ACIP Expands Recommendations for Pertussis, Meningococcal Vaccinations - this is hilarious!

[Marnica]

http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/p...3aciprecs.html


There were a few tidbits in this article I found disturbing and a few hilarious!

With the pertussis outbreak in California nearing a 60-year high in the number of cases reported, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, has voted to recommend the off-label use of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis, or Tdap, vaccine in two specific patient groups.

Now I know off label use happens all the time in the pharmaceutical/medical arena but it's still disturbing IMO

This is what I found hilarious

Finally, the committee voted unanimously to adopt an evidence-based vaccination recommendation process.

Uhhhh so up until now, the recommendations have NOT been evidenced based? (which we all know is in fact the case) gee...maybe having an evidenced based approach would be a good idea

[littlec]

So, how many Tdap or DTaP vaccines does the average person now need? 6? And how many Meningococcal?

[Sileree]

Originally Posted by littlec

So, how many Tdap or DTaP vaccines does the average person now need? 6? And how many Meningococcal?

Right now we are at 5 doses of DTaP in childhood, 1 Tdap booster for middle school, 1 Tdap booster in adulthood. To be honest, we are probably moving towards Tdap boosters every 5-10 years throughout life. I see articles about studies testing the effectiveness/safety of this occaisonally.

I believe one meningococcal was recommended around age 11 or 12. It was hoped to last about ten years, but now they think it lasts 5 years, maybe less, so another dose has been added at age 16-18 I think.

[thtr4me]

I fully expect that their "evidence based" vaccination recommendations will result in the recommendation of even more doses and boosters of these vaccines.

[Turquesa]

I also got a giggle from:

Campos-Outcalt said the change, which will be implemented during the next few years, will give the committee's recommendations added credibility.

"They're credible now, but there have been questions in some circles about the amount and quality of evidence behind some recommendations," he said.

They're credible. Don't mind those "some circles" who question their credibility.

[mamakah]

Sorry about the stupid question but, what does "off label" mean?

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by mamakah

Sorry about the stupid question but, what does "off label" mean?

Means it is prescribed for uses/and or in populations that have not been approved by the FDA

[yarngoddess]

Just Yuck. These articles and people that think that their way is the only way, despite "some circles" of crazy people lol. Scary, IMHO.

[BellaClaudia]

I also got curious about off label and here is what def. says:

Off-label use


is the practice of prescribing pharmaceuticals for an unapproved indication.[1] In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) reviews a company's New Drug Application (NDA) for data from clinical trials to see if the results support the drug for a specific use or indication.[2] If satisfied that the drug is safe and effective, the drug's manufacturer and the FDA agree on specific language describing dosage, route of administration, and other information to be included on the drug's label. More detail is included in the drug's package insert....

source

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off-label_use

[BellaClaudia]

But.. how is this lega? the off-label?..

There is so many law suits of the products that make false claims..
and therefore they get sued for..
and yet a doctor who will prescribe a patient Tylenol to cure his..
hm.. freckles (for lack of better example ) can get away with it?

Do I get it right?

[shanniesue2]

I need to go back and read the article, but how on earth is using a pharmaceutical off-label "evidence based?"

[Katwoman]

I have no idea how "off-label" works in vaccines. (I really can't even imagine how it works.)

But in prescription medication the medicine is used for "like conditions" to what the medication is already approved by the FDA for. So no, the doctor could not prescribe tylenol to cure freckles. In my case I was prescribed Lyrica for chronic, debilitating pain through out my body caused from a fall/hip birth defect and CFS. Lyrica is approved by the FDA for Fybromyalgia pain. It blocks some of the pain messages from getting through to your brain. So you "feel" less pain. It's only approved for Fybromyalgia because of the sever pain those people have. My pain was helped by the Lyrica because it was similar to the type of Fybro pain Lyrica was approved for. But an ethical doctor would not prescribe Lyrica because I was constipated. Does that make sense?

(Still not helpful for vaccines...... )