WP says Prevnar is GREAT! ...oh except...

[KLM99]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/che..._conseque.html

"...overall there was a 30 percent drop in pneumococcal meningitis caused by strains of the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae." Yay!

"At the same time, there was a 60 percent increase in strains of the bacteria not covered by the vaccine." Oh But wait a minute - a 60% increase in strains where? causing meningitis? Or just "present"? They don't say...

"Perhaps even more worrisome, there was an increase in the number of cases caused by strains of the bacteria resistant to antibiotics." Yeah, that is considerably more worrisome.

But wait! No need to be fearful!

"None of this means that children should not continue to receive the vaccine. Quite the opposite."

Oh, phew.

"The findings give impetus to drug makers to speed the development of new versions of the vaccine to cover more strains. And that work is already underway."

[Marnica]

And when they come out with a new vaccine to cover the new starins, serotype replacement will just shift once again and new strains will step in to fill their place. We cannot vaccinate for EVERY bacteria under the sun and what drug companies are doing is just creating a bigger problem (Superbug). It's basic science. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understands that nature abhors a vacuum. There will always be another, more virulent strain of bacteria that causes menegitis to step in a fill theplace of one that is eradicated by a vaccine. They may be solving 1 problem, but in the process they are creating another one, and often the new one will be a BIGGER problem!

[bubbles]

It is interesting how in the context of the article it really downplays any concerns over an increase in other types. They specifically say that the increase is not significant in relation to the decrease in the targeted type. Aarrgghhh. The wording of the article will convince parents of the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine! It is all so frustrating how they just won't acknowledge the long term effects.

[not_telling]

oh my goodness...we just got back from the doc...went in for DS's second HiB (he's 5.5 months...we're doing selective/delayed). well, after waiting for doc in exam room for 30 minutes, she then proceeded to have a 30 min. conversation with me...again...about why we're not planning on doing prevnar. i also heard her talking in the hall with another doc about what info to tell me. she poo-pood serotypre replacement.

i have a lot more to say and some questions for the smart people here, but will wait till i can type without babe in arms...

[peainthepod]

The audacity of their fearmongeri...err, marketing is incredible.

"Overall meningitis cases haven't dropped and for every bacterium we attempt to eradicate, several more will take its place. But that doesn't mean our vaccines are worthless and even potentially harmful, oh no! Keep buying our vaccine$, folks, and please pay no attention to that little man behind the curtain over there!"

:

[AFWife]

Yeah...the first time I heard about Prevnar I was doing research on MRSA and superbugs. Apparently, a lot of kids got resistant staph in their ears and had to have tubes put in...several suffered hearing loss.

That research made me NOT want to give it to my child.