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Reaching Out: How Can I Get My Husband To Understand Why I Do Not Want To Vaccinate?

Below is the information I presented to my husband when we first  were learning about vaccines and the diseases they are intended to prevent.

The information is pretty rudimentary, however, I believe this helped because it is easy to get confused when starting to learn about vaccines in general.

I think learning about the diseases prior facilitates a better understanding and foundation.

I encourage you to learn more about each disease in greater detail. Check out the links under the main title to learn more.

Hepatitis B
Virus that infects the liver

Prevelence
less then 2%in US

Transmission
unprotected sex, blood transfusions, re-use of contaminated needles & syringes, and vertical transmission

Treatment
More than 95% of people who become infected as adults or older children will stage a full recovery and develop protective immunity to the virus. Of those infected between the age of one to six, 70% will clear the infection

More info on Hep B Disease and Vaccine:
CDC Pinkbook - Hep B
NVIC - Hep B
Hep B - This Disease & Vaccine 



Rotavirus
Stomach Flu

Prevelence
average of 35 deaths/year in US

Transmission
faecal-oral route, via contact with contaminated hands, surfaces and objects

Treatment
Hydration; Rotavirus infections rarely cause other complications and for a well managed child the prognosis is excellent

More Information on Rotavirus:
CDC Pinkbook - Rotavirus
NVIC - Rotavirus
Rotavirus - The Disease & Vaccine


Diphtheria
Respitory tract infection, characterized by sore throat, and  low fever

Prevelence
3 recorded cases in US from 2000-07

Transmission
direct physical contact or breathing the aerosolized secretions of infected individuals

Treatment
Infected child or adult receives a special antitoxin. Diphtheria is also treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin

More Info on Diphtheria:
CDC Pinkbook - Diphtheria
NVIC - Diphtheria



Tetanus
prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers

Prevelence
approx. 43 cases annually

Transmission
Infection generally occurs through wound contamination and often involves a cut or deep puncture wound.Heroin Uses at higher risk. From 1998-2000, 75% of the deaths in the US were in patients older than 60 years

Treatment
Immune globulin, given intramuscularly, is the immediate treatment of unimmunized individuals exposed to material likely to contain the tetanus bacteria. Treatment includes bed rest and quiet conditions.



Pertussis
Whooping Cough

Prevelence
5,000-7,000 annually in the United States

Transmission
airborne discharges from the mucous membranes of infected people, who are most contagious during the catarrhal stage

Treatment
Treatment with an effective antibiotic

More Information in Pertussis:
CDC Pinkbook - Pertussis
NVIC - Pertussis
The Perfect Storm: How the increase in pertussis vaccine usage is causing an 'epidemic'



Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
Bacterial Infection

Prevelence
3 out 100,000

Transmission
contact with discharges or droplets from the nose or throat of an infected person

Treatment
Treatment with antibiotics should be started

More Information on Hib -
CDC Pinkbook - Hib
NVIC - Hib



Pneumococcal
pneumonia

Prevelence
500,000/year in US

Transmission
Respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth of an infected person

Treatment
Treatment with penicillin

Additional Notes:
The Vaccines and Immunizations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for:
 - 65 years old or older
 - You have a serious long-term health problem such as heart disease, sickle cell disease, alcoholism, lung disease (not including asthma), diabetes, or liver cirrhosis
 - Your resistance to infection is lowered due AIDS or Cancer
 - You are an Alaskan Native or from certain Native American populations
*twice as high in African Americans than in caucasians

More information on pneumococcal:
CDC Pinkbook - pneumococcal
NVIC - pneumococcal



Influenza
Flu

Prevelence
see below in additional notes

Transmission
Transmitted through the air by coughs or sneezes. Also be transmitted by direct contact with bird droppings or nasal secretions, or through contact with contaminated surfaces

Treatment
Plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, avoid using alcohol and tobacco and, if necessary, take medications such as acetaminophen to relieve fever

Additional Notes:
Most people will recover completely in about one to two weeks

According to the World Health Organization: "Every winter, tens of millions of people get the flu. Most are only ill and out of work for a week,
yet the elderly are at a higher risk of death from the illness.

The group most vulnerable to flu, the elderly, is also the least affected by the vaccine, with an average efficacy rate ranging from 40-50% at age 65,
and 15-30% past age 70

In the United States
a person aged 50–64 is nearly ten times more likely to die an influenza-associated death than a younger person

More Information on Influenza:
CDC Pinkbook - Influenza
NVIC - Influenza
Flu Vaccine Inhibits Your Heterosubtypic Immunity (and why the heck its important)
Buying into the hype of this year's flu shot?



Measles
infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, rash on skin

Prevelence
131 cases-No deaths, (11 of the cases had received the vaccine)

Transmission
Airborne pathogen which spreads primarily via the respiratory system

Treatment
Most patients with uncomplicated measles will recover with rest and supportive treatment.

More information on Measles:
CDC Pinkbook - Measles
NVIC - Measles


Mumps

Prevelence
disease is self-limiting, and general outcome is relatively good with life long immunity

Transmission
When an infected person coughs or sneezes

Treatment
intermittent ice or heat to the affected neck, acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol) for pain relief

Additional Notes:
Prior to the development of vaccination and the introduction of a vaccine, it was a common childhood disease worldwide
The disease is generally self-limited, running its course before receding, with no specific treatment apart from controlling the symptoms with painkillers.

After the illness, life-long immunity to mumps generally occurs

More Information on Mumps:
CDC Pinkbook - Mumps
NVIC - Mumps



Rubella
German Measles

Prevelence
CDC annouced elimination in 2004 in the US

Transmission
airborne droplet emission from the upper respiratory tract

Treatment
No specific treatment-disease lasts for 1-3 days

Additional Notes:
Disease is often mild and attacks often pass unnoticed
Children recover more quickly than adults.
The disease can last one to three days.

More information on Rubella:
CDC Pinkbook - Rubella
NVIC - Rubella



Varicella
Chicken Pox

Prevelence
.0023% death rate in the United States

Transmission
inhalation of airborne respiratory droplets

Treatment
anti-itching creams and lotions

Additional Notes:
More severe in adult males than in adult females or children.

More information on Varicella:
CDC Pinkbook - Varicella
NVIC - Varicella
Chickenpox Party-RSVP?
Chickenpox vaccine-strain virus reverting back to virulence


Hepatitis A

Prevelence
640 people in 2003 (this was considered an outbreak)

Transmission
HAV is found in the feces of infected persons & those who are at higher risk include travelers to developing countries where there is a higher incidence rate, and those having sexual contact or drug use with infected persons

Treatment
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. Sufferers are advised to rest, avoid fatty foods and alcohol eat a well-balanced diet, and stay hydrated

Additional Notes:
Hepatitis A does not have a chronic stage, is not progressive, and does not cause permanent liver damage.
Following infection, the immune system makes antibodies against HAV that confer immunity against future infection.

Young children who are infected with hepatitis A typically have a milder form of the disease, usually lasting from 1–3 weeks, whereas adults tend to experience a much more severe form of the disease

More information on Hep A:
CDC Pinkbook - Hep A
NVIC - Hep A


More General Posts Regarding Safety of Vaccines:
Vaccine schedule touted as 'not unsafe'
Published Research and the Safety of Vaccines
Vaccine Trials & the Use of Placebos
How your doctor is taught to deal with questions about vaccines
Natural immunity vs artificial immunity
Anti-vaccine vs pro-vaccine
Stages parents experience on their journey to understanding vaccines