Post : Who Benefits from Stronger Vaccine Laws?
URL : [link removed]
Posted : February 26, 2020 at 9:11 pm
Author : Vincent Iannelli, MD
Tags : abuse of medical exemptions, benefits, CDKL5 disorder, clusters, congenital heart disease, contraindications, DiGeorge Syndrome, epilepsy, hiding in the herd, immunosuppressed, medical exemptions, polyspenia, precautions, risks, seizures, T cells, thymus, vaccine laws
Categories : Immunization News

It has become clear that some communities, in which clusters of unvaccinated kids have led to very low immunization levels and the return of vaccine preventable diseases, need stronger vaccine laws ( [link removed] ) .

[link removed] Voting Yes on Question 1 in Maine will simply mean that those who can't be vaccinated will be more at risk from vaccine preventable diseases. Folks in Maine will vote No on Question 1 ( [link removed] ) if they support vaccinating and protect their kids.

Who benefits from these stronger vaccine laws?

Who Benefits from Stronger Vaccine Laws?

It should also be clear that everyone benefits from these stronger vaccine laws except those who want to continue to send their intentionally unvaccinated kids ( [link removed] ) to school.

[link removed] Often associated with DiGeorge syndrome, an absent thymus would typically be considered a contraindication to getting live vaccines.

Stronger vaccine laws that either eliminate or keep folks from abusing religious and personal belief exemptions ( [link removed] ) would be of greatest benefit to those who need to hide in the herd ( [link removed] ) .

> "Known severe immunodeficiency (e.g., from hematologic and solid tumors, receipt of chemotherapy, congenital immunodeficiency, long-term immunosuppressive therapy or patients with HIV infection who are severely immunocompromised)"
>
> CDC on Contraindications and Precautions

This includes those who are too young to be vaccinated or fully vaccinated, those who can't be vaccinated (true medical exemptions), and those of us whose protection has worn off (vaccines are not 100% effective).

Unfortunately, some folks are confused ( [link removed] ) about what counts as a medical exemption.

A child without a thymus? They typically would not get live vaccines and would get a medical exemption.

> "Children with partial DiGeorge syndrome (pDGS) should undergo immune system assessment with evaluation of lymphocyte subsets and mitogen responsiveness in order to determine whether they should be given live viral vaccines. Those with ≥500 CD3 T cells/mm3, ≥200 CD8 T cells/mm3, and normal mitogen response should receive MMR vaccine and VAR."
>
> 2013 IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline for Vaccination of the Immunocompromised Host

Some might if they didn't have a complete defect and testing showed they had sufficient T cells.

> "The Infectious Diseases Society of America, in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), CDC, and other professional societies and organizations, has developed immunization guidelines for children and adults with primary and secondary immune deficiencies."
>
> AAP on Immunization in Immunocompromised Children (Red Book)

There are also guidelines for vaccinating kids with other chronic conditions, guidelines that are sometimes abused so that kids end up getting inappropriate medical exemptions ( [link removed] ) .

Does your child have seizures?

> "Our results suggest that in most cases, genetic or structural defects are the underlying cause of epilepsy with onset after vaccination, including both cases with preexistent encephalopathy or benign epilepsy with good outcome. These results have significant added value in counseling of parents of children with vaccination-related first seizures, and they might help to support public faith in vaccination programs."
>
> Verbeek et al on Etiologies for Seizures Around the Time of Vaccination

Over and over, studies have shown that vaccines do not cause seizures ( [link removed] ) or epilepsy and that they are safe for kids with epilepsy.

Simply having seizures likely will not get you a medical exemption ( [link removed] ) for vaccines in most states, as it is not considered a contraindication ( [link removed] ) for most vaccines.

> "Progressive neurologic disorder, including infantile spasms, uncontrolled epilepsy, progressive encephalopathy; defer DTaP until neurologic status clarified and stabilized"
>
> CDC on Contraindications and Precautions

Even deferring DTaP for uncontrolled epilepsy is a precaution ( [link removed] ) , not a contraindication.

> "Prevention is always the best approach, so plan to get a flu shot for next year's flu season. It is recommended that all individuals with a chronic condition receive the flu vaccine!"
>
> Epilepsy Foundation on The Flu Season: Do you need to worry about medication interactions?

And it is a temporary measure until the child's neurologic status can be clarified and stabilized.

Surprised?

You shouldn't be.

Vaccines are safe ( [link removed] ) , with few risks ( [link removed] ) .

And there are very few true medical reasons that kids can't be vaccinated and protected ( [link removed] ) .

More on Stronger Vaccine Laws

* Vaccines While Immunosuppressed ( [link removed] )
* Is Surgery a Contraindication to Getting Vaccinated? ( [link removed] )
* Dravet Syndrome ( [link removed] )
* Will SB276 Revoke Legitimate Medical Exemptions? ( [link removed] )
* Does SB 276 Eliminate Medical Exemptions? ( [link removed] )
* Who Should Write Your Child’s Medical Exemption for Vaccines? ( [link removed] )
* Did New York’s New Vaccine Law Kick 26,000 Students Out of School? ( [link removed] )
* CDC - Contraindications and Precautions ( [link removed] )
* Recommendations for live viral and bacterial vaccines in immunodeficient patients and their close contacts ( [link removed](14)00112-2/fulltext )
* 2013 IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline for Vaccination of the Immunocompromised Host ( [link removed] )
* Vaccinations and Immunocompromised Children ( [link removed] )
* CDC –  Altered Immunocompetence Guidelines for Immunizations ( [link removed] ) (ACIP)
* AAP – Immunization in Immunocompromised Children ( [link removed] ) (Red Book)
* Study - Etiologies for Seizures Around the Time of Vaccination ( [link removed] )
* Study - Risk of seizures after immunization in children with epilepsy: a risk interval analysis ( [link removed] )
* CDC - Childhood Vaccines and Febrile Seizures ( [link removed] )
* Do Vaccines Cause Seizures? ( [link removed] )
* CDKL5 Disorder - A Guide for Parents ( [link removed] )
* Advancing research into the understanding and development of therapeutics for CDKL5 deficiency disorder ( [link removed] )
* Frequently Asked Questions about CDKL5 Disorder ( [link removed] )
* About Primary Immunodeficiencies DiGeorge Syndrome ( [link removed] )
* The Flu Season: Do you need to worry about medication interactions? ( [link removed] )
* A ‘no’ vote on Question 1 ensures safety of Maine’s most vulnerable ( [link removed] )
* Fight for children’s health: Vote ‘no’ on Question 1 ( [link removed] )
* Maine Voices: Polio survivor urges ‘no’ vote on Question 1 ( [link removed] )
* Question 1: No vote will protect our children and everyone’s health ( [link removed] )
* Vote no on Question 1. Don’t let preventable diseases make a comeback. ( [link removed] )
* No on Question 1 will save lives ( [link removed] )
* Gov. Mills: I urge Maine people to vote No on Question 1 ( [link removed] )

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