tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86485976997995518892024-03-12T18:03:53.960-04:00Blinded by the LightAmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-46390686403501795612014-01-17T15:31:00.000-05:002014-01-17T15:31:46.151-05:00Cognitive Dissonance at its Greatest: A Country of Pet Lovers and Meat Eaters
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">First thing, the most kind and
intelligent people in my life purchase/consume animal products that have <a href="http://www.epa.gov/Region7/water/cafo/index.htm"><span style="color: blue;">foreboding origins</span></a>. And
bottom line, a person’s choice of food, in my opinion, does<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> not</b> determine whether that person is a loving and compassion soul...
it does, however, bring up a psychological and ethical paradox.[<a href="http://www2.psy.uq.edu.au/~uqbbast1/Bastian%20et%20al%20PSPB%20in%20press.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www2.psy.uq.edu.au/~uqbbast1/Loughnan%20et%20al%20Appetite%202010.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=D6QjpddwyNsC&oi=fnd&pg=PA275&dq=meat+paradox&ots=YDBs9dy_Hd&sig=7L8JzTCHiDcS73SICT84zUbvrlU#v=onepage&q=meat%20paradox&f=false"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlgoV8OLOCou3FVOhcXI1lcc2RYnYBr3fy8DJwWyZP6Gtkh02ZxjjkE6nXIrzdZoSq74O72Gi7bZ4WNh9TrxARqS8zQktb2oGXbkbslNsHGHkzOR1jx-iOH6os3ZheAfzArtWGcxtToXl/s1600/cognitive-dissonance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlgoV8OLOCou3FVOhcXI1lcc2RYnYBr3fy8DJwWyZP6Gtkh02ZxjjkE6nXIrzdZoSq74O72Gi7bZ4WNh9TrxARqS8zQktb2oGXbkbslNsHGHkzOR1jx-iOH6os3ZheAfzArtWGcxtToXl/s1600/cognitive-dissonance.jpg" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">American’s love their pets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Last year alone, we spent over 14
billion dollars on pet services (not including vet care). There has been no
time in history that has seen such a wide and growing variety of products and
services for pets and pet parents.[<a href="http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/pet-industry/pet-trends/2013"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">American’s also love their meat
(and cheese)….no other county in the world consumes more meat then America.[<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/06/27/155527365/visualizing-a-nation-of-meat-eaters"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">With these statistics, I have to
admit I am a bit confused by the logic of consuming/purchasing animal products
(ex. meat, dairy, clothing) but still professing our beliefs against animal
cruelty. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Is it that people are still truly
in the dark when it comes to the origin and process of how their food got to
their plate? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">True, some Americans do choose to
stop eating meat and/or dairy (or choose more humane origins such as local
farmers) when they learn the extent that animals suffer for its production. However,
an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">overwhelming majority do not</b>. Recent
research has illustrated that people keep eating meat by simply <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">dampening their moral consideration of
animals</b> when sitting at the dinner table.[<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100715091654.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Research explains that when there
is a conflict between people's preferred way of thinking and their preferred
way of acting, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it is their thoughts and
moral standards that people abandon </b>first -- rather than changing their
behavior.[<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100715091654.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">People may even employ the
following when faced with their role as a consumer in the reality of the horrific
conditions of industrialized meat/dairy: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Denial - "Animals are
treated fine.” “Animals don’t suffer.” “Human’s are superior.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Minimization - "That's only
the non-freerange animals."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Passive aggression- A general
negative feeling towards people who don’t eat meat or eat locally farm raised
meat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Isolation - "The animals are
nowhere near me and have nothing to do with me." “There is nothing I can
do about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Repression - Any guilt arising
from having an active role in animal cruelty is avoided.. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Humor - Making a joke out of the
issue to avoid their own feelings about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></o:p> </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">This may be surprising to some, but
animals raised for food in the US, in large part, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">are excluded from legal protection against cruelty</b>.[<a href="http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/anim2&div=8&id=&page="><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Specifically, 28 states have
enacted laws that create a legal realm whereby certain acts, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no matter how cruel</b>, are deem
‘accepted’,‘common’, ‘customary’, and ‘normal’ farming practices. Of those
states that do have anticruelty statues, they exclude poultry which represents
approximate 95% of the 7 billion farm animals slaughtered annually.[<a href="http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/anim2&div=8&id=&page="><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">(I’m not going to drone on and on
regarding what happens to these animals. I’ve seen it and I don’t care to rehash
it. If you are truly curious then I suggest watching <a href="http://earthlings.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Earthlings</span></a> or, the rated PG version, <a href="http://www.peaceablekingdomfilm.org/"><span style="color: blue;">Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home</span></a>)
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">So how do we go from abandoning
our underlying principles of animal cruelty to changing our behavior? Could the
answer be in an encompassing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">grasp on
how much power the consumer has over this dilemma?</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">With each meal, with each dollar
– we truly cast our vote each and every day <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">on whether we support animal cruelty</b> or if we have enough balls and
wherewithal to stand up against it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><br />
“We patronize animals for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having
taken form so far beneath ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For
the animal shall not be measured by man.<br />
<br />
In a world older and more complex than ours they move finished and complete, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">gifted with extensions of the senses we
have lost or never attained</b>, living by voices we shall never hear. They are
not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with
ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and
travail of the earth."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">-Harry Beston 1888~1968<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">For those of you who are too afraid to
witness how these animals come into this world, live, reproduce and die...just
remember that they have to live through this violence each and every day, every
minute and every second – and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">each of us
has an active role in its progression (or cessation).</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Even more disturbing, in my opinion, is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">this cruelty is caused not because
Americans are starving, naked, or without other means of enriching their lives,
but rather - we simple enjoy a cheap double bacon cheeseburger or we like the
feel of leather.</b> Suffering caused for nothing more than fulfillment of
sensual desire.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">I
understand, no one wants to see, experience or confront this violence…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>watching an educational documentary on how
animals are treated today in agriculture (such as "Earthlings") is
hard to watch, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">would be even harder
to live</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">To
be honest, I never thought that I'd be the victim of such an impact. To the
point that it would have such an immense influence on my health and
spirituality.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">For
me, I SEVERELY underestimated how devastating the knowledge a movie like this imparts.
I felt so mentally and emotionally exhausted after but also I felt an
incredible sense of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">empowerment</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">It
lends an energy and purpose that tends to light a fire and push a person to be
an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">integral part of ending the suffering</b>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">On behalf of the billions and billions of
animals who are suffering today, right this second...may your voice and actions
be lent to them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">"Man's fate is like that of the animals;
the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the
same breath; man has no advantage over the animal."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Ecclesiastes 3:19-20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">… how
is it that humanity has become so <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">inhumane</b>?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">There
is no NEED for this type of cruelty in today's society. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Everyone
wants a better world, but few actually place the effort into modifying their
behavior to BE the change to make that type of world.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Be that change</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">"You have just dined, and however
scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles,
there is complicity." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: GulimChe;">Ralph Waldo Emerson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-26851857322555282762014-01-03T09:18:00.001-05:002014-01-03T09:20:59.335-05:00The Science Behind the Anti-Antibacterial Movement <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1Y72PkyLCmKIr2BIAHojs5ki8Zyz0r5HrI7qpwW37JKLSGhXceOgZMvfl3SWX0BVtHuanB9HMpxD9X0mgdqRnjdiuO99QnlIsEfSvXISpM9uJOpUhJxDWY7n4eFrJDqImQnG-dH9g4Yc/s1600/pills_phixr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1Y72PkyLCmKIr2BIAHojs5ki8Zyz0r5HrI7qpwW37JKLSGhXceOgZMvfl3SWX0BVtHuanB9HMpxD9X0mgdqRnjdiuO99QnlIsEfSvXISpM9uJOpUhJxDWY7n4eFrJDqImQnG-dH9g4Yc/s320/pills_phixr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Let
me first start with this fundamental key: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">One
Bizarre Theory Replaces Another <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
the early 19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century, a few scientists extrapolated a new and
bizarre theory: that disease was caused by tiny organisms and each illness had
a corresponding germ. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">After
a few years of examining <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sterile
cultures slides</b> and a bit of playing around with vaccines, these scientists
were able to convince the world that their <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">germ
theory of disease </b>was, indeed, true.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
outlook was convenient (and perhaps, perfectly poised to take root at this time
in history during America’s industrialization) because it was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">methodical and specialized</b> in its
approach to understanding both the cause and treatment of disease. It allowed
us to breakdown, the cause of an ailment to one small, fundamental unit which
provided us a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">simpler way to understand
a disease</b> (ex. one germ for each disease). [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">A
treatment was then established based on this approach allowing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">generalized (‘one size fits all’) and
massive quantities </b>to be produced at an<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
industrious scale</b>. This approach was able to keep cost and time at a
minimum while treating an increasing population. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">However,
this mechanical approach to health is now diminishing…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Some
biologists have even begun to speculate a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>new
theory</u></b> (I imagine just as absurd as germ theory was originally thought
of back in the early 19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century): that humans are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not</b> individual entities, but rather
complete ecosystems <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">dependent on
billions (100 trillion +) of bacteria and viruses (quadrillion +) to establish,
maintain and actively influence health</b>.[<a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/site/products/lst_20130510.xhtml"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867412001043"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Much
of this information would have Pasteur rolling over in his grave…. who would
think that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">viruses would be shown to
help keep people <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disease free</i></b>?[<a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/05/16/1305923110.full.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21578359-viruses-help-keep-people-disease-free-virus-shield"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Enter
the field of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Microbiomics</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">If
you have not heard of the human microbiome or microbiomics then, with great
reverence, let me provide some <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">mind
blowing</b> information for you to digest (no pun intended). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Microbiomics
(….and why it’s absolutely mind blowing)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
‘specific causes’ of diseases that revolutionized medicine a century ago is
going through a conceptual evolution (time to get on board) – the way
scientists think about disease and normal physiology is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">transforming</b>. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">When
I was in 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> grade, I remember the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Human Genome Project</b> being the next biggest and greatest thing
science had going on…. now that it has been completed, however, a new phase has
emerged: the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Human Microbiome Project</b>
(HMP)….and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it is changing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">everything</i></b>. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
HMP is an initiative to sequence the genomes of all the microbiological flora
for a variety of body sites which play a “</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">vital
and interactive role” with our human DNA</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">, immunity
and disease</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">.
As bacteria, microbes and viruses in our bodies are modified under
environmental pressure (ex. antibiotics and cesarean section birth), so is the
regulation and replication of our genes (yes, our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>DNA</u></b>). The two are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">intimately
connected</b>. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Far
from being the ‘master molecule’ in our physiology, our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DNA is demoted</b> to simply another set of cellular genomes jostling
for influence within us, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">reacting to and
being <u>regulated by</u>, a set of microbial genomes that outnumber our own 10
to 1.</b> [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Try
to think of the bacteria, microbes and viruses that reside in our bodies as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it’s own sensory motor organ</b> which
reacts much like our own nervous or immune system.[<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Our
microbiome <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>encodes</u></b><u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">physiological traits</b></u> that we were
able to bypass in evolution; for example, the ability to “harvest certain nutrients
and energy from food that would otherwise be lost because we lack the necessary
digestive enzymes”. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The
Death of Germ Theory <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
major conceptual doctrine of Pasteur’s germ theory is the role of<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> causal</b> pathogenic agents in disease.
