Safe for the entire population?

[Fyrestorm]

Can anyone come up with any drug that is considered safe for the entire population?

I mean even aspirin is contraindicated in some people.

How do we know if newborns or any other person has an allergy or any other contraindication to a vaccine?

Newborns certainly don't come out with a medic alert bracelet on.

I have a friend that just found out that her 18 month old son is allergic to all bovine products...from milk to meat. What would have happened if she had vaccinated with anything containing bovine matter?

[carriebft]

There aren't any! This is definitely a big idea on the "risk" side of vaccines, esp, like you said, with newborns. Certain things are not diagnosed at birth.

I have never had to give my kids antibiotics. I would have to take that allergic risk into account if we ever came to a situation where we needed one. I assume the day will come some time, and it's a risk benefit we will have to do!

[Deborah]

What makes this whole thing even trickier is that allergy and reaction problems can develop at any point in life. Someone can be fine with an antibiotic one day and severely allergic at a later point.

I had my first allergy (hayfever) type attack at age 18. Didn't have another one until I was in my 30s and I've been struggling with this ever since.