious Ryan, lay dying on an ER table. The days were filled with hospital visits, funeral homes, heartbroken families, legislators, health department folks, vaccine clinics and a blizzard on the first day of spring.  

 This weekend I will once again return to this little town. Only this time, to celebrate World Meningitis Day at the same little school where life was taken just a few weeks ago. Angels, Leslie, Karisa, Harley and her mom Donna, and Angel family the Menards, will be there. I pray with our candlelight visual, special music, flower seeds and a balloon launch with messages of love that we can bring just a glimmer of peace, hope and joy to this little town.   

 Most of all I hope that there is increased awareness about the vaccines which prevent this disease so that no more lives will be sacrificed from this deadly vaccine preventable disease.

 Learn more about meningitis angels at www.meningitis-angels.org

By Lynn Bozof

 Lynn Bozof is one of five founding members of the National Meningitis Association.

As World Meningitis Day approaches, it’s a good reminder for all of us to take stock of whether our children are up to date on vaccinations.  As a mother who lost a son to meningococcal meningitis, not knowing the disease was potentially vaccine-preventable, my heart will forever be heavy with grief.  If only I had known.  The CDC recommends routine vaccination for all 11-18 year olds, and there are safe and effective vaccines licensed for ages 2-55.   You can’t think because a disease is rare, that it won’t affect your family.  You have the means to protect your children – take advantage of it.

Learn more about NMA at http://www.nmaus.org/