tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post116771422087728251..comments2023-09-24T06:14:15.820-04:00Comments on Tiggers don't Jump: Childhood ImmunizationJudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08237756183010257014noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post-7175522384432090032007-02-10T11:05:00.000-05:002007-02-10T11:05:00.000-05:00I know that everyone has the right to choose. But ...I know that everyone has the right to choose. But they also have the right to being informed before they make the choice. Choosing not to immunize their children (where they - the parents - immunized as children? And what bad things came as a result of that?) puts so many other people at risk - family, friends, the community in general. Look at the outbreaks of anything that can to attributed to a child/children who were not immunized. I think this decision takes more informed thinking than to choose what type of diaper to buy - and yet, as many state, the information they choose to inform themselves with (the downside of the internet) is often so out of date as to be worthless...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post-6106904178575264652007-01-21T19:49:00.000-05:002007-01-21T19:49:00.000-05:00I've had the odd (for this day and age) fortune to...I've had the odd (for this day and age) fortune to see a pertussis outbreak as a medical student. And I think it is borderline criminal not to immunize children, despite never having seen any of the really bad diseases like smallpox or even H. influenza.<br /><br />Thanks for your comment on my blog, by the way.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288330419297657142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post-1168217467465189172007-01-07T19:51:00.000-05:002007-01-07T19:51:00.000-05:00I don't mind educating families and helping them d...I don't mind educating families and helping them develop better research skills. I believe that they will take what they learn back to their circles and share it with people I will never meet. <BR/><BR/>I hate having to battle with co-workers who want to use an authoritarian style of patient care. I know what does and does not get me to change my behavior. Authoritarian styles don't work well for me and likely not for many other people.<BR/><BR/>As for pertussis, I need to find out more about the incident, but several staff members on our pediatric unit were exposed last week before the patient was diagnosed. The child was of an age that s/he should have been at least partially immunized and I don't know whether or not s/he was. One of the nurses also works in the NICU and won't be until she is cleared by employee health. I hope this inspires them to seek alternative sources for the adult pertussis vaccine they've promised us.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08237756183010257014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post-1168111717491592582007-01-06T14:28:00.000-05:002007-01-06T14:28:00.000-05:00That must be very trying for you, Judy. I think th...That must be very trying for you, Judy. I think that is interesting that people picked up medical information that is perhaps years or even decades out of date but nothing prompts them to review it. I was thinking of this during the week when there was a survey that reported that more than 50% of smokers believe that smoking-related cancer is a matter of fate, rather than something that one can influence (by say, not smoking).<BR/><BR/>Regards - ShingaShingahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18126212762767721751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post-1167886861699349042007-01-04T00:01:00.000-05:002007-01-04T00:01:00.000-05:00I believe that people are trying to make the best ...I believe that people are trying to make the best choices for their children -- even those people with whom I violently disagree. I have found that approaching people with this attitude is helpful in negotiating care for their kids. One talking point I have found consistently useful is to ask people the DATE of the information they are using to make their decisions. <BR/><BR/>I had a baby in the NICU whose parents were using mid-1990's information to make a decision about human milk fortifier. When I listened to their concerns and shared more recent data with them, they were able to make a better decision. Most of my co-workers thought we should insist on using it over their objections. No need going that route if negotiation will get you to a more satisfactory resolution. Sometimes it's even faster.<BR/><BR/>For myself, I worry more about Pertussis than the other preventable diseases. Since I haven't had a Pertussis immunization in many years, my immunity has waned. Probably to nothing. I have asthma -- and a life-threatening allergy to the drug of choice for Pertussis. Fortunately I don't work in the ER ever and only occasionally on the pediatrics floor. I have the right to refuse patients with pertussis or even RSV if there are other patients available for me to take on the peds floor, since I could be recalled to the NICU if we get slammed there. Gotta know the kid has pertussis, though. At least there is an adult vaccine now, which I intend to get as soon as my employer can get in a supply.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08237756183010257014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post-1167884184786446382007-01-03T23:16:00.000-05:002007-01-03T23:16:00.000-05:00Excellent thread. We've had nurses exposed to pert...Excellent thread. We've had nurses exposed to pertussis many times in my ER because the parents would not vaccinate their children for other than cultural reasons. Most of the time, these parents are into complementary/alternative medicine and only visited the ER because someone twisted their arms to the breaking point. They are openly resentful and hostile towards us and when we tell them that young Forrest (or Dylan, or whatever) has to be admitted, they get really upset.<BR/><BR/>Silly, silly people.NurseWilliamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471103930815862317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post-1167875129316959472007-01-03T20:45:00.000-05:002007-01-03T20:45:00.000-05:00Rather like the people who insisted that chemo and...Rather like the people who insisted that chemo and radiation would reduce my chances of surviving cancer several years ago. Or those who insisted that I wouldn't have gotten cancer "if only...." pretty much shut them up when I informed them I was doing all that and got cancer anyway. <BR/><BR/>It must be hard to be civil to people who disregard well-designed studies to inform you that your child's illness is your fault. <BR/><BR/>I think the main reason people feel entitled to share their "wisdom" on such subjects is the imaginary thinking principle that if you did something wrong to cause your (or your child's) illness, then they are safe because they've made a different choice. <BR/><BR/>Life just doesn't work that way. At least not all the time.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08237756183010257014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post-1167869155676040102007-01-03T19:05:00.000-05:002007-01-03T19:05:00.000-05:00I do not respect the decision some make to not imm...I do not respect the decision some make to not immunize their children. I recognize that that is their choice to make, but I don't respect the decision. It increases the risks for everyone when some children do not get their immunizations.<BR/><BR/>I agree 100% with what you're saying.<BR/><BR/>My daughter developed an immune system disorder. Some people once suggested to me that maybe it was the immunizations. No proof whatsoever, of course. Speculation in ignorance isn't helpful.<BR/><BR/>But let's say she hadn't been immunized and still developed the disease. Once she became ill she would have been less protected than before, and more susceptible to diseases which now would have a much greater chance of killing her.<BR/><BR/>But even with the immunizations she got, non-immunized children were now a greater threat to my disease-susceptible daughter.<BR/><BR/>I take this sort of thing very seriously.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13203859.post-1167843905629028912007-01-03T12:05:00.000-05:002007-01-03T12:05:00.000-05:00Stephanie, Thanks for your comment. Yes, they d...Stephanie,<BR/> Thanks for your comment. Yes, they do have the option due to herd immunity. People tend not to challenge me, since I'm a nurse. If they did, I think I'd be inclined to answer honestly that I am concerned, but I've considered the risks and the benefits and feel very strongly that the risks of not immunizing are far greater. <BR/><BR/>That isn't likely to stop your anti-vaccine friends as they are likely to believe that you simply need to be educated whereas I am not often challenged because I am beyond hope since I'm part of the medical establishment.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08237756183010257014noreply@blogger.com