2-year-old having first vaccine tomorrow -- nervous

[annawest]

Our son is 27 months and completely unvaccinated. Tomorrow he is scheduled to have the DTaP vaccine. We decided to go ahead and get it because he is older now, because we are expecting a new baby and want to protect against pertussis (though I know the vaccine isn't supposed to be good at preventing transmission), and because we want to protect against tetanus. (We have chosen to get him vaccinated in Europe privately while on vacation so that he is not entered into our state's registry. So if we don't follow through tomorrow, we'll have to wait at least a year or two for our next trip.)

He's healthy, and this will be the only shot he is getting. So why am I so scared? Anyone been in a similar position want to tell me happy stories about how everything went fine for your dcs when they had their first delayed shot?

[Marnica]

Sorry you are feeling nervous. I don't have any stories for you - but I wanted to ask you something. You said are getting the first DTaP on vacation. It is a 5 dose series so it would seem that you would have to vaccinate at home to complete the series anyway - so Im not seeing the logic about vaccinating in Europe to stay off the radar in this case can you explain?

[ma2two]

You said you wanted the pertussis component because of the new baby on the way, but then said you realize it is not effective against transmission. So I don't understand your reasoning.

I'm also not sure if you have weighed the benefits and risks of the tetanus component. Annually, there are only about 30 cases of tetanus in the United States, and it is extremely rare in children (most cases are in people over 40 and heroin users). http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/tetanus.pdf  So, knowing this, do you still think the risk of tetanus is higher than the risk of the vaccine?

And yes to what Marnica wrote--the DTaP is a series of 4 to 5 shots. (The 5th dose is not necessary if the 4th dose is on or after the 4th birthday).

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/downloads/child/catchup-schedule-pr.pdf

I've learned to not do anything medically that I have a bad feeling about, especially if there is no emergency. Instincts are very valuable.

[annawest]

The DTaP is normally given as a series, but I think a single dose is usually pretty effective in terms of the diptheria and tetanus protection, especially in an older baby/toddler. The tetanus is really what we're after. As for pertussis, I thought it was effective until very recently -- our decision was based in part on wanting that protection for the baby, but now I'm seeing that it doesn't stop transmission. But I made the appointment before I knew that, and I still want the tetanus, so . . . I don't know. I am on the fence, truly. Our son plays in dirt and mud all the time. It makes me nervous every time he gets a cut (which is every day), and I'd just feel good knowing he had the protection. I know there are very few cases among kids in the US, but from what I remember reading about it, almost all of those cases are among unvaccinated kids. So what is the proportion of unvaccinated kids who get tetanus? That is what I would like to know.

The thing is, a single shot at age 2 is not going to hurt him, right? That's sort of my logic. I might prevent a disease, and since it's just one shot, he should be fine, so why not? But I can't relax about it nor make myself feel comfortable with it.

[annawest]

and part of me feels like, he's such a healthy and perfect child now, why "fix" what ain't broken? But I also couldn't forgive myself if he were to get tetanus.

[emmy526]

Originally Posted by annawest 

The DTaP is normally given as a series, but I think a single dose is usually pretty effective in terms of the diptheria and tetanus protection, especially in an older baby/toddler. The tetanus is really what we're after. As for pertussis, I thought it was effective until very recently -- our decision was based in part on wanting that protection for the baby, but now I'm seeing that it doesn't stop transmission. But I made the appointment before I knew that, and I still want the tetanus, so . . . I don't know. I am on the fence, truly. Our son plays in dirt and mud all the time. It makes me nervous every time he gets a cut (which is every day), and I'd just feel good knowing he had the protection. I know there are very few cases among kids in the US, but from what I remember reading about it, almost all of those cases are among unvaccinated kids. So what is the proportion of unvaccinated kids who get tetanus? That is what I would like to know.

The thing is, a single shot at age 2 is not going to hurt him, right? That's sort of my logic. I might prevent a disease, and since it's just one shot, he should be fine, so why not? But I can't relax about it nor make myself feel comfortable with it.

I am wondering where you read from  that tetanus cases were in unvaccinated children.  Just seems like fearmongering to me, since like the PP said, heroin users using dirty needles or horse manure can harbor the tetanus toxin.. do you have horse manure in your yard or suspect it to be contaminating your soil? 

And imo, you will not be able to find out the true number of unvaxed kids who had tetanus, because there are no stats to my knowledge (from a pharma site to endorse it)..

