Unvaccinated 7 year old gets tetanus

[Zuri's Papa]

http://www.mlive.com/news/fljournal/...620.xml&coll=5

[smeep]

Okay, I have problems with that. they said she's up to date on her shots but her bloodwork (or whatever) showed no immunities. MAYBE it's becaues the tetanus vaccine just doesn't work???

[jojospok23]

Originally Posted by smeep

Okay, I have problems with that. they said she's up to date on her shots but her bloodwork (or whatever) showed no immunities. MAYBE it's becaues the tetanus vaccine just doesn't work???

I also have problems with this. The parents say she's up to date, yet the vax register shows nothing ever for tetanus. Did the Drs SERIOUSLY drop the ball on this one and not enter her in the reg, or did they forget to GIVE the vax, and if so, what about the girls vax record?

Something is seriously amiss.

[coloradoalice]

The immunization registry was crucial in treating the child, the doctor said. All children born after 1994 are automatically entered in the registry using birth certificate information.

First off how exactly does the registry help with treating the child? They assume the disease because since the child isn't vaccinated that must be it. They don't look for other causes or issues. IMO that is bad medicine, not good. Second how scary that they are registering our children at birth. I know Colorado has this registry also and you have to specifically opt out of it (something I have yet to do for both my kiddos : ). I think we should all be aware of these types of things that track our private medical information.

But when asked for a medical history, the girl's parents, who've asked for their identity to remain private, said she was up to date on her shots, the pediatric expert said.

This is why you shouldn't lie about vaccination status. Should there be a problem you lose crediability with the medical staff immediately. Just be honest. "We are opposed to vaccination" (add religiously if so inclined) and leave it at that. So if there is a problem you don't come accross as dishonest and/or negligent.

[coloradoalice]

Originally Posted by jojospok23

I also have problems with this. The parents say she's up to date, yet the vax register shows nothing ever for tetanus. Did the Drs SERIOUSLY drop the ball on this one and not enter her in the reg, or did they forget to GIVE the vax, and if so, what about the girls vax record?

Something is seriously amiss.

I think they said she was up to date because according to them she was. This is often given as advice right here on this board, and this story is an example of how not being honest can cause further problems.

[~member~]

The Flint girl's parents told hospital officials they had vaccinated her, along with the rest of their children, but none of the vaccines appeared on the state's registry.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...609250330/1040

Sounds more like a scare tactic to get ppl to be immunized.

I like that this article included information about not vax'ing and how to get exemptions.

[~member~]

Originally Posted by coloradoalice

I think they said she was up to date because according to them she was. This is often given as advice right here on this board, and this story is an example of how not being honest can cause further problems.

I was just thinking the same thing and hoping they don't get their other children removed from their home.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by coloradoalice

I know Colorado has this registry also and you have to specifically opt out of it (something I have yet to do for both my kiddos : ).

Do you know how to opt out? I knew about the registry, but I have no clue if we are on it or not.

[coloradoalice]

Originally Posted by uccomama

Do you know how to opt out? I knew about the registry, but I have no clue if we are on it or not.

I'm not sure, but I just googled and then sent an e-mail to someone who manages the registry. I asked fo rthe information needed to opt out. I will PM you with the info when (and if)I get it.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by coloradoalice

I'm not sure, but I just googled and then sent an e-mail to someone who manages the registry. I asked fo rthe information needed to opt out. I will PM you with the info when (and if)I get it.

Thank you!

[momto l&a]

Abuhammour said it was difficult to figure out what was causing the girl's sky-high blood pressure, low blood oxygen and breathing trouble. But one thing was certain: She had lockjaw, a severe muscle spasm locking the jaw so that the mouth cannot open.

Sounds like the girl may have something else wrong with her also?

[jojospok23]

Originally Posted by coloradoalice

I think they said she was up to date because according to them she was. This is often given as advice right here on this board, and this story is an example of how not being honest can cause further problems.

I had meant to include that in my previous post but my toddler asked for a nappy change : Thanks for clarifying, but yes that was my final thought for how the situation occurred.

If the kids really are vaxed, and vaccine failures, then I hope that the parents are able to pull up records from somewhere if only for the CYA factor so that like someone mentioned, no one tries to remove the kids.

[cam&kat's_mom]

oops double post

[cam&kat's_mom]

It is quite possible that she DID recieve the shot, but it didn't take.
I have no immunity show in my bloodwork to the Hep B shots, but I had them. I remember getting them AND i have the scar to prove it! I had all 3 cause that's what the school "mandated" and the Dr said was best, and like my mother would ever go against teh Dr! LOL But in both this pregnancy and the last, my bloodwork shows NO immunity to the HEP b and they want me to get the shots again. !UM NOPE! (So this could be teh case with the little girl IF she actually did have them) And if not.. she apparetnly appears to be recovering just fine. According to what I read.....

[Katana]

By age 7, the girl should have had at least five doses of the tetanus vaccine, but blood tests showed her body had none of the antibodies needed to fight the toxic tetanus bacteria.

Why does this mean the parents lied about her not getting shots? Could it just mean that maybe the vaccine did squat for her, as far as protecting her?

How many people here can say, I got vaxed with an MMR at least twice, and I'm still not immune (bloodwork wise) to measles? Why wouldn't it work that way for other VPD too?

As far as records go, well, they get "lost" all the time. How good would it look for there to be recorded proof that someone got 4-5 shots against tetnaus, and then came down with it?

I'm cynical, but in a case like this, whether they vaxed her or not, I doubt any record, either way would ever show up. It would cause too much commotion, no matter what.

[bri276]

I thought you can't get immunity for tetanus. If not, then how does anyone show immunites for it?

[coloradoalice]

I read the other article that MITB posted and it isn't clear either, although I think both articles give the impression the child was never vaccinated. Both state the parents said she was, but then both speak of people who refuse to vaccinate. I think it's somewhat confusing, I wish there was more information.

So, if she was vaccinated the vaccine failed (no big surprise there), and if she wasn't her parents lied.

Funny thing is, neither of those facts seem very news worthy!! But now there is reason for panic and for everyone to rush off and make sure they are up to date. Can we say "a chance to push the flu vaccine as well?".

[paquerette]

The article says she should have had FIVE doses by the age of seven?! :

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by bri276

I thought you can't get immunity for tetanus. If not, then how does anyone show immunites for it?

Good question. How can you develop immunity to a poison? You can't. That is why they add all those adjuvants and other crap to create some sort of reaction. From that reaction they can tell that the body reacted to that and hopefully to the tetanus poison. So they assume you have some immunity to the poison. That's how I see it.

But the girl is recovering. Let's not forget that.

My question would be :

The girl is believed to have gotten it from a scrape on her foot.

Hurley has been treating the girl for two weeks, since she arrived in the emergency room in severe distress.

How the hell was Hurley treating a scrape on the foot so that tetanus had a chance to develop? Did he put the foot in a plastic bag?

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by paquerette

The article says she should have had FIVE doses by the age of seven?! :

That tells me she probably had four.