For example, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">diseases are separable from
the patient</b> and bacteria or virus in a human host <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">equals disease</b>. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Even
before the study of Microbiomics, it was clear that many individuals harbor
dangerous bacteria (even at in large quantities) and suffer <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no ill effects.</b>[<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Certain
diseases, such as herpes virus infection, which seem to fit neatly in the germ
theory framework began to reveal a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">beneficial
relationship that conferred immune advantages</b>: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">After
clearance of acute infection, latent herpesvirus <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">confers resistance to bacterial infection</b>. To be specific,
protection correlated with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">100-fold
reduction in bacterial burden </b>in the spleen and liver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">2007
Nature [<a href="http://funding.hsc.unt.edu/departments/molbioim/documents/ASieveA.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“We
now demonstrate that herpesvirus infection triggers systemic, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PROFOUND IMMUNE MODULATION</b>, with the
potential to alter significantly the kinetics and nature of host response to
foreign antigens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Thus,
whereas the immune evasion capabilities and lifelong persistence of
herpesviruses are commonly viewed as solely pathogenic, our data suggest that
latency is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP</b>
with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">immune benefits</b> for the host.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">So
long we’ve swallowed the metaphor of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">an
endless “war” on infectious diseases</b> which involved a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">search for the <u>microbial ‘cause’ of each and every disease</u></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(of course, followed by the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">anti-</b>microbial cure). This ideal has
served its purpose and now we can no longer allow it to be our sole guide in
medicine. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QXxATdhB3CfdfhvJ4tHZPwRd108DEUSg71SMM7PbHSdkzL8qmmWdCEGpMgX0qYgaB0f6xYP6-5RMSVwWvVSKpt06IGwGYw6DoU0P2X9s55nS-lvbt2BmTA_OP-qCa4aU4WuVjLOQgeaJ/s1600/newblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5QXxATdhB3CfdfhvJ4tHZPwRd108DEUSg71SMM7PbHSdkzL8qmmWdCEGpMgX0qYgaB0f6xYP6-5RMSVwWvVSKpt06IGwGYw6DoU0P2X9s55nS-lvbt2BmTA_OP-qCa4aU4WuVjLOQgeaJ/s320/newblog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“A
new paradigm is needed that incorporates a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more
realistic</b> and detailed picture of the dynamic interaction among and between
host organisms and their diverse populations of microbes, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only a fraction of which act as pathogens</b>.” (Forum on Microbial
Threats, 2006) [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">A
New Understanding of Disease<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Quick
Personal Backstory:</span></u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My recent “antibiotic debacle”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">About
a month ago, my two year old was sent home from daycare for pink eye. I was
expected to get a prescription for antibiotics for her to return. I was
hesitant to say the least, my daughter has never received antibiotics and I
wasn’t certain that all cases of conjunctivitis were caused by a bacteria. When
we visited the nurse, she instructed me that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only</b> bacteria cause pink eye and my concern on delaying antibiotics
was not sound. She went ahead and prescribed antibiotic eye drops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Within
10 minutes of doing my own research once I returned home, I found this to be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">completely untrue</b>. In fact, the
majority of conjunctivitis cases are caused by a virus (NOT BACTERIA). Not to
mention, the data very clearly illustrates that antibiotics for conjunctivitis
is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">complete over kill</b> and often
times does <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more harm than good</b>.[<a href="http://consumerhealthchoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ChoosingWiselyPinkEyeAAO-ER.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.getpharmacyadvice.com/vigamox-for-pink-eye-in-kids/comment-page-1"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">I
made a deal with my husband, let’s wait one day before we administer the
medication. We waited and her condition improved on its own. I suspect if we
used the antibiotics, we would attribute her recovery to the drugs – luckily,
we waited. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Medication
we use via the ocular route (via eye drops) is just as important to research as
ingested or injected drugs. Eye drop medication <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">enters the bloodstream</b> via mucous membranes lining the surface of
the eye, the tear drainage system, and the nose. Once in the bloodstream, the
medication can cause side effects in other parts of the body, including slow
heart rate, dizziness and headaches.[<a href="http://www.canovision.com/info/drops.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
outdated, traditional interpretation of disease correlates health as a matter
of being “clean” and in order to obtain and maintain health we are advised to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">completely obliterate</b> anything that’s
not a human cell. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Now,
of course, microbiomics does not suggest health is all rainbows, ponies and
singing kumbayah - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">our bacteria
ecosystem can (and does) go awry</b>. Certain species within us can <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">overpopulate</b>, resources decline,
diversity is reduced (via antibiotics) and the interdependent processes can
collapse.[<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">A
new metaphor replaces the old – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">an
understanding of ‘balance’ and ‘harmony’ supersedes the traditional thought of</b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">specific causation</b> (one germ for
each disease). Rather, human health is a matter of “having ones physiological
process and predispositions <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">aligned to</b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">promote homeostasis</b>”. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“It
may turn out that diseases caused by microbial pathogens are best seen not so
much as an invasion by a hostile organism, but rather as a kind of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">holistic dysfunction of the microbiome.” </b>[<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Simply
revolutionary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
greatest benefit to the health and wellness of a human body is not sterility,
but rather “on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">maintenance of the
symbiotic relationship</b> between the host and the intestinal microbiotia”.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3152488/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
model, based on the latest science has to offer, suggests there are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no diseases that exist separate from
ourselves</b> (ex. viruses floating around getting people sick) – only sick
people whose processes within the body are not in balance. Recovering our
health, therefor, is a matter of controlling the forces that influence the
homeostasis within us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our health
becomes a matter of our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">own
responsibility.</b> [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Antibiotics
–Use with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Extreme</b> Caution (better
yet, don’t use at all)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxz_LftYQok6hearucUipyz2QkmGKQD7Z_mVc_Yrpntu6R5HRyJoZ_Cfc2d-QZ-kg-iVPopf7QT3TQitSKQU15MHDcnoj8Aniinvl7KhX9FE_8JNAWwoMXeesQtU2Ocwr1LLJsp-9EAuS/s1600/good+bacteria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxz_LftYQok6hearucUipyz2QkmGKQD7Z_mVc_Yrpntu6R5HRyJoZ_Cfc2d-QZ-kg-iVPopf7QT3TQitSKQU15MHDcnoj8Aniinvl7KhX9FE_8JNAWwoMXeesQtU2Ocwr1LLJsp-9EAuS/s200/good+bacteria.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Our
internal bacteria (particularly those located in the intestines) are essential
to our health and “play an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">active role</b>
in nutrition, development, metabolism, pathogen resistance, and regulation of
immune responses”. Antibiotic use, <u>even for a short duration</u>, has been
“shown to disrupt these coevolved <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">interactions
leading to acute or chronic disease</b>”.[<a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.0060280"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">For
every one human cell, there resides 10 bacteria cells within the human body
(with viral particles expected to be a hundred times greater). Science,
research and data continue to reaffirm that they play an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>active</u></b> role in not only maintaining our normal physiology
but also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">protecting us</b> from: [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.bibalex.org/cssp/publications/Linking%20Science%20to%20Society.pdf#page=121"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867412001043"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-respiratory
infections<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-acute
intestinal infections<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-allergies<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-autism<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-obesity<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-type
II diabetes<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-cardiovascular
diseases<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-several
forms of cancer<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
addition to being numerous, our microbes are also “enormously varied” – with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">over 1,000 bacterial species</b> residing
within us. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In
f</span>act, all plants and animals can be considered superorganisms; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">composed of a variety of species</b> –
bacterial and viral. [<a href="http://www.case.edu/med/bioethics/docs/The%20Metagenomic%20World%20-Juengst.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">variation in species is critical</b> to
health and is why <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">antibiotics have been
shown (repeatedly) to be <u>permanently</u> harmful</b> (especially to
children). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">2007
The ISME Journal, Multidisciplinary Journal of Microbial Ecology <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Long-term </span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">and
<u>persistent impact</u> on human intestinal microbiota is a direct response
from antibiotic exposure which never return to its original composition</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> (during the 2 years of the
study period). [<a href="http://www.nature.com/ismej/journal/v1/n1/abs/ismej20073a.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Antibiotics
use in Children and Immune-mediated Disease <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Antibiotics
hold the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">possibility</i> to be useful in
some cases, but must be used with caution <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to
protect long term health</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">If
you take anything away from reading this collection of data, please: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Several
studies of antibiotic treatment has shown that the gut microbiota is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>profoundly</u></b> and persistently
altered by broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Data has shown that bacteria
communities <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>do not return</u> to
their initial state even after antibiotic treatment is withdrawn</b>. [<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3468616"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">During
infancy and childhood, appropriate microbial stimulation and colonization is
required for the development of a healthy, functional immune system. [<a href="http://press.psprings.co.uk/gut/august/gut303249.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">It
is “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">well known</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">that early life events occurring during <u>critical windows of immune
development</u> can have <u>long-term</u> impact on immune-mediated disease</b>.
Antibiotic use in children has been shown, with significance, to increase such
diseases as: diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma (requiring the use of
inhaled corticosteroids), eczema. [<a href="http://press.psprings.co.uk/gut/august/gut303249.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0008745"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">[</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11150005"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">*</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">][</span><a href="http://alario.info/page-articoli-pubblicazioni/pediatria/Antibiotic%20use%20in%20early%20childhood%20and%20the%20development%20of%20ast.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">*</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">][</span><a href="http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=25595640"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">*</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">][</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2824244/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">*</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">][</span><a href="http://flosse.fahcsia.gov.au/fahcsiajspui/handle/10620/3654"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">*</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">][</span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11150005"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">*</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">]</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">[<a href="http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/14/the-good-bugs-how-the-germs-in-your-body-keep-you-healthy/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Antibiotic
use must be critically evaluated, not just for ourselves but especially for
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each time we administer
antibiotic medication it <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">results in a
ten-fold reduction in the amount of beneficial intestinal bacterial present.</b>
[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2824244"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">With
the use of antibiotic drugs,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> “<u>significant</u>
alternations</b> are seen in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines” and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Th1 immune maturation</b> which has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>profound</u> effects on our immune
system</b>. [<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2824244"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://press.psprings.co.uk/gut/august/gut303249.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Take
Care of Your Health by Giving Your Microbiome Some Love<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzlPDN0Tl9lI_3zCzsYVrid0l2sQjm7gf-XjqGm6kCfm_Abj1I7-4HvGH3Ngng4S9BuB0vBIQR0s-KAyfBmB59k9tEcQyAQ5b1QJojl0kqTduQ9L89_o0leWo_rGjo0HfeACJPO9tK_cP/s1600/tumblr_mdqv56PAXS1rk9xyao1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzlPDN0Tl9lI_3zCzsYVrid0l2sQjm7gf-XjqGm6kCfm_Abj1I7-4HvGH3Ngng4S9BuB0vBIQR0s-KAyfBmB59k9tEcQyAQ5b1QJojl0kqTduQ9L89_o0leWo_rGjo0HfeACJPO9tK_cP/s320/tumblr_mdqv56PAXS1rk9xyao1_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">My preference is to eat and drink foods that promote a healthy
flora (versus relying on supplements) while being mindful of the lifestyle
choices that can hurt me (moderation is key, of course)….<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Focus on
Prebiotics <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-Foods with prebiotics are garlic, onions, almonds and asparagus. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-Foods with the fiber <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">inulin</b>
promote beneficial flora: bananas, high-fiber veggies like peas and beans. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Avoid Sugar (especially
artificial sugar)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-Sugar and starch promote the growth of harmful bacteria in the
body <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-Yogurt may have probiotics, but they are often LOADED with sugar.
