The diptheria, polio and tetanus vaccines are mandatory in France; however, there is no children's shot currently available that is just for these three vaccines. The DT Polio children's vaccine that used to be on the market got taken off the market in 2008. So as our pediatrician explained it, you have three options:
- - Have your child get the Tetravac, which had vaccines for diptheria, tetanus, polio and pertussis. Tetravac contains aluminium hydroxide, considered a toxin, plus the least effective and most undesirable vaccine - for pertussis.
- Have your child get REVAXIS, which is the adult booster for diptheria, tetanus and polio. This was our pediatrician's recommendation. She says that it has the advantage of being less powerful than the tetravac (but totally sufficient as vaccinations, in her opinion) because it is meant to be only a booster. The disadvantages are that 1) REVAXIS contains about 350 mcg of aluminium hydroxide, an ajuvant and 2) the insert says that it is only to be used on children aged 6 and up, which means that if you use it on your infant and there is a nasty side effect, you have no recourse against the drug manufacturer (or against the state, for that matter).
- Don't have your child vaccinated and have the doctor write a note that the child cannot be vaccinated with DT Polio shot, as the shot has been removed from the market. Since the other brands available cover vaccines that are not obligatory, they are not legally required. The text of the letter reads like this:
I would be interested to know what others have done and if there are other options. I would be okay with skipping the vaccines and getting the letter but my DH is adamant that our son should be vaccinated for tetanus and polio at the very least. Are there other countries where the DT Polio vaccine is still available? Are there other brands in other countries that have a shot with just those three vaccines? Has anyone thought of other options?
- - Have your child get the Tetravac, which had vaccines for diptheria, tetanus, polio and pertussis. Tetravac contains aluminium hydroxide, considered a toxin, plus the least effective and most undesirable vaccine - for pertussis.
- Have your child get REVAXIS, which is the adult booster for diptheria, tetanus and polio. This was our pediatrician's recommendation. She says that it has the advantage of being less powerful than the tetravac (but totally sufficient as vaccinations, in her opinion) because it is meant to be only a booster. The disadvantages are that 1) REVAXIS contains about 350 mcg of aluminium hydroxide, an ajuvant and 2) the insert says that it is only to be used on children aged 6 and up, which means that if you use it on your infant and there is a nasty side effect, you have no recourse against the drug manufacturer (or against the state, for that matter).
- Don't have your child vaccinated and have the doctor write a note that the child cannot be vaccinated with DT Polio shot, as the shot has been removed from the market. Since the other brands available cover vaccines that are not obligatory, they are not legally required. The text of the letter reads like this:
Quote:
| Attestation de situation vaccinale Au regard de l’Article R3111-17 de la nouvelle partie réglementaire du code de santé publique (“L'admission dans tout établissement d'enfants, à caractère sanitaire ou scolaire, est subordonnée à la présentation soit du carnet de santé, soit des documents en tenant lieu attestant de la situation de l'enfant au regard des vaccinations obligatoires”). Je soussigné (nom prénom) Docteur en médecine atteste que l’enfant (nom, prénom, date de naissance) ne peut recevoir le vaccin DTP (antidiphtérique, antitétanique, antipoliomyélitique) obligatoire, ce dernier étant indisponible dans les pharmacies en France. Les autres vaccins ne répondent pas au caractère légal de l’obligation vaccinale. Cette situation sera à réexaminer dans un an1 |
