Parents' levels of immunity vs. their DCs' - Page 2

[nia82]

Most people I know don't know whether they are immune or not. I only know my status for rubella and chickenpox. I will run a tetanus titer when 10 years are up after my last DT. DH's MMR titers were run for the military but that's it. Technically us older people who received OPV are supposed to be still immune, but is that really so? Any longterm studies showing immunity after decades?

[thispathisme]

Originally Posted by Rrrrrachel 

I am up to date, but I haven't run titers or anything. In terms of spreading disease, there are several studies that show vaccinating children makes a difference in infection rates of all ages, regardless of the vaccine status of adults. So is not for nothing that there's so much focus on vaccinating kids.

So does being up to date equal having 100% immunity? 75%? If you (general you) haven't had your titers checked how do you know that being up to date is working?

What were some reasons for rates being lower? Is it things like children are less likely to practice proper hygiene, many kids in close quarters (schools and such)? Would you mind linking me to some of those studies?

Originally Posted by prosciencemum 

I had to check all of this when I got a visa to move to the US and again when I got a Greencard. American's really like to check this stuff it seems (PS. my husband did the inverse of this when we moved to the UK, and I don't recall any medical information being part of that). 

PSM, would you have had them checked had you not been required to? Prior to having your children vaccinated?

Originally Posted by serenbat 

We (DH & I) are not up-to-date, nor is our DS (completely free) and only one person we know that is up-to-date - a child and this child is the most sickly child we have ever known. All family, all friends, co-workers, etc are not.

I have posted this prior- cost is a huge factor (with adults) - most are not covered by their insurance, have auto-immune issues, cancer, prior reactions, etc, or are elderly and Medicare only will pay for 3 vacs - the children we know are also (with only one exception) also not fully vaced, having had reactions, or never had any. 

The more I speak about it (IRL) the more I learn of ones that are not vacing. I am finding that more and more know of children that have had reactions and adults that have spoken about medical conditions and their choices not to vac themselves or their children- no longer odd anymore. Some even work in daycare and are teachers, even a few in the medical fields. It no longer is a closet issue, more and more people are talking about it.

I know only one that got a flu vaccine this year (that one child is the only one- parents didn't-he's always sick so it's hard to tell if he had flu or not) and I know no one that got the flu either.

In my area they only run free flu clinics and not for others. We actually make the flu vaccine in my area and I know people who have worked at the facility and they don't even vac.

So do you have to PAY for vaccines in the USA? Does anyone know if you have to pay to have your titers checked in Ontario, Canada?

Originally Posted by IdentityCrisisMama 

I imagine (hope) that most of the people who would villainize parents and children who are not vaccinated on the grounds that it makes society less protected would be up to date on vaccines for the entire family.

I'm not one of those people so I know you aren't talking to me but I've looked into my own status recently. I know the pertussis issue is hotly debated but it's one that I decided to get it for myself before I got it for my child. I suppose when/if I get her MMR I will look again into my titers. 

May I ask why you are so concerned about pertussis? From your post it seems it's the only one you've allowed. Is that right? How come?

Originally Posted by IdentityCrisisMama 

I would agree if this is a common thing to toss about that I would find it tiresome too. Folks taking one person they know and extrapolating some sort of meaning from that is also a little difficult to discuss.  In the chart that Mirzam quoted above, I think a lot of those issues are not what anyone would describe as "sickly".  

I wonder if folks who don't vaccinate have had a much different experience in the NFL community as I have had. I actually feel as though I see a higher number of things like allergies, sensitivities and other more unusual health problems within the NFL world. I've never thought that NFL was the cause but more that's where a lot of people like me turn when they experience health problems. No point really other than to remark that I'm surprised that those who don't vaccinate/in the NFL community feel like those people are especially healthy because that hasn't been my experience. 


Again, not a causation  thing. I definitely think that kids who are sensitive or who have sensitive parents and would benefit greatly from avoiding or delaying some vaccinations. I also think NFL is good for all people and is perhaps especially important for those with healthy problems, which is why I think I see so many of those people in the NFL communities where I have lived.


 

This is probably very obvious and I'll hit my head when I get an answer but NFL stands for what?...

Originally Posted by nia82 

Most people I know don't know whether they are immune or not. I only know my status for rubella and chickenpox. I will run a tetanus titer when 10 years are up after my last DT. DH's MMR titers were run for the military but that's it. Technically us older people who received OPV are supposed to be still immune, but is that really so? Any longterm studies showing immunity after decades?

And are your/is your children/child vaccinated?

[Rrrrrachel]

Wen I say up to date I mean with my vaccines. I've had all the boosters it's recommended I have.

I'll see if I can find some of that literature for you.

[Rrrrrachel]

Here's a run down of a bunch of studies of herd effect.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3171704/

I'm not an epidemiologist so I can only speculate on why children are more prone to spread disease. I imagine its related to poorer hygeine (touch eyes/noses/faces more often, aren't as good at washing hands, etc) and less developed immune systems that maybe make them more susceptible.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Originally Posted by thispathisme 

May I ask why you are so concerned about pertussis? From your post it seems it's the only one you've allowed. Is that right? How come?

I opted for the pertussis/tetanus vaccine because I know I'd be nagged about tetanus if I were injured (and I'm not one to fret over wound care) and because I am concerned with pertussis being on the rise. I know that I may still get pertussis even if vaccinated but I think that the vaccine will offer some deal of protection. Pertussis seems like a really crappy illness to have. I mean, tetanus does too...   At some point, I suppose I may get a MMR shot because I don't think I'm immune. (well one MW told me I wasn't). But I'm also finished having children. Another reason I got the adult Dtap is because I am getting that for my child and I wanted to know what it was like. That thought didn't occur to me for my first child and I'm glad I chose to do that this time around...because the Dtap is actually quite painful and I felt really poor for a couple of days after. I feel more prepared to help my child, having gone through it myself recently. 

Oh, and I don't get a flu shot because I rarely get the flu and I figure don't fix what 'aint broke. 

[serenbat]

Quote:

So do you have to PAY for vaccines in the USA?

YES! unless you qualify for govt assistance for medical - it is currently not required that my insurance pay in my state - for us all out of pocket! plus the office visit

ETA- I was able to get 2 titer check during my last pregnancy because my OB wrote that I had been exposed otherwise they would have only payed for 1

Edited by serenbat - 3/7/13 at 10:39am

[chickabiddy]

I have BlueCross BlueShield insurance and adult immunizations are completely covered.  I also think they can be done at many health departments for free.

[serenbat]

Quote:

I have BlueCross BlueShield insurance and adult immunizations are completely covered.  I also think they can be done at many health departments for free.

In the US right now, private insurance companies are not YET required to cover vac- some due and some also have very high deductible as well - currently (and even this isn't today!) flu shot (not mist) was the only free available to me and only when a clinic was run- not all the time on demand-each state is different. I also have a family deductible of $1500.00 (plus our premium cost), so it's not like we really even have insurance!

Until the requirement goes into effect with mandating coverage via Affordable Care Act, I pay 100%.