Be careful!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Eat more
Fermented Foods</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> (just a quarter to a half cup per day will do ‘ya)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-Homemade sauerkraut, kefir (watch the sugar here too), kombucha, miso
soup<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Lifestyle <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-Smoking, caffeine, alcohol, consuming heavily-processed foods <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Conclusion <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">It
may go completely against what we all have been taught in high school biology
class, to think that bacteria and viruses make our immune system function
better, but the science is becoming evident: A healthy, mature immune system
depends on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">constant intervention</b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">of beneficial bacteria</b>.[<a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=ultimate-social-network-bacteria-protects-health&page=1"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Humans
(all mammals, in fact) have co-evolved over millions of years to establish a dynamic,
complex check-&-balance system with our microbiota. It shouldn’t be all
that surprising that our immune system (particularly our mucosal immune system)
has developed an intricate connection that mediates the balance between health
and disease.[<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867412001043"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3152488/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Both
innate and adaptive immune function has evolved to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>require</u> microbial interactions</b> during their development. [<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867412001043"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The microbiota provides critical signals that promote maturation
of immune cells and tissues, leading to protection from infections by
pathogens.</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> [<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867412001043"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">We must become more aware of our symbiotic relationship with the
bacteria within the body (especially our children’s). This starts with not
stereotyping all bacteria as bad. In fact, although a few may be problematic,
these account for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">far less than 1% that
exist in our body</b>.[<a href="http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/14/the-good-bugs-how-the-germs-in-your-body-keep-you-healthy/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Take care of your ecosystem – it sure takes care of you! </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">You can't learn everything
from the laboratory, that's what he used to say. The whole is more than the sum
of its parts, he told us. The whole behaves differently from the parts, and has
different properties. That's what he taught us, and he was right. It's out of
fashion to say these days, when we spend our time scrutinizing the interactions
of eukaryotic microbes, but it's true, nevertheless. It's still true. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">M. Drabble, The Sea Lady, 140–1</b>) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-45995821885241928482013-12-03T11:28:00.005-05:002014-02-03T11:15:49.140-05:00A Specific Approach to the Question: 'Why Don't You Vaccinate?'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqa8CrKZ66vs3RKSoK2NQQCsGzxaM78xwWv-NaB8sOT-Q_mwGWL7FJ11xU6yQnFaRTOFFzSOfifqcOpvyR26WgvK2aXrnHfk6lP5yPIH9I1SosQINaF4eziHjQUA5jQT8Thi8XBOK0H_k/s1600/why.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqa8CrKZ66vs3RKSoK2NQQCsGzxaM78xwWv-NaB8sOT-Q_mwGWL7FJ11xU6yQnFaRTOFFzSOfifqcOpvyR26WgvK2aXrnHfk6lP5yPIH9I1SosQINaF4eziHjQUA5jQT8Thi8XBOK0H_k/s1600/why.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Oddly,
I’ve shared research and published literature on the topic of vaccination,
immunology and epidemiology for half a decade - but I have yet to provide a reason
as to why I currently choose an alternative schedule for my children. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Now,
there are many catchy posts and blogs out there that go on to list ‘x’-number
of reasons on why they don’t vaccinate – and this is nice for people looking
for a convenient list to compare their knowledge and beliefs against (or to
criticize the heck out of). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">My
list is a bit different…. my list and reasons below are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">disease/vaccine specific</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">To
be honest, when people ask me why we do not give consent to vaccinate I don’t
know exactly what to say. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">For
starters, which disease are they referring to?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">For
some diseases, my reasons to decline overlap, some may only partially affect my
reason, while others are more prominent. Some vaccines are more easily declined then others <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">based on the risks of
infection</b> and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">treatment involved
in recovery</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Another
reason of hesitation in addressing this question: most people expect some <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">all-encompassing novel reason</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">I’m
sorry, but that does not exist…at least, not that I’ve come across. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Some
people may expect me to say vaccines don’t work, but I don’t believe that in
the slightest. In fact, with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">each</b>
national vaccine campaign, epidemiology (and herd immunity) is modified in
varying degrees, benefiting some while actually<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> placing another group at higher risk </b>than before.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/09/01/12896.aspx"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://jcm.asm.org/content/42/12/5604.short"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Ultimately,
I have many reasons why I choose I decline, and the reasons may be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">modified depending on the disease</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
this post, I want to address the ever-so-popular confrontational question, “Why
don’t you vaccinate”, in a very <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">specific
approach</b>. Each disease will be discussed separately from medical and
governmental sources. I will also provide a brief reason why I decline that
particular vaccine for the recommended age group. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">(My
daughters are healthy children with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no
underlying medical conditions</b>. I have no family history adverse vaccine
reactions. The reasons listed are my own. I recommend anyone interested in this
subject to learn more about <a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/08/"><span style="color: blue;">informed vaccine choices</span></a>
and to ask their medical provider to furnish literature to review <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">prior</b> to the administration of any
pharmaceutical medication.) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Hepatitis B<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Viral infection of the liver<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
Hepatitis B vaccine was one of the easiest vaccines to decline based purely on
the risk of the disease to my newborn and waning protection over time. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Also,
I did not have hepatitis B infection while pregnant.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">4-dose
series, HepB vaccine to all newborns: Birth, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">(<a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_hepatitisb.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Recombivax</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><span style="color: blue;"> HB</span></u></span>, <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_hepatitisb.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Engerix-B</span></a>, <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_hepatitisb.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Comvax</span></a>, <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_hepatitisb.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Pediarix</span></a>)</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The Disease</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Hepatitis
B is a virus that infects the liver. The incubation period ranges from 45 to
160 days. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Clinical signs and symptoms
occur more often in adults than in infants or children, who usually have an
asymptomatic acute course.</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Approximately
50% of adults who have acute infections are asymptomatic.</b> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Initial
symptoms may include an onset of jaundice which usually lasts from 3 to 10
days. The icteric phase is variable but usually lasts from 1 to 3 weeks and is
characterized by jaundice and light or gray stools. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Approximately
5% of all acute HBV infections progress to chronic infection. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">While
most acute HBV infections in adults result in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">complete recovery,</b> fulminant hepatitis (a rare and fatal form of
acute hepatitis B) occurs in about 1% to 2% of acutely infected persons. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Approximately
90% of infants who acquire HBV infection from their mothers at birth become
chronically infected. This is way <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">all
pregnancy mothers are tested prenatally for hepatitis infection.</b>
Transmission from mother to infant is prevented by giving the infant HBIG
(Hepatitis B Immune Globulin). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Unprotected
sex, blood transfusions, re-use of contaminated needles & syringes, and
vertical transmission. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Hepatitis B is spread when
blood, semen, or other body fluid infected with the Hepatitis B virus enters
the body</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> of
a person who is not infected. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">People
can become infected with the virus during activities such as:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">•Birth
(spread from an infected mother to her baby during birth)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">•Sex
with an infected partner<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">•Sharing
needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">•Sharing
items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">•Direct
contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">•Exposure
to blood from needles or other sharp instruments<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
three major risk groups (according to the CDC): <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">•heterosexuals
with contact with infected persons or multiple partners <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">•injection-drug
users<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">•men
who have sex with men)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">These
populations are not reached effectively by targeted programs, so a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">new strategy to eliminate hepatitis B was
recommended in 1991 which included prenatal testing routine vaccination of
infants</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Lifetime
risk for Hepatitis B is 4% in the USA.[<a href="http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/h/hepatitis_b/prevalence.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Current
prevalence of hepatitis b infection is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">0.55%.</b>
[<a href="http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/h/hepatitis_b/prevalence.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Protection from the vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Among
children age 6-19 years, just about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">50%
showed markers of vaccine-induced immunity</b>, with little difference across
racial/ethnic groups.[<a href="http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_b/news/2010/0702_2010_a.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Hepatitis
B vaccination-induced protective antibodies can last for up to 15 years, but
appears <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to fall off over time when they
are more likely to be at risk.</b>[<a href="http://www.adepalma.com/medpage/HowLongHepatitisBVaccineEffectiveCMETeachingBrief.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
one study, in just <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5 years</b>, efficacy
of the vaccine fell to 67%.[<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S014067368690543X"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
most common adverse reaction following hepatitis B vaccine is pain at the site
of injection. Hepatitis B vaccine has been alleged to cause or exacerbate
multiple sclerosis (MS). A 2004 retrospective study in a British population
found a slight increase in risk of MS among hepatitis B vaccine recipients.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">More
than 95% of people who become infected as adults or older children will stage a
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">full recovery and develop protective
immunity to the virus</b>. Of those infected between the age of one to six, 70%
will clear the infection. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">There
is no medication available to treat acute Hepatitis B. During this short-term
infection, doctors usually recommend rest, adequate nutrition, and fluids,
although some people may need to be hospitalized. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepb.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rotavirus<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Stomach flu <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The risks of complications due to rotavirus are extremely
low. These risks are lowered further when, according to some research, the
duration of breastfeeding is extended.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Also, although the rotavirus vaccine is recommended by the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), it is not mandated in any
state.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">We declined this vaccine because the risk of moderate to severe
complication and death from rotavirus are not enough for us to risk adverse
reaction to vaccination (not even if the risk is rare). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_rotavirus.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Rotarix</span></a> (2
dose series) 2 and 4 months<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_rotavirus.asp"><span style="color: blue;">RotaTeq</span></a> (3
dose series) 2, 4, and 6 months <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The incubation period for rotavirus diarrhea is short,
usually less than 48 hours. The clinical manifestations of infection vary and
depend on whether it is the first infection or reinfection. The first infection
after 3 months of age is generally the most severe. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Infection may <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">range
from asymptomatic to self-limited watery diarrhea</b>, or may result in severe
dehydrating diarrhea with fever and vomiting. Up to one-third of infected
children may have a temperature greater than 102°F (39°C). The gastrointestinal
symptoms generally resolve in 3 to 7 days. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The disease is more prevalent during fall and winter. The
reason for this seasonal pattern is unknown. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The virus is transmitted by the faecal-oral route (via
contact with contaminated hands, surfaces and objects). It infects and damages
the cells that line the small intestine and causes gastroenteritis (which is
often called "stomach flu" despite having no relation to influenza).
[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Infection with rotavirus is nearly universal, with almost <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">all children infected by 5 years of age</b>.
A vaccine to prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis was first licensed in August
1998 but was withdrawn in 1999 because of its association with intussusception.
Second-generation vaccines were licensed in 2006 and 2008. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Approximately <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">37 death
per year <u>before</u> the vaccine was introduced</b>. Rotavirus is not a
reportable disease so current mortality data is not available. [<a href="http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Rotavirus#Epidemiology"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Boys are twice as likely as girls to be admitted to hospital.
[<a href="http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Rotavirus#Epidemiology"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rotavirus infection is more prevalent during fall and
winter.The reason for this seasonal pattern is unknown. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Infants younger than 3 months of age have relatively low
rates of rotavirus infection, most likely due to of passive maternal antibody
and breastfeeding. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Groups at increased risk for rotavirus infection are those
with increased exposure to virus. These include children in hospital wards
(nosocomial rotavirus), young children attending day care centers, and elderly
people in nursing homes.[<a href="http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Rotavirus#Epidemiology"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The immune <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">correlates
of protection from rotavirus are poorly understood</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">After completion of a three-dose RV5 regimen, the efficacy of
rotavirus vaccine against rotavirus gastroenteritis of any severity was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">74%.</b> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">duration of
immunity from rotavirus vaccine is not known</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rota.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rotavirus is usually an easily managed disease of childhood. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Treatment includes hydration</b>. The WHO
also recommends zinc supplementation. [<a href="http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Rotavirus"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rotavirus infections <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">rarely
cause other complications</b> and for a well-managed child the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">prognosis is excellent</b>.[<a href="http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Rotavirus"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Other protective
effects: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Breast feeding<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">There is evidence of a protective concurrent effect of
breastfeeding against rotavirus infection in infants, particularly in children
6 months and younger.[<a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00431-010-1245-0"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Earlier studies in relation to breastfeeding and the
rotavirus indicated that the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">duration of
breastfeeding was important in protection.</b> [<a href="http://nutriweb.org.my/publications/mjn0018_1/10Prameela%20_315.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Epithelial barrier integrity, known to be superior in the breastfed
infant as compared to the bottle-fed infant, promotes epidermal growth factor
strengthen epithelial barrier development. It is thought by some that the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">integrity of the intestinal mucosa maybe a
significant factor that may protect from potentially invasive rotaviral disease</b>.[<a href="http://nutriweb.org.my/publications/mjn0018_1/10Prameela%20_315.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Diphtheria<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Toxin-mediated bacterial
infection<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
low prevalence of diphtheria in the US (2 cases in the 21st century, last of
which was 2003 – see below for reference) is one major factor in deciding to
decline this part of the combination vaccine. The risk of my daughter(s)
contracting diphtheria and exhibiting symptoms is very small. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
waning protection of the vaccine is also of concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">I
choose not to place my daughters at risk for known/unknown vaccine adverse
effects (DTaP or Tdap) purely for the sake of herd immunity against diphtheria,
especially if the effectiveness of the vaccine will wane substantially after 10
years and dependence of boosters throughout life are apparent. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">If
my daughters decide to vaccinate themselves when they are older against
diphtheria, that is their choice. Right now, it is my responsibility to assess
the risk of disease and the benefits of this vaccine until they can do that for
themselves.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">5-dose <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_diphtheria.asp"><span style="color: blue;">DTap</span></a> 2, 4,
6, 15-18 months and 4-6 years<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">No vaccine is available in the US for diphtheria alone.
Vaccination for diphtheria must be obtain in a combination vaccine in conjunction
with pertussis and tetanus (<a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_tdap.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Tdap</span></a>, <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_diphtheria.asp"><span style="color: blue;">DTap</span></a>) or
tetanus alone (<a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_tetanus.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Td</span></a>).
