Pediarix and antibiotics

[ChasingPeace]

I was outraged yesterday to see a commercial yesterday for Pediarix that said it should not be given to children who have had allergic reactions to antibiotics or yeast. I allowed myself to be frightened into getting my ds his 2 month Pediarix vax, and was never told any of the warnings (and admittedly I did not read the insert). He had a reaction to it (3 days after getting, he cried inconsolably for hours), and I decided not to vax anymore. At 4 months old, my ds had an ear infection, and had an allergic reaction to amoxicillin. I've since learned that reactions to antibiotics are not uncommon in babies, and they may outgrow it. Now here's my outrage: WHY ARE DOCTORS GIVING THESE VAXES TO BABIES WHEN MANY BABIES HAVE REACTIONS TO ANTIBIOTICS!?! AND WHO DOESN'T REACT TO YEAST!?! What permanent damage could that dose of Pediarix done???

I know nothing should surprise me, but I'm just so angry. :

[stayathomecristi]

and you know

that when you mention this reaction to the doc, he/she will tell you that it was "totally unrelated" to the shot, right?

GRRRRRR! I get angry also.

[suschi]

Originally Posted by ChasingPeace

I was outraged yesterday to see a commercial yesterday for Pediarix that said it should not be given to children who have had allergic reactions to antibiotics or yeast. I allowed myself to be frightened into getting my ds his 2 month Pediarix vax, and was never told any of the warnings (and admittedly I did not read the insert). He had a reaction to it (3 days after getting, he cried inconsolably for hours), and I decided not to vax anymore. At 4 months old, my ds had an ear infection, and had an allergic reaction to amoxicillin. I've since learned that reactions to antibiotics are not uncommon in babies, and they may outgrow it. Now here's my outrage: WHY ARE DOCTORS GIVING THESE VAXES TO BABIES WHEN MANY BABIES HAVE REACTIONS TO ANTIBIOTICS!?! AND WHO DOESN'T REACT TO YEAST!?! What permanent damage could that dose of Pediarix done???

I know nothing should surprise me, but I'm just so angry. :

This vaccine was just licensed at the end of last year, mid Dec, so no doubt there are still many uknowns about the vaccine once it hits the general public.

Hopefully any damage it may have caused (if any) will reverse over time. Human bodies are amazing, but can only tolerate so much insult.

Important to note,

were the reactions and/or your concerns reported to your dr?

were those reactions noted in your child's record?

request a copy of your child's record

find out if your dr reported the reaction to VAERS, if not, you will need a copy of your child's records to file the report yourself, and at this point, I would not rely on the dr to do it. REQUEST A COPY OF YOUR CHILD'S RECORDS BEFORE YOU DISCUSS THE VACCINE REACTION.

I would even suggest getting the records one week, look them over, find out if your dr noted the reaction in his records, then the following week you can discuss the records,

ie:

I see you noted the vaccine reaction in the record, did you file a report with VAERS, and if so, what is the report # and why isn't that in the records?

or

I see you didn't note the vaccine reaction, can you please update the records and get me a copy of the updated record, and VAERS info etc.

If you have been able to determine your dr did NOT file a report with VAERS,

you can do so once you have your child's records here,

http://www.vaers.org

VACCINE REACTIONS ARE NOT RARE, JUST RARELY REPORTED.

"WHY ARE DOCTORS GIVING THESE VAXES TO BABIES WHEN MANY BABIES HAVE REACTIONS TO ANTIBIOTICS!?! AND WHO DOESN'T REACT TO YEAST!?!"

It states in I believe EVERY vaccine insert

DO NOT GIVE IF ALLERGIC to any of components,

but what dr bothers to find out if child is allergic before giving shots?

This is what I challenged the ped w/in the hosp when I declined the eye goop and vit k. I asked, "How do you know if he is allergic to any of this, he was just born?"

Never got an answer.

[ChasingPeace]

Suschi, I guess I am part of the problem because I did not report the reaction at the time. In fact, I assumed (at the time) that the inconsolable crying was due to the fact I'd eaten a Frosty (ds also had bad reflux back then), and so I eliminated dairy for awhile. It was not until I did some later research that I began to suspect it had been a vaccine reaction. Is it too late to report it? We have since moved temporarily (although we're going to move back soon) and are seeing another ped. I told this ped. about the reaction (5 months after the reaction), but I don't know if she noted it in his chart. I did tell her we weren't vaxed anymore now, and she did say "it sounds like he'd be covered by a medical and philosophical exemption" when my dh asked her if not vaxing would be a problem when ds goes to school.

[suschi]

The good news is there is no time limit for filing a report with VAERS, but you will need the lot # etc for the shots given that day.

Adverse reactions are usually denied as such and often go unreported. Took me a year to file my son's report, as our dr denied it could have been the vaccines since the reaction wasn't immediate (happened within 2 days)

I didn't know I could file a report, I didn't even know reports could be filed, but after much research and speaking with other parents, and about everything else ruled out, I realized there was no other possible cause but the shots, got the records and filed the report. I knew it wouldn't benefit us in any way, but I am hoping that more parents report these reactions, the denial will eventually be outweighed by the evidence.

Christine