Tetanus enters the bloodstream due to a wound not being properly cleaned and treated. even if there are spores in the wound, if it is washed out immediatly, and in some cases, TiG administered, contracting tetanus was not an issue.  

Another factor to consider before vaxing is allergies. Does he have any? Some allergies are made 100fold worse due to the vax, and others can pop up.  And no vccine is 100% effective.  

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by annawest 

The DTaP is normally given as a series, but I think a single dose is usually pretty effective in terms of the diptheria and tetanus protection, especially in an older baby/toddler. The tetanus is really what we're after. As for pertussis, I thought it was effective until very recently -- our decision was based in part on wanting that protection for the baby, but now I'm seeing that it doesn't stop transmission. But I made the appointment before I knew that, and I still want the tetanus, so . . . I don't know. I am on the fence, truly. Our son plays in dirt and mud all the time. It makes me nervous every time he gets a cut (which is every day), and I'd just feel good knowing he had the protection. I know there are very few cases among kids in the US, but from what I remember reading about it, almost all of those cases are among unvaccinated kids. So what is the proportion of unvaccinated kids who get tetanus? That is what I would like to know.

The thing is, a single shot at age 2 is not going to hurt him, right? That's sort of my logic. I might prevent a disease, and since it's just one shot, he should be fine, so why not? But I can't relax about it nor make myself feel comfortable with it.

If whatbyou are after is tetanus protection, why not get the pediatric DT? Then you can eliminate the ineffective and potentially highly reactive pertussis component. Tetanus is really about improer wound care. Statistically speaking I think the odds of your child contracting tetanus are far less than him having an adverse vaccine reaction no matter how old he is.

[ma2two]

Something to keep in mind if you consider the DT vaccine without pertussis is that the only DT brand available in the United States, Sanofi Pasteur, contains 0.3 mcg mercury.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM101500.pdf

Whether you get the DT or the DTaP in another country, please be extra sure that it does not come from a multi-dose vial, because then it would contain 25 mcg mercury.

You still seem more worried about tetanus than the vaccine. I would easily bet my life savings that your unvaccinated child will never get tetanus. I wouldn't be willing to bet much money at all that your child wouldn't have some sort of adverse reaction to the vaccine. There are no guarantees of safety with ANY vaccine, regardless of the number of doses, or the age and health status of the recipient.

[annawest]

Well, he woke up this morning with a runny nose and sneezing. Doesn't look too bad, but I'm not going to chance it. I doubt we'll be able to reschedule before we go home, so I guess this is God's way of saying, "Not now."

[Marnica]

Well they say everything happens for a reason! Keep in mind that you can always do it next trip or you can also cross state lines and go to the health dept and pay out of pocket.

 

Originally Posted by annawest 

Well, he woke up this morning with a runny nose and sneezing. Doesn't look too bad, but I'm not going to chance it. I doubt we'll be able to reschedule before we go home, so I guess this is God's way of saying, "Not now."

[emmy526]

good info on tetanus:

http://vran.org/vaccines/dpt/taylor-tetanus.htm

[chaoticzenmom]

Originally Posted by annawest 

Well, he woke up this morning with a runny nose and sneezing. Doesn't look too bad, but I'm not going to chance it. I doubt we'll be able to reschedule before we go home, so I guess this is God's way of saying, "Not now."

When we were in France, the dtp was diptheria, tetunus and polio.  So double check that if you're going to do that one in Europe. 

The DTaP is one that I revisit from time to time.  I've made an appointment and cancelled as well.  I almost stepped on a piece of wood with a nail in it a few days ago and it's kind of pushed me to reconsider the dtap.  I chose to get only one dose of the dtap for my 3rd child (the other two had many more vaccines) and my naturapath (licenced and can do most everything a ped does) said that one dose is effective for 80% of the people who get it.  The other boosters are to catch that other 20 %.  She said that the fact that he's healthy probably gives him an even better chance at the first dose being effective.  My 4th child is 2.5 years old and hasn't had a single vaccine.  It's kind of an emotional decision as much as anything else at this point.

[EcoTykesMama]

Wow, mama.  You are awesome - I know that starting a vaccination routine is a big deal when you've waited this long.  Vaccines do work, I myself did a delayed partial vax regime with my kids, and they my kids are okay.  The other pple are right in that if your child has severe allergies, talk to an allergist to get a good idea of how this may affect your toddler.

[nia82]

My DS has had one DTaP and one HiB at 28 months. DO you know if I can have his DT titers checked to see if it took? Or even the pertussis titers?