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated disease caused by the
bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The incubation period of diphtheria is 2–5 days. Diphtheria
causes a characteristic swollen neck. Symptoms of diphtheria include fever of
100.4°F or above, chills, fatigue, bluish skin coloration, sore throat,
hoarseness, cough, headache, and difficulty swallowing. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Diphtheria is an infectious disease spread by direct physical
contact or breathing the aerosolized secretions of infected individuals.[<a href="http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Diphtheria"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Human carriers are the reservoir for C. diphtheriae and are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">usually asymptomatic</b>. In outbreaks, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">high percentages of children are found to
be transient carriers (one who harbors disease organisms in their body without
manifest symptoms).</b> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Diphtheria occurs worldwide, but clinical cases are more
prevalent in temperate zones. In the United States during the pre-toxoid era,
the highest incidence was in the Southeast during the winter. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In the US, there were 53 reported cases of diphtheria between
1980 and 2000, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only a total of 2 cases
of diphtheria have been reported in the 21st century, the last of which was in
2003.</b> [<a href="http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Diphtheria"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The overall <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">case-fatality
rate for diphtheria is 5%–10%,</b> with higher death rates (up to 20%) among
persons younger than 5 and older than 40 years of age. The case-fatality rate
for diphtheria has changed very little during the last 50 years. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span> </div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The duration for diphtheria vaccine is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10 years</b>. [<a href="http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/isd/ycts/mod1/courses/dtap/10250.asp?res=3&QU=0"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The diphtheria cases recently reported in Eastern Europe
illustrate a waning immunity to diphtheria among many adults.[<a href="http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/ScienceResearch/BiologicsResearchAreas/ucm127290.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Antibiotics are used in patients or carriers to eradicate C.
diphtheriae and prevent its transmission to others (metronidazole,
erythromycin, procaine penicillin G). [<a href="http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Diphtheria"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Persons with suspected diphtheria should be given <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">antibiotics</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">antitoxin</b> in adequate dosage and placed in isolation after the provisional
clinical diagnosis is made and appropriate cultures are obtained. Respiratory
support and airway maintenance should also be administered as needed. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Tetanus<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">On average, there are 29 cases of tetanus reported annually
(see below for reference). Given this and the information that 75% of the
deaths in the US are patients <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">older than
60 years, </b>tetanus is not a vaccine we consider for my daughter’s age group.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">To add, the tetanus component to the vaccine seems to be more
adverse then the other components (pertussis, diptheria). This, in combination
with the lack of evidence on efficacy of the tetanus toxoid, we currently decline.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">5-dose <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_diphtheria.asp"><span style="color: blue;">DTap</span></a> 2, 4,
6, 15-18 months and 4-6 years</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Booster administered every ten years. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">No vaccine is available in the US for tetanus alone however,
vaccination for tetanus in children is recommended in a combination vaccine in
conjunction with pertussis and tetanus (<a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_tdap.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Tdap</span></a>, <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_diphtheria.asp"><span style="color: blue;">DTap</span></a>) or
tetanus alone (<a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_tetanus.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Td</span></a>).
For those who have contradictions to aP, TD is recommended. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The adult booster for tetanus also combines diphtheria (Td). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Tetanus is an acute, often fatal, disease caused by an
exotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. It is characterized by
generalized rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal muscles. The muscle
stiffness usually involves the jaw (lockjaw) and neck and then becomes
generalized.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">C. tetani usually enters the body through a wound. In the
presence of anaerobic (low oxygen) conditions, the spores germinate. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The typical clinical manifestations of tetanus are caused
when tetanus toxin interferes with release of neurotransmitters, blocking
inhibitor impulses. This leads to unopposed muscle contraction and spasm. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The time between an injury and the occurrence of the first
symptoms is typically less than two weeks but may range from 5 days to 15
weeks. [<a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/408/291.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Infection generally occurs through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">wound contamination and often involves a cut or deep puncture wound</b>.[<a href="http://encyclopedian.com/t/Tetanus.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Tetanus is not contagious from person to person. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It is the only vaccine-preventable disease
that is infectious but not contagious</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Organisms are found <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">primarily
in the soil and intestinal tracts of animals and humans</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission is primarily by contaminated wounds. The wound
may be major or minor. In recent years, however, a higher proportion of
patients had minor wounds, most likely because severe wounds are more likely to
be properly managed and cleaned. Tetanus may follow elective surgery, burns,
deep puncture wounds, crush wounds, otitis media (ear infections), dental
infection, animal bites, abortion, and pregnancy. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">All wounds should be well cleaned to prevent tetanus. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">From 1998-2000, 75% of the deaths in the US were in patients <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">older than 60 years</b>.[<a href="http://misc.medscape.com/pi/iphone/medscapeapp/html/A229594-business.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Heroin users,
particularly persons who inject themselves subcutaneously, appear to be at high
risk for tetanus</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">From 2001 - 2008, the last years for which data have been
compiled, a total of 233 tetanus cases was reported, an average of 29 cases per
year. Among the 197 cases with known outcomes the case-fatality rate was 13%. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Tetanus occurs worldwide but is most frequently encountered
in densely populated regions <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in hot,
damp climates with soil rich in organic matter</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Efficacy of the tetanus toxoid has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">never been studied in a vaccine trial</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Because of waning antitoxin titers, most persons have
antitoxin levels below the optimal level 10 years after the last dose of DTaP,
DTP, DT, or Td. Additional booster doses of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids are
required every 10 years to maintain protective antitoxin titers. The first
booster dose of Td may be given at 11 or 12 years of age if at least 5 years
have elapsed since the last dose of DTaP, DTP, or DT. The Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that this dose be administered as
Tdap. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Severe systemic
reactions such as generalized urticaria (hives), anaphylaxis, or neurologic
complications have been reported after receipt of tetanus toxoid.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A few cases of peripheral neuropathy and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
have been reported following tetanus toxoid administration.</b> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Exaggerated local reactions are occasionally reported
following receipt of a diphtheria- or tetanus-containing vaccine. These
reactions present as extensive painful swelling, often from shoulder to elbow.
They generally begin 2–8 hours after injections and are reported most often in
adults. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rarely, severe systemic reactions such as generalized
urticaria, anaphylaxis, or neurologic complications have been reported
following administration of diphtheria toxoid. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">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.
Antimicrobial drugs, such as penicillin, are used to eradicate the bacteria.[<a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/408/291.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">A single intramuscular dose of tetanus immune globulin
(TIG)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(3,000 to 5,000 units) is
generally recommended for children and adults, with part of the dose
infiltrated around the wound if it can be identified. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/tetanus.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pertussis<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Whooping Cough<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
DTaP vaccine was more challenging to decline when my girls were younger (less
then 12 months old). Pertussis infection can be very serious in infants and the
vaccine can lessen symptoms if the disease is contracted. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">My
girls are older now and because clinical manifestation of the disease is age
dependent,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I give less consideration to
the disease then I did in the past. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
risk of my children (when they were younger than 12 months) of dying from
pertussis was still very low without the vaccine (0.000004%), this reason in
combination with the evidence that vaccinated children show an increase in the
colonization of parapertussis (40-fold increase) in the lungs compared to those
unvaccinated – we currently declined this vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
is definitely not one of the easier choice vaccines to decline. I continue to
re-visit the published literature on the aP (acellular pertussis) vaccine and
the epidemiology of pertussis and parapertussis infection within the United
States.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">5-dose <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_diphtheria.asp"><span style="color: blue;">DTap</span></a> 2, 4,
6, 15-18 months and 4-6 years<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Booster of Tdap at 11-12 years.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Booster of Tdap to pregnant mothers during <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">each</b> pregnancy (3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup>
trimester).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pertussis, commonly called whooping cough — is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">highly contagious bacterial disease caused
most commonly by Bordetella pertussis</b>, though Bordetella <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">parapertussis has also been associated with
this condition in humans</b>.[<a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/967268-overview"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The infection with B. pertussis results in a wide spectrum of
clinical manifestations, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">depending on
the age and immune status of the host, and ranges from mild respiratory
symptoms to a severe cough illness,</b> which may be accompanied by the
hallmark inspiratory whoop.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3501154/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The incubation period of pertussis is commonly 7–10 days. The
clinical course of the illness is divided into <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">three stages</b>:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The catarrhal stage: characterized by the onset of a runny
nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, mild coughing - similar to the common cold.
Lasting approximately 1-2 weeks. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The paroxysmal stage: Fever is generally minimal throughout
the course of the illness, the cough gradually becomes more intense. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The paroxysmal stage: It is during this stage that the
diagnosis of pertussis is usually suspected. Characteristically, the patient
has bursts of numerous, rapid coughs, apparently due to difficulty expelling
thick mucus from the tracheobronchial tree. At the end of the paroxysm, a long inspiratory
effort is usually accompanied by a characteristic high-pitched whoop. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Many people do not
develop the characteristic whoop</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that
an adolescent or adult has whooping cough.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In infected person will not appear to be ill between attacks.
[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Recovery is gradual. The cough becomes less paroxysmal and
disappears in 2 to 3 weeks. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The most common complication, and the cause of most
pertussis-related deaths, is secondary bacterial pneumonia. Young infants are
at highest risk for acquiring pertussis-associated complications. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">B. pertussis is a strict human pathogen with no known animal
or environmental reservoir, maintenance of the organism within the population
is thought to require continuous transmission of the disease from infected to
naive hosts. [<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3501154/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pertussis is often described as being highly infectious (with
household contact studies showing an infection rate between 58% and 100%).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Although pertussis is typically described as being highly
infectious, efficient transmission requires <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">close contact or prolonged exposure</b>. [<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3501154/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">As expected for an airborne exposure, the rate of
transmission is dependent upon distance between the infected and naive
individual.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3501154/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Before the vaccine was developed, whooping cough was
considered a childhood disease. Now whooping cough primarily affects children
too young to have completed the full course of vaccinations and teenagers and
adults whose immunity has faded. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">With greater than 27, 000 reported cases in the United States
in 2010, the highest number since the 1950s, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pertussis is the most commonly occurring vaccine-preventable disease.</b>
This resurgence is occurring throughout the industrial world despite similar
high rates of vaccination.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3501154/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Deaths associated with
whooping cough are rare</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> but most commonly occur in infants.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Without </span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Vaccination (based on
2010 data):[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/births_fertility_2010/births_fertility_2010.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk pertussis infection under 12 months = 0.007% <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk of death =
0.000004%<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">With Vaccination(based on 2010 data):[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/births_fertility_2010/births_fertility_2010.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk of pertussis infection under 12 months = 0.005% <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk of death = 0.000002%</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The protective power of the diphtheria, tetanus, acellular
pertussis vaccination (DTaP) wanes with time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Each year that elapses after
vaccination is associated with a 36% increased risk of acquiring pertussis.</b>
[<a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/743026"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The waning protection of the vaccine is one reason why was
have been witnessing a gradually increasing since the early 1980s.[<a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/743026"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Another reason: Although this disease is most often
attributed to Bordetella pertussis infection, it is also caused by the closely
related pathogen, B. parapertussis. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acelluar
pertussis vaccination has been documented in leading to a <u>40-fold
enhancement of B. parapertussis colonization</u> in the lungs of mice.</b>[<a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/277/1690/2017.long"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cidd.psu.edu/research/synopses/acellular-vaccine-enhancement-b.-parapertussis"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">As with all injected vaccines, administration of DTaP may
cause local reactions, such as pain, redness, or swelling. Local reactions have
been reported in 20%–40% of children after the first three doses. Local
reactions appear to be more frequent after the fourth and/or fifth doses. Mild
systemic reactions such as drowsiness, fretfulness, and low-grade fever may
also occur. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Swelling involving the entire thigh or upper arm has been
reported after booster doses of certain acellular pertussis vaccines. The limb
swelling may be accompanied by erythema, pain and fever. Although the swelling
may interfere with walking, most children have no limitation of activity.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> The pathogenesis and frequency of
substantial local reactions and limb swelling are not known. </b>[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The medical management of pertussis cases is primarily
supportive. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment for older children and adults usually can be
managed at home.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Infants are typically hospitalized for treatment because
whooping cough is more dangerous for that age group. If your child can't keep
down liquids or food, intravenous fluids may be necessary. Your child will also
be isolated from others to prevent the infection from spreading. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Antibiotics kill the bacteria causing whooping cough and help
speed recovery. Family members may be given preventive antibiotics. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Other recommendations include: [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">-Get plenty of rest <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">-Drink plenty of fluids <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">-Vaporize the room (soothe irritated lungs and to help loosen
respiratory secretions) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">-Breathe clean the air (keeping your home free of irritants
that can trigger coughing spells, such as tobacco smoke) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Haemophilus
B<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><em>Hib <o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
most recent data I was able to obtain on invasive Hib infection was from 2009.
That year, 35 children (younger than 5 years) died from invasive Hib infection.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Coupling
the low risk of death from Hib infection with the other factors that do not
make my children high risk (see below for risk factors and the role long term
breastfeeding has on infection), we currently decline this vaccine. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">According
to the CDC (see below for reference), in the prevaccine era, the majority of
children <u>acquired immunity by 5–6 years of age through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">asymptomatic</b> infection by Hib bacteria.<o:p></o:p></u></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
vaccine is not recommended for those over 5 yrs of age, my oldest who is
approaching 5 years old will not be a candidate for this vaccine in a few
months. This makes the choice to decline more straightforward as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">4-dose series of conjugate vaccine at 2, 4, 6 months <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Booster 12-15 months<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_hib.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Haemophilus
b conjugate vaccine</span></a> is recommended for all children 2 months to 5 years of
age[*] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Hib vaccine is not routinely recommended for patients older
than 5 years of age.[*]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Most strains of Haemophilus influenzae bacteria, including
Hib, usually live in a person’s nose or throat <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">without causing disease</b>. Severe infections can result when the
bacteria invade parts of the body that are normally free from germs, like blood
or spinal fluid. This is known as "invasive disease."[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hi-disease/about/complications.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The exact mode of
invasion to the bloodstream is unknown</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Since the introduction of Hib conjugate vaccines in the
1990s, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">epidemiology of invasive H
influenzae disease has changed substantially</b>, with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">most infections now caused by non-Hib strains</b>. [<a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(13)70170-1/abstract?rss=yes"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The most striking feature of Hib disease is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">age-dependent susceptibility</b>. Hib
disease is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not common beyond 5 years of
age</b> (however, this epidemiology is changing due to the vaccination of
infants, see below for more detail). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In
the prevaccine era, most children acquired immunity by 5–6 years of age <u>through
asymptomatic infection by Hib bacteria</u>. </b>[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Humans (asymptomatic carriers) are the only known reservoir.
Hib does not survive in the environment on inanimate surfaces. The primary mode
of Hib transmission is presumably by respiratory droplet spread, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">although firm evidence for this mechanism
is lacking.</b> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Several studies in the prevaccine era described a bimodal
seasonal pattern in the United States, with one peak during September through
December and a second peak during March through May. The reason for this
bimodal pattern is not known. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The contagious potential of invasive Hib disease is
considered to be limited. However, certain circumstances, particularly close
contact with a case-patient (e.g., household, child care, or institutional
setting) can lead to outbreaks or direct secondary transmission of the disease.
[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In 2009, among children younger than 5 years of age, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">35 cases of invasive disease due to Hib
were reported in the United States</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk factors for Hib disease include exposure factors and
host factors that increase the likelihood of exposure to Hib. Exposure factors
include household crowding, large household size, child care attendance, low
socioeconomic status, low parental education levels, and school-aged siblings.
Host factors include race/ethnicity (elevated risk among African Americans,
Hispanics, Native Americans—possibly confounded by socioeconomic variables that
are associated with both race/ethnicity and Hib disease), chronic disease
(e.g., sickle cell anemia, antibody deficiency syndromes, malignancies,
especially during chemotherapy), and possibly gender (risk is higher for
males). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protective factors (effect limited to infants younger than 6
months of age) include <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">breastfeeding and
passively acquired maternal antibody</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">(Concerns: Serotype replacement and increasing adult
mortality)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Although the reduction in carriage achieved by conjugate
vaccines is beneficial from the perspective of herd immunity, it has raised
concerns about the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">possibility of
serotype replacement</b>.[<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X10004755"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Because the protection offered by conjugate vaccines is
specific to the capsular type(s) included in the vaccine, it has been suggested
that reducing carriage of these vaccine types may leave <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">open an ecologic niche that will be filled by serotypes not included in
the vaccine</b>. [<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X10004755"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">As the prevalence of Hib has decreased, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">other encapsulated serotypes seem to have emerged as major causes of
invasive disease</b>.[<a href="http://www.biomedsearch.com/article/Increasing-incidence-invasive-Haemophilus-influenzae/268311053.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Strain replacement of Hib with serotype f and non-typeable
strains in children under 5 years has been documented. [<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X10004755"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Also, invasive H. influenzae infection, once a childhood
concern, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">has now been documented in
disproportionately affecting the elderly and is associated with a high
mortality rate.</b>[<a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/17/9/10-1991_article.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Although vaccination of infants resulted in an initial
decline in Hib infections in adults, a resurgence in reported cases occurred in
2002-3. Childhood vaccination programs<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>may have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unanticipated effects on
the epidemiology of Hib disease in older age groups</b>.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC517642/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The incidence of H. influenzae invasive disease has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">shifted toward adults</b>. In a study
conducted in the Atlanta, Georgia, USA, metropolitan area before Hib vaccine
introduction, adults comprised 24% of all invasive H. influenzae cases (6). A
more recent population-based report from Illinois showed adults accounting for
77% of invasive cases. [<a href="http://www.biomedsearch.com/article/Increasing-incidence-invasive-Haemophilus-influenzae/268311053.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Most (51%) invasive
disease occurred in persons [greater than or equal to] 65 years of age.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> [<a href="http://www.biomedsearch.com/article/Increasing-incidence-invasive-Haemophilus-influenzae/268311053.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious
problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of Hib vaccine causing
serious harm or death is extremely small.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">When Haemophilus influenzae bacteria causea a non-invasive
infection, like bronchitis or an ear infection, complications are rare and
typically not severe. If appropriate, antibiotics will be given to prevent
complications.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hi-disease/about/complications.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Hospitalization is generally required for invasive Hib
disease. Antimicrobial therapy with an effective third-generation cephalosporin
(cefotaxime or ceftriaxone), or chloramphenicol in combination with ampicillin
should be begun immediately. The treatment course is usually 10 days.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hib.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">As for invasive Hib B infection, the complications can be
different. For example, if meningitis occurs, a person can suffer from brain
damage or hearing loss. Bacteremia (blood infection) can result in loss of
limb(s). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hi-disease/about/complications.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Other protective
effects: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Breast feeding<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">There is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">long-lasting
protective effect of breastfeeding on the risk for invasive Hib infection</b>.
Data has shown a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>decreased risk for
invasive Hib infection with long duration of breastfeeding.[<a href="http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/28/1/152.full.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/2/443.abstract"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The colonization of H. influenzae in the throat is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">inhibited by the presence of breast milk</b>.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10365578"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Streptococcus
Pneumoniae</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pneumonia<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Several other parents I know that follow a delayed/select
vaccine schedule choose to include Prevnar 13. The vaccine has been very
effective at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">modifying </b>epidemiology
of infection of the 13 strains (out of the 80 circulating) it currently includes.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Out of all vaccines available, this is the one that I would
most likely administer (if I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">had</i> to
pick one). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">We choose to decline Pzifer’s Prevnar 13 product because the
risk of my daughters becoming seriously ill from this disease is very low (they
do not have any pre-existing conditions that place them at high risk of
invasive infection). We also consider that up to 70% of adults are
asymptomatic carriers and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the
relationship between antibody titer and protection from pneumococcal invasive
disease is still <u>not certain.</u></b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">We also consider that there is the lack of clinical safety
data to review comparing the vaccine against a placebo group and the severe
adverse reaction rate. According to the clinical safety data from the
manufacturer<a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM201669.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">,
8.2% of infants and toddlers reported <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">severe</b>
reactions after 1-dose vaccination</span></a>. A child will be administered this
product 4 times (if vaccinating on schedule). The manufacturer’s clinical data <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">did not</b> utilize a saline placebo group
in establishing safety, Prevnar 13 was tested against Prevnar 7.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Routine vaccination with Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (<a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM201669.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">PCV-13</span></a>)
is recommended ages 2, 4, 6 months with a booster at age 12 through 15 months.
(Unvaccinated children 7 months of age or older require fewer doses)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Booster vaccination with Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
(<a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/p/pneumovax_23/pneumovax_pi.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">PPSV23</span></a>)
is recommended at age 65 or older. A booster is also recommended starting at
age 19 if a person smokes or has asthma.[*]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pneumonia has many possible causes. The most common are
bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. A person’s body usually prevents
these germs from infecting the lungs but sometimes these germs can overpower
the immune system.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pneumonia/DS00135/DSECTION=causes"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Symptoms of pneumococcal infection include sudden onset of
fever and fatigue, sneezing and cough with mucus and shortness of breath. The
infection may start with start with a general feeling of being unwell, a low
grade fever and a cough that doesn’t include mucus before symptoms worsen.
Symptoms of pneumococcal meningitis (brain inflammation) include stiff neck
(inability to touch the chin to chest without moderate to severe pain in the
back of the neck and head); headache; extreme fatigue or seizures. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pneumonia/DS00135/DSECTION=causes"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The major clinical syndromes of pneumococcal disease are
pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.
The immunologic mechanism that allows disease to occur in a carrier is not
clearly understood.</b> However, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">disease
most often occurs when a predisposing condition exists, particularly pulmonary
disease</b>. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pneumonia/DS00135/DSECTION=causes"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The relationship between
antibody titer and protection from pneumococcal invasive disease is not certain</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">S. pneumoniae is a human pathogen. Transmission of S.
pneumoniae occurs as the result of direct person-to-person contact via
respiratory droplets and by autoinoculation (autoinoculation means to “self
spread”- aka spreading the bacteria to another part of your body) in persons
carrying the bacteria in their upper respiratory tract. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pneumococci are common inhabitants of the respiratory tract .
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The carrier rate in asymptomatic healthy
adults varies between 40% and 70%.</b>[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://streptococcus-pneumoniae.org/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rates of asymptomatic carriage vary with age, environment,
and the presence of upper respiratory infections. Only 5%–10% of adults without
children are carriers. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pneumococcal infections are more common during the winter and
in early spring when respiratory diseases are more prevalent. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Conditions that increase the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">risk of invasive pneumococcal disease include decreased immune function
from disease or drugs, functional or anatomic asplenia, chronic heart,
pulmonary including asthma, liver, or renal disease, smoking cigarettes, and
cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF leak</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Before introduction of PCV7, rates of PC7-type invasive
pneumococcal disease among children in this age were around 80 cases per
100,000 population <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(0.0008%).</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the introduction of PCV7, rates of
disease due to these 7 serotypes dropped dramatically to less than 1 case per
100,000 (0.00001%).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt11-pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Approximately 10% of all patients with invasive pneumococcal
disease die of their illness, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">case-fatality
rates are higher for the elderly and patients with certain underlying
illnesses.</b> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt11-pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Children with functional or anatomic asplenia, particularly
those with sickle cell disease, and children with human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) infection are at very high risk for invasive disease, with rates in some
studies more than 50 times higher than those among children of the same age
without these conditions. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rates are also increased among children of certain racial and
ethnic groups (Alaska Native, African American, and certain American Indian
groups). The reason for this increased risk by race and ethnicity is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not known</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Attendance at a child care center has also been shown to
increase the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease among children younger than
59 months of age. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Data from the Active Bacterial Core surveillance (ABCs)
system suggest that the use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has had a major
impact on the incidence of invasive disease among young children.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">However, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">there is
evidence that mass use of the PCV-7 vaccine placed pressure on some of the 80
other pneumococcal strains</b> to cause invasive disease and was responsible
for increasing the rates of otitis media caused by serotypes <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not included in the seven-valent vaccine</b>,
particularly the 19A strain.[<a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/48/3/e23.full.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://jcm.asm.org/content/51/4/1294.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3648787/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/49/2/205.short"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/5/3/99-0304_article.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">To alleviate this problem, a new vaccine replaced the PCV7 to
include serotype 19A (PCV13). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The PPSV23 booster, shows <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">antibody levels declining after 5–10 years</b> (and decrease more
rapidly in some groups than others). In fact, this vaccine <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">does <u>not</u> produce a sustained increase (“boost”) in antibody
titers</b>. Available data does not indicate a substantial increase in
protection in the majority of revaccinated persons. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Despite multiple studies conducted during >30 years, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">efficacy and effectiveness of 23-valent
pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) in children and adults remain poorly
defined and the subject of controversy.</b> Furthermore, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">repeated doses of PPSV are associated with hyporesponsiveness</b>, when
antibody levels after a second antigenic challenge are<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <u>lower</u></b> than after the first administration.[<a href="http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/201/10/1570.long"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Local reactions (such as pain, swelling or redness) following
PCV13 occur in up to half of recipients. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Approximately <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8% of
local reactions are considered to be severe</b> (e.g., tenderness that
interferes with limb movement). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The manufacturer product insert indicates that when Prevnar
is given at the same time as HIB, pertussis and polio vaccines, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it may lower the efficacy of those vaccines
for some children</b>. There is no data on what happens when Prevnar vaccine is
given in combination with MMR or chicken pox vaccines.[<a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM337686.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Resistance to penicillin and other antibiotics is common. In
some areas of the United States, up to 40% of invasive pneumococcal isolates
are resistant to penicillin. Treatment will usually include a broad-spectrum
cephalosporin, and often vancomycin, until results of antibiotic sensitivity
testing are available. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pneumo.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Breastfeeding inhibits
the attachment</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae.[<a href="http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/153/2/232.short"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Poliomyelitis<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Polio<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">As of 1994, wild-type polio has been declared eradicated in
the Western Hemisphere – this provides a very minimal risk for my daughters (or
myself) to be exposed to the polio virus and/or exhibit symptoms and/or suffer
adverse complications. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">We currently do not travel internationally (or to those
countries that have polio in circulation).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">These reasons, coupled with the understanding that most all (95%)
polio infections are inapparent/asymptomatic – we currently decline this
vaccine. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Routine vaccination includes administration of inactivated
poliovirus vaccine (<a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_polioipv.asp"><span style="color: blue;">IPV</span></a>) at ages
2, 4, 6–18 months, with a booster at age 4–6 years. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Poliomyelitis is a viral disease that can affect nerves and
has the potential to lead to partial or full paralysis.[<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001402.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The response to poliovirus infection is highly variable,
there are three basic patterns of polio infection: subclinical infections,
nonparalytic, and paralytic. Approximately, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">95% of all polio infections are inapparent or asymptomatic</b>. [<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001402.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Some subclinical infection symptoms include: general
discomfort or uneasiness (malaise), headache, slight fever, and sore throat. [<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001402.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Humans are the only known reservoir of poliovirus, which is
transmitted most frequently through contact with stool of an infected person
(known as fecal-oral transmission) with inapparent infections. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://polio.emedtv.com/polio/polio-transmission.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Less frequently, polio transmission can occur through contact
with infected respiratory secretions or saliva (oral-oral transmission).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">This spread of poliovirus can happen via:[<a href="http://polio.emedtv.com/polio/polio-transmission.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">•Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with
poliovirus. Poliovirus is commonly found in sewage water. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">•Touching surfaces or objects contaminated with poliovirus
(for example, when changing diapers), and then placing the contaminated hand in
the mouth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The virus enters through the mouth, and primary multiplication
of the virus occurs at the site of implantation in the pharynx and
gastrointestinal tract. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The incubation period for poliomyelitis is commonly 6 to 20
days with a range of 3 to 35 days. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Polio is eradicated in most parts of the world (except for
three countries Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In 2012, about 220 cases were reported worldwide, and almost
all were in these 3 countries. [<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/11/21/polio-free-countries-still-face-threat-scientists-say/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In September 1994, an international commission certified <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the Western Hemisphere to be free of
indigenous wild poliovirus.</b> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">From 1980 through 1999, a total of 152 confirmed cases of
paralytic poliomyelitis were reported in the US. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">95% of these cases were vaccine-associated paralytic polio (VAPP)
caused by live oral polio vaccine. </b>[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In order to eliminate VAPP from the United States, ACIP
recommended in 2000 that IPV be used exclusively in the United States. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The death-to-case ratio for paralytic polio is generally
2%–5% among children and up to 15%–30% for adults (depending on age). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Fewer than 1% of all polio infections result in flaccid
paralysis. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Duration of immunity is not known.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/17-Polio.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The efficacy of 2 doses of IPV is 90% after 2 doses, 99%
after 3 doses. [<a href="http://www.pediatriconcall.com/fordoctor/diseasesandcondition/immunization_vaccination/polio_vaccine.asp"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">As for the OPV, theoretically, one may require 10-15 doses of
OPV to reach near 100% efficacy (children under 5 years in northern India had
received on average 19 doses of OPV).[<a href="http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/368/1623/20120140.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">One major challenge to the wild poliovirus eradication is the
poor immunogenicity of OPV in lower-income countries. Routine schedules where
four or five doses of trivalent OPV are administered are not always
sufficiently protective.[<a href="http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/368/1623/20120140.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Research into the causes of OPV failure and interventions to
improve its immunogenicity is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ongoing.</b>
[<a href="http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/368/1623/20120140.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Since IPV contains trace amounts of streptomycin, neomycin,
and polymyxin B, there is a possibility of allergic reactions in persons
sensitive to these antibiotics. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The goal of treatment is to control symptoms while the
infection runs its course. [<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001402.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The treatment and outlook depend on the form of the disease
(subclinical >95%, or paralytic 1-2%) and the body area affected. [<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001402.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/polio.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Symptoms are treated based on their severity. Treatment may
include: [<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001402.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">•Antibiotics for urinary tract infections<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">•Moist heat (heating pads, warm towels) to reduce muscle pain
and spasms<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">•Painkillers to reduce headache, muscle pain, and spasms
(narcotics are not usually given because they increase the risk of breathing
trouble)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">•Physical therapy, braces or corrective shoes, or orthopedic
surgery to help recover muscle strength and function<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Influenza
<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><em>Flu<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">We
currently decline annual influenza vaccine administration to our daughters (and
ourselves). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
safety data on the influenza vaccine is severely limited in children (despite
the CDC’s recommendation to vaccinate children 6 months and older). I also find
the mounting evidence that repeat exposure to the vaccine increases other
non-influenza respiratory illness, to say the least, very discouraging. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Approximately
all influenza related deaths (90%) occur in persons that are 65 years and
older. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">My
children have no pre-existing conditions (such as asthma or immune-compromised
illness). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">These
factors converge and reinforce our decision not to administer this vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Routine vaccination: Administer inactivated influenza vaccine
annually to all children <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">beginning at
age 6 months</b>.</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Administer 2 doses (separated by at least 4 weeks) to
children (6mos – 8yrs) who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Influenza is a highly infectious viral illness. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Following respiratory transmission, the influenza virus
attaches to and penetrates respiratory epithelial cells in the trachea and
bronchi. Viral replication occurs, which results in the destruction of the host
cell. Virus is shed in respiratory secretions for 5–10 days. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The incubation period for influenza is usually 2 days, but
can vary from 1 to 4 days. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The severity
of influenza illness depends on the prior immunologic experience with
antigenically related virus variants</b>. In general, only about 50% of
infected persons will develop the classic clinical symptoms of influenza. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">“Classic” influenza disease is characterized by the abrupt
onset of fever, myalgia, sore throat, nonproductive cough, and headache.
Additional symptoms may include rhinorrhea (runny nose), headache, substernal
chest burning and ocular symptoms (e.g., eye pain and sensitivity to light). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Systemic symptoms and
fever usually last from 2 to 3 days, rarely more than 5 days.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Humans are the only known reservoir of influenza types B and
C. Influenza A may infect both humans and animals. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Influenza is primarily transmitted from person to person via
large virus-laden droplets (particles more than 5 microns in diameter) that are
generated when infected persons cough or sneeze. These large droplets can then
settle on the mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tracts of susceptible
persons who are near (within 3 feet) infected persons. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission may also occur through direct contact or
indirect contact with respiratory secretions such as when touching surfaces
contaminated with influenza virus and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Adults can transmit influenza from the day before symptom
onset to approximately 5 days after symptoms begin. Children can transmit
influenza to others for 10 or more days. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Influenza occurs throughout the world. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Peak influenza activity in the United States <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">occurred most frequently in January and
February.</b> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Persons <u>65</u> years
of age and older </span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">account for approximately 90% of deaths attributed to
influenza. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Multiple manufacturers produce inactivated influenza vaccine
each year for the U.S. market. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Immunity following
inactivated influenza vaccination is less than 1 year</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> because of waning of
vaccine-induced antibody and antigenic drift of circulating influenza viruses. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/flu.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">At best</span></u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">, vaccines might be effective against only influenza A and B,
which represent about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">10% of all
circulating viruses</b>[<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub4/abstract;jsessionid=D6865C6101DA1EB47EE3FDA8E5B3D75A.f02t04"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In children under the age of two, the efficacy of inactivated
vaccine was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">similar to placebo</b>. [<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004879.pub4/abstract"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Analysis of safety data from influenza vaccines (in children)
is not able to be reviewed due to the lack of standardization in the
information published, but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">very little
information was found on the safety of inactivated vaccines</b>, the most
commonly used vaccine in young children. [<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004879.pub4/abstract"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Influenza vaccines were associated with serious harms such as
narcolepsy and febrile convulsions. [<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004879.pub4/abstract"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine decreases
complications, such as pneumonia, or transmission.[<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub4/abstract"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The inactivated influenza vaccine has been documented (2012)
in resulting in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5.5 times</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more incidents of respiratory illness in <u>vaccinated</u>
individuals.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This phenomenon is
known as virus interference.[<a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/54/12/1778.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In the majority of cases, nothing more than bed rest and
plenty of fluids is recommended for treatment of influenza. In some cases, you
may be prescribed an antiviral medication, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or
zanamivir (Relenza).[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/influenza/DS00081/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.flu.gov/symptoms-treatment/treatment/index.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Measles<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">We currently decline to vaccinate against the measles virus. This
is for several reasons….<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The current incidence rate in the US (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">0.7 per 1 million population</b>) is<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>low. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">While I understand that approximately 30% of reported measles
cases do have at least one complication reported, I also know that the most common
reaction reported is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">diarrhea.</b> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">We understand that severe complications from measles can<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">avoided though supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate
fluid intake and treatment of dehydration</b>.[<a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">On a personal note, I have witnessed a severe adverse
reaction to this vaccine (<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thrombocytopenia/DS00691"><span style="color: blue;">thrombocytopenia</span></a>).
While I can comprehend that the risk of this reaction (or any other severe
reaction) from this vaccine is considered low, I must admit that experiencing
first hand a severe reaction in a young child against MMR is quite numbing. In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">my</b> opinion, the risk is not worth it. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Routine vaccination: administer the first dose of <a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/m/mmr_ii/mmr_ii_pi.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">MMR
II</span></a> vaccine at age 12 through 15 months, and the second dose (MMR II or <a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/p/proquad/proquad_pi.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">MMR-V</span></a>)
at age 4 through 6 years. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Administer 1 dose of MMR vaccine to infants aged 6 through 11
months before departure from the United States for international travel.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Measles is caused by the measles virus.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The infection occurs in sequential stages over a period of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">two to three weeks</b>:[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/measles/DS00331/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">-<u>Infection/incubation</u> (7-14 days): no signs or
symptoms of measles during this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">-<u>Nonspecific signs and symptoms</u> (2-3 days):<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mild to moderate fever, often accompanied by
a persistent cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis) and sore throat.
[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/measles/DS00331/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">-<u>Acute illness and rash</u>: the rash is consists of small
red spots, some of which are slightly raised. The face breaks out first,
particularly behind the ears and along the hairline. Over the next few days,
the rash spreads down the arms and trun. At the same time, fever rises sharply,
often as high as 104 or 105 F (40 or 40.6 C). The measles rash gradually
recedes, fading first from the face and last from the thighs and feet. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/measles/DS00331/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">-<u>Communicable period</u> (8 days): a person with measles
can spread the virus to others for about eight days, starting four days before
the rash appears and ending when the rash has been present for four days. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/measles/DS00331/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">People who don't have enough vitamin A in their diets are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more likely to contract measles and to have
more-severe symptoms</b>.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/measles/DS00331/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The highly contagious virus is spread by coughing and
sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or
throat secretions. [<a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on
infected surfaces for up to two hours. It can be transmitted by an infected
person from four days prior to the onset of the rash to four days after the
rash erupts. [<a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Worldwide, there are estimated to be 20 million cases (with more
than half of all deaths associated with measles occur in India).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Before 1963, more than 50% of persons had measles by age 6,
and more than 90% had measles by age 15.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In 2000, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">United States
achieved measles elimination</b> (defined as interruption of year-round endemic
measles transmission). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">During 2011, a total of 222 measles cases (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">incidence rate: 0.7 per 1 million
population</b>) were reported to CDC.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6115a1.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The majority of cases are now imported from other countries
or linked to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">imported cases</b>. Most
imported cases originate in Asia and Europe and occur both among U.S. citizens
traveling abroad and persons visiting the United States from other countries.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Approximately 30% of reported measles cases have one or more
complications (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">diarrhea was reported in
8% of measles cases, making this the most commonly reported complication of
measles</b>). Complications of measles are more common among children younger
than 5 years of age and adults 20 years of age and older.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The overwhelming majority (more than 95%) of measles deaths
occur in countries with low per capita incomes and weak health
infrastructures.[<a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">No deaths caused by the measles virus were reported for 2011
in the US. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6115a1.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Measles is more severe
in malnourished children, particularly those with vitamin A deficiency</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">. Complications include
diarrhea, dehydration, stomatitis, inability to feed, and bacterial infections
(skin and elsewhere). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">measles vaccine
produces a mild, noncommunicable infection</b>. Measles antibodies develop in
approximately 95% of children vaccinated at 12 months of age and 98% of
children vaccinated at 15 months of age.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Approximately 2%–5% of children who receive only one dose of
MMR vaccine fail to respond to it. MMR vaccine failure may occur because of
passive antibody in the vaccine recipient, damaged vaccine, incorrect records,
or possibly other reasons. Most persons who fail to respond to the first dose
will respond to a second dose. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Although the titer of vaccine-induced antibodies is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">lower than that following natural disease</b>,
both serologic and epidemiologic evidence indicate that vaccine-induced <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">immunity <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">appears</i> to be long-term</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Fever is the most common adverse reaction following MMR
vaccination. Although measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines may cause fever
after vaccination, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">measles component
of MMR vaccine is most often associated with this adverse reaction</b>. After
MMR vaccination, 5% to 15% of susceptible persons develop a temperature of
103°F (39.4°C) or higher, usually occurring 7 to 12 days after vaccination and
generally lasting 1 or 2 days. Most persons with fever are otherwise
asymptomatic. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Measles- and rubella-containing vaccines, including MMR, may
cause a transient rash. Rashes, usually appearing 7 to 10 days after MMR or
measles vaccination, have been reported in approximately 5% of vaccinees. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rarely, MMR vaccine may cause <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thrombocytopenia/DS00691"><span style="color: blue;">thrombocytopenia</span></a>
within 2 months after vaccination (I personally know someone who has suffered
this reaction one week following this vaccine). Estimates of the frequency of
clinically apparent thrombocytopenia from Europe are one case per 30,000–40,000
vaccinated susceptible persons, with a temporal clustering of cases occurring 2
to 3 weeks after vaccination. The clinical course of these cases was usually
transient and benign, although hemorrhage occurred rarely. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/meas.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Severe complications from measles can<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">avoided though
supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and
treatment of dehydration</b>.[<a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Maintain bedrest and provide quiet activities for children.
If there is sensitivity to light, keep room darkly lit.[<a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/408/732.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Remove eye secretions with warm saline or water and encourage
children not to rub eyes. [<a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/408/732.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Administer anti-itch medication and tepid sponge baths. [<a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/408/732.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">A cool mist vaporizer can be used to relieve cough. [<a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/408/732.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Isolate child until fifth day of rash. [<a href="http://www.healthcentral.com/encyclopedia/408/732.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Other protective effects
<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Vitamin A<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">People who don't have enough vitamin A in their diets are
more likely to contract measles and to have more-severe symptoms.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/measles/DS00331/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Vitamin A supplements have been shown to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">reduce the number of deaths from measles by 50%.</b> [<a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs286/en/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Mumps <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">We decline this vaccine because mumps is generally a benign
self-limited disease that produces lifelong immunity with severe side effects beign
extremely rare<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b>[<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/mumps/page6.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The number of mumps cases has dropped dramatically in the US,
so the odds of getting mumps is low. Considering this and that 70% of cases of
mumps are asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms, we decline the MMRII/MMR-V.
[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Also, the effectiveness of the mumps component of the
MMRII/MMRV depends on wild-type mumps (unvaccinated individuals) to provide
boosters throughout life. Because of this, (and the growing evidence of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">waning immunity over time</b>) mumps
outbreaks among <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">vaccinated populations</b>
are reported world-wide.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Routine vaccination: administer the first dose of <a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/m/mmr_ii/mmr_ii_pi.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">MMR
II</span></a> vaccine at age 12 through 15 months, and the second dose (MMR II or <a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/p/proquad/proquad_pi.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">MMR-V</span></a>)
at age 4 through 6 years. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Administer 1 dose of MMR vaccine to infants aged 6 through 11
months before departure from the United States for international travel.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Mumps is a viral infection that primarily affects the parotid
glands — one of three pairs of saliva-producing (salivary) glands, situated
below and in front of your ears. If you or your child contracts mumps, it can
cause swelling in one or both parotid glands. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mumps/DS00125"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The incubation period of mumps is 14 to 18 days (range, 14 to
25 days). Onset of mumps infection include symptoms that are nonspecific, and
include headache, low-grade fever, body weakness and muscle pain. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">As many as 20% of mumps
infections are asymptomatic. In an addition to that, 40% to 50% may have only
nonspecific or primarily respiratory symptoms.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Parotitis (inflammation of one or both parotid glands, the
major salivary glands located on either side of the face, in humans)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is the most common manifestation and occurs
in 30% to 40% of infected persons. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Symptoms
tend to decrease after 1 week and usually resolve after 10 days.</b> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in the form of
aseptic meningitis occurs <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">asymptomatically</b>
in 50% to 60% of patients. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Symptomatic
meningitis (headache, stiff neck) occurs in up to 15% of patients and resolves
in 3 to 10 days</b>. Adults are at higher risk for this complication than are
children, and boys are more commonly affected than girls (3:1 ratio). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Orchitis (testicular inflammation) is the most common
complication in postpubertal males. It occurs in as many as 50% of postpubertal
males. Pain and swelling may subside in 1 week, but tenderness may last for
weeks. Approximately 50% of patients with orchitis have some degree of
testicular atrophy, but sterility is rare. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mumps/DS00125"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Oophoritis (ovarian inflammation) occurs in 5% of
postpubertal females. It may mimic appendicitis. There is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no relationship</b> to impaired fertility. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Although it has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not
been proved</b>, contracting mumps while you're pregnant, especially early on,
may lead to miscarriage. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mumps/DS00125"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Mumps is a human disease. Although persons with asymptomatic
or nonclassical infection can transmit the virus, no carrier state is known to
exist. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Mumps is spread through airborne transmission or by direct
contact with saliva. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Mumps outbreaks still occur in the United States, and mumps
is still common in many parts of the world. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mumps/DS00125"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The number of mumps cases has dropped dramatically in the US,
so the odds of getting mumps is low. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Complications
of mumps, such as hearing loss, are potentially serious, but rare </b>(approximately
1 per 20,000 reported cases). [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mumps/DS00125"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Pertaining to the mumps component on the MMR II vaccine, the
effectiveness of 1 dose declined from 96% in 2-year-olds to 66% in 11- to
12-year-olds. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>effectiveness of 2 doses declined from 99% in
5- to 6-year-olds to <u>86%</u> in 11- to 12-year-olds.</b> [<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2913658/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">There is growing evidence of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">waning immunity over time</b> and mumps outbreaks among <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">vaccinated populations</b> are reported
world-wide.[<a href="http://www.eurosurveillance.eu/images/dynamic/EE/V15N17/art19554.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2913658/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Unvaccinated individuals</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> that acquire natural immunity provide boosts to vaccinated
populations and increase vaccine effectiveness.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">[<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2913658/" target="_blank">*</a>]</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Allergic reactions, including rash, pruritus, and purpura,
have been temporally associated with vaccination, but these are transient and
generally mild. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mumps/DS00125"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">There's no specific treatment for mumps. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mumps/DS00125"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Supportive care should be given as needed.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/about/disease-overview.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Mumps is generally a
benign self-limited disease that produces lifelong immunity. Severe side
effects are extremely rare.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">[<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/mumps/page6.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rubella
<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><em>German Measles<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The risk to my daughter health from rubella infection is extremely
low considering rubella presents symptoms that are so mild that treatment
usually isn't necessary. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The signs and symptoms of rubella are often so mild that
they're difficult to notice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Prevention of CRS (<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001658.htm"><span style="color: blue;">congential
rubella syndrome</span></a>) is the main objective of rubella vaccination. Congenital
rubella occurs when the rubella virus <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in
a pregnant mother</b> affects the developing baby in the first 3 months of
pregnancy. After the fourth month, the mother's rubella infection is less
likely to harm the developing baby.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">My daughters are too young to become pregnant at this time.
This disease/vaccine is not relevent to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">their
wellness</b>. When they are older and can have children, they will have the power
to decide if they want to be vaccinated against rubella. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Routine vaccination: administer the first dose of <a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/m/mmr_ii/mmr_ii_pi.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">MMR
II</span></a> vaccine at age 12 through 15 months, and the second dose (MMR II or <a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/p/proquad/proquad_pi.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">MMR-V</span></a>)
at age 4 through 6 years. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Administer 1 dose of MMR vaccine to infants aged 6 through 11
months before departure from the United States for international travel.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The Disease: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rubella, also called German measles or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">three-day measles</b>, is a contagious viral infection best known by
its distinctive red rash.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rubella is not the same as measles (rubeola), though the two
illnesses do share some characteristics, including the red rash. However,
rubella is caused by a different virus than measles and is neither as
infectious nor usually as severe as measles. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">signs and symptoms
of rubella are often so mild that they're difficult to notice</b> (up to 50% of
infections may be subclinical or inapparent), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">especially in children</b>. If signs and symptoms do occur, they
generally appear between two and three weeks after exposure to the virus. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">In older children and adults, there is often a 1 to 5 day
prodrome (early onset symtpoms) with low-grade fever, malaise, and upper
respiratory symptoms preceding the rash. The rash usually occurs initially on
the face and then progresses from head to foot. It lasts about 3 days. The rash
is fainter than measles rash and does not coalesce. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Prevention of CRS
(congential rubella syndrome) is the main objective of rubella vaccination
programs in the United States</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Transmission:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rubella is a human disease. There is no known animal
reservoir. Although infants with CRS may shed rubella virus for an extended
period, a true carrier state has not been described. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rubella is spread from person to person via airborne
transmission or droplets shed from the respiratory secretions of infected
persons. Rubella may be transmitted by persons with subclinical or asymptomatic
cases (up to 50% of all rubella virus infections). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rubella is only moderately contagious. The disease is most
contagious when the rash first appears, but virus may be shed from 7 days
before to 5–7 days or more after rash onset. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Infants with CRS (<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001658.htm"><span style="color: blue;">congential
rubella syndrome</span></a>) shed large quantities of virus from body secretions for
up to 1 year and can therefore transmit rubella to persons caring for them who
are susceptible to the disease. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Prevention of CRS (congential rubella syndrome) is the main
objective of rubella vaccination. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Deafness is the most
common and often the sole manifestation of congenital rubella infection</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">, especially after the
fourth month of gestation. Manifestations of CRS may be delayed from 2 to 4
years. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Since 1997, the mothers of the majority of infants with CRS
were Hispanic women, many of whom were born in Latin American or Caribbean
countries where rubella vaccine is routinely not used or has only recently
begun to be used. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Many rash illnesses can mimic rubella infection, and as many
as 50% of rubella infections may be subclinical/asymptomatic. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">If you're pregnant, you'll likely undergo a routine screening
for immunity to rubella. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=symptoms"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Protection from the
vaccine:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Several reports indicate
that reinfection following exposure may occur in vaccinated persons</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> who have low levels of
detectable antibody. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The frequency and
consequences of this phenomenon are unknown</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rarely, clinical reinfection and fetal infection have been
reported among women with vaccine-induced immunity. Rare cases of CRS have
occurred among infants born to women who had documented serologic evidence of
rubella immunity before they became pregnant. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Although vaccine virus may be isolated from the pharynx,
vaccinees do not transmit rubella to others, except <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">occasionally in the case of the vaccinated breastfeeding woman.</b> In
this situation, the infant may be infected, presumably through breast milk, and
may develop a mild rash illness. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Joint symptoms, such as arthralgia (joint pain) and arthritis
(joint redness and/or swelling), are associated with the rubella component of
MMR II. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">When acute joint symptoms occur, or when pain or paresthesias
not associated with joints occur, the symptoms generally begin 1–3 weeks after
vaccination, persist for 1 day to 3 weeks. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Rarely, transient peripheral neuritic complaints, such as
paresthesias and pain in the arms and legs, have been reported. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/rubella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Treatment:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">No treatment will shorten the course of rubella infection,
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">symptoms are so mild that treatment
usually isn't necessary</b>.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">However, doctors often recommend isolation from others —
especially pregnant women — during the infectious period. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Support of an infant born with congenital rubella syndrome
varies depending on the extent of the infant's problems. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;">Tell friends, family and co-workers — especially pregnant
women — about your diagnosis if they may have been exposed to the disease. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rubella/DS00332/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Varicella</span></b></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></u><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><em>Chickenpox</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">My daughters are
healthy and are not considered high-risk for complications from varicella.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">In healthy children,
chickenpox typically requires no medical treatment at all, with the clinical
course being generally mild. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Complications are
infrequent among healthy children.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">We choose to decline
this vaccine because we understand that the vaccine efficacy depends on the
circulation of wild-type chickenpox infection.<u> </u></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">With
varicella, we are in a precarious situation. Since contracting the wild-type
strain of chickenpox is extremely limited, when a a child is vaccinated (which
will lay dormant in their nervous system) in hopes of a child become immune or elciting
a more mild reaction then they would in adulthood - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we are setting them up in an environment that does not offer boosters
throughout life </b>(unless you become dependent on more vaccine boosters).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">We also understand
that </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">as a result of the
implementation of a varicella vaccination program</span></b></u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">, shingles incidence is
expected to increase (a much more serious infection than chickenpox).<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>Studies have demonstrated that the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>vaccine virus</u> </b>can become latent
and later<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <u>reactivate</u></b> to cause
shingles in both healthy and immunocompromised persons/children.[<a href="http://cmr.asm.org/content/23/1/202.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">We currently decline
this vaccine. As with all the vaccines listed here, my daughters will have the
opportunity to choose whether or not to vaccinate themselves when they are
older and understand the risk/benefits of the disease and vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">(I would like to
note that I do <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not</b> support ‘chickenpox
parties’. I write about my reasons <a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2012/04/chickenpox-party-rsvp.html"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Administer the first
dose of varicella vaccine (<a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/v/varivax/varivax_pi.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Varivax</span></a>)
at age 12 through 15 months, and the second dose at age 4 through 6 years (<a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/p/proquad/proquad_pi.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">MMR-V</span></a>
or Varivax). </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext;">The Disease: </span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Chickenpox
(varicella) is a viral infection by the varicella zoster virus (VZV) that
causes an itchy, blister-like rash. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The recurrent
infection (herpes zoster, aka shingles) has been recognized since ancient
times. Primary varicella infection (chickenpox) was not reliably distinguished
from smallpox until the end of the 19th century. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">clinical course in healthy children is
generally mild</b>, with malaise, pruritus (itching), and temperature up to
102° for 2 to 3 days. Adults may have more severe disease and have a higher
incidence of complications. Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms are
absent. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Acute varicella is
generally mild and self-limited. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext;">Transmission:</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Varicella is a human
disease. No animal or insect source or vector is known to exist. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Infection with VZV
occurs through the respiratory tract. The most common mode of transmission of
VZV is believed to be person to person from infected respiratory tract
secretions. Transmission may also occur by respiratory contact with airborne
droplets or by direct contact or inhalation of aerosols from vesicular fluid of
skin lesions of acute varicella or zoster. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The period of
communicability extends from 1 to 2 days before the onset of rash through the
first 4 to 5 days, or until lesions have formed crusts. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Varicella is highly
contagious. It is less contagious than measles, but more so than mumps and
rubella. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext;">Risk/Prevalence:</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Varicella and herpes
zoster occur worldwide. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Chickenpox is highly
contagious to people who haven't had the disease nor been vaccinated against
it. Before routine chickenpox vaccination, virtually all people had been
infected by the time they reached adulthood. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Some data suggest
that in tropical areas, varicella infection occurs more commonly among adults
than children. The reason(s) for this difference in age distribution are not
known with certainty, but may be related to lack of childhood varicella
infection in rural populations. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The estimated <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">death rate for chicken pox is 1.4 per
100,000 cases (0.000014%) in normal children</b>, but rises to 30.9 deaths per
I 00,000 cases (0.0309 %) in adults. The death rate is 7% in children with
leukemia. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">[<a href="http://www.all.org/article/index/id/MjUyNg"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Secondary bacterial
infections of skin lesions with Staphylococcus or Streptococcus are the most
common cause of hospitalization and outpatient medical visits. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Complications are infrequent among
healthy children</span></b></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">. They occur much more frequently in persons older
than 15 years of age and infants younger than 1 year of age. Adults account for
only 5% of reported cases of varicella but approximately 35% of mortality. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext;">Protection from the vaccine:</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The push to research
and license the varicella vaccine <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">stems
from the complication and mortality rate among high-risk persons</b>.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> [<a href="http://www.all.org/article/index/id/MjUyNg"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">These groups include
children with leukemia, or persons receiving steroids, e.g., patients with
cancer, arthritis, kidney disease, organ transplants, or asthma. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Steroids are known to suppress immunity,
leaving the patient sometimes defenseless against what would normally be
harmless diseases.</b> Immunocompromised persons comprise only an estimated 0.
1% of all chicken pox cases. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">[<a href="http://www.all.org/article/index/id/MjUyNg"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">About 15 to 20% of healthy
vaccinated children will develop breakthrough varicella (breakthrough varicella
is defined as disease with symptom onset that occurs >42 days after
vaccination)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">.
[<a href="http://cmr.asm.org/content/23/1/202.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">transmission rate for breakthrough cases
caused by the vaccine is comparable to that for unvaccinated cases.</b> [<a href="http://cmr.asm.org/content/23/1/202.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">If you've had chickenpox
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">or the varicella vaccine</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">you are at risk of shingles. </b>[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Shingles can lead to
its own complication — a condition in which the pain of shingles persists long
after the blisters disappear. This complication, called postherpetic neuralgia,
can be severe. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The virus is thought
to be more common in older adults and people with weakened immune systems. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Two
studies utilizing mathematical models predicted that if <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">exposure to wild-type varicella is important in maintaining immunity</b>
to varicella and shingles, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">shingles
incidence will increase</b> in the short to medium term (over 10 to 40 years
and up to 70 years) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>as a result of
the implementation of a varicella vaccination program</u></b>. [<a href="http://cmr.asm.org/content/23/1/202.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">One
study estimated that boosting due to exposure to wild-type varicella (which is
lost once the vaccination program started) could last up to an average of 20
years. [<a href="http://cmr.asm.org/content/23/1/202.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Studies
have demonstrated that the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">vaccine virus
can become latent and later <u>reactivate</u></b> to cause herpes zoster in
both healthy and immunocompromised persons.[<a href="http://cmr.asm.org/content/23/1/202.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext;">Treatment:</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">In otherwise healthy
children, chickenpox <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">typically requires
no medical treatment</b>. Your doctor may prescribe an antihistamine to relieve
itching. But for the most part, the disease is allowed to run its course. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Don't give anyone
with chickenpox — child or adult — any medicine containing aspirin because this
combination has been associated with a condition called Reye's syndrome.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chickenpox/DS00053/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><u>Hepatitis A <o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p>Hep A</o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">My daughters do not possess
an increased risk of hepatitis A (such as a man who has sexual contact with
other men, are HIV positive, or use injected illicit drugs).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">If they did somehow
contract Hep A, the </span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">symptomatic
illness is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">directly related to age</b>.
In children younger than 6 years of age, the majority of infections are
asymptomatic.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">We
decline this vaccine mainly due of these two reasons.<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation:</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[<a href="http://www.vaccineinformation.org/infants-children/schedules.asp"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Routine
vaccination includes 2-dose Hep A vaccine series for children starting at age
12 months followed by a second dose 6-18 months later.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><u>The
Disease: <o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hepatitis A is a
highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. The
hepatitis A virus is one of several types of hepatitis viruses that cause
inflammation that affects your liver's ability to function. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-a/DS00397"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><u>Transmission:<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Humans
are the only natural reservoir of the virus. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">HAV
infection is acquired primarily by the fecal-oral route by either
person-to-person contact or ingestion of contaminated food or water. Because
the virus is present in blood during the illness prodrome, HAV has been
transmitted on rare occasions by transfusion. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
incubation period of hepatitis A is approximately 28 days (range 15–50 days).
The clinical course of acute hepatitis A is indistinguishable from that of
other types of acute viral hepatitis. The illness typically has an abrupt onset
of fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine and jaundice.
Clinical illness usually does not last longer than 2 months, [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Children generally have
asymptomatic or unrecognized illnesses</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">,
so they may serve as a source of infection[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Practicing good hygiene — including
washing your hands often — is one of the best ways to protect against hepatitis
A</span></b></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-a/DS00397"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span></span><br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><u>Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">prevaccine era, hepatitis A caused
about 100 deaths per year</b> in the United States. The case-fatality rate
among persons of all ages with reported cases was approximately 0.3%[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><br />
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">A person is at
increased risk of hepatitis A if they: [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-a/DS00397"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">-Travel or work in
regions with high rates of hepatitis A<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">-Are a man who has
sexual contact with other men (10% of cases)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">-Are HIV positive<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">-Use injected or
noninjected illicit drugs (</span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">6%
of cases) [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">-Live with another person
who has hepatitis A (14% of cases)</span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">
[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">-Receive
clotting-factor concentrates for hemophilia or another medical condition<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
likelihood of symptomatic illness from HAV infection is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">directly related to age</b>. In children younger than 6 years of age,
70% infections are asymptomatic. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
older children and adults, infection is usually symptomatic, with jaundice
occurring in more than 70% of patients. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">rare cases</b>, hepatitis A can cause acute
liver failure, which is a loss of liver function that occurs suddenly. People
with the highest risk of this complication include those with chronic liver
diseases and older adults. Acute liver failure requires hospitalization for
monitoring and treatment. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-a/DS00397"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><u>Protection
from the vaccine:<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Both
vaccines are highly immunogenic. More than 95% of adults will develop
protective antibody within 4 weeks of a single dose of either vaccine, and
nearly 100% will seroconvert after receiving two doses. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Data concerning the long-term
persistence of antibody and immune memory are limited</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> because the current vaccines
have been available only since 1995 and 1996. Estimates of antibody persistence
derived from kinetic models of antibody decline indicate that protective levels
of anti-HAV could be present for 20 years or longer. Other mechanisms (e.g.,
cellular) may contribute to long-term protection, but this is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unknown. </b>The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">need for booster doses will be determined by postmarketing surveillance
studies</b>. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">For
both vaccines, the most commonly reported adverse reaction following
vaccination is a local reaction at the site of injection. Injection site pain,
erythema, or swelling is reported by 20% to 50% of recipients. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><u>Treatment:<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span></div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Mild cases of
hepatitis A don't require treatment, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">most
people who are infected recover completely with no permanent liver damage.</b>
[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-a/DS00397"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">No specific treatment exists for
hepatitis A. Your body will clear the hepatitis A virus on its own</span></b></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">. In most cases of
hepatitis A, the liver heals completely in a month or two with no lasting damage.
[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-a/DS00397"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Immune
globulin (IG) is typically used for postexposure prophylaxis of hepatitis A in
susