Immunity if doesn't rec'v booster-Varicella AND H1N1

[nemawei]

After DD got the Varicella vaccine, we ended up in the ER since she had a febrile seizure and a 104-105 temp for 5 days and welts on her body ... and now they want to give her a booster? I don't think so! My pediatrician, who is normally open to discussion about what I want, would not even agree that it was POSSIBLY from the vaccine.

Along the same lines, she got the H1N1 vaccine two weeks ago. He said that they don't have enough to give the booster. So, they made a decision to give all the kids (that want them) one vax, instead of half of the kids the original and booster.

So for both Varicella and H1N1, DD only got the original and not the booster a month later like pedi intended..

What does it mean in terms of immunity if the booster is not received? Is she immune, but not for as long as if she got the booster? Or is she only "half" immune? Will she get the disease, but not as severe as she would have? I wanted to ask the pediatrician, but he didn't seem to want to talk about it...

Oh, and I'm Kristen, and I'm new to the mothering forums (but not to the mag!) Nice to "meet" you all.. it seems like a great community here!

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by nemawei

What does it mean in terms of immunity if the booster is not received? Is she immune, but not for as long as if she got the booster? Or is she only "half" immune? Will she get the disease, but not as severe as she would have?

The first vaccine is supposed to give immunity. It actually does to about ca 80% of the kids. Since there are some kids who don't get immunity they need a booster. Rather than test which child is immune after the first shot, they simply give boosters to all kids.

For some vaccines there is then a ca 90% immunity after one booster and they want it higher, so they give another booster to ALL kids. (More profitable for the manufacturer!)

Some children also get immunity from a wild virus by simply being exposed to it, and never show any symptoms. This was the case with my son in law who was immune to chicken pox without ever havening had them. My grandchildren who had been exposed several times also showed no symptoms.

I am just saying that each person is an individual with an individual ecosystem.

Also if a child shows immunity via titers, for instance to mumps, it does not necessarily mean that when the child is exposed to that infection, he will not get the disease. On the other hand, even if the child shows no immunity it does not mean that the child will come down with the disease upon exposure. Titers are not reliable.

All those things are very vague and based on the best science available but it is not 100% accurate. Far from it. We always have to realize that most of it is guess work and that we are each individuals.

I wanted to ask the pediatrician, but he didn't seem to want to talk about it...

He is most likely not informed on the intricate information of the subject. My son in law is an MD and he knows virtually nothing about vaccines other than what he had been told by the vaccine manufacturer.

[nemawei]

Thank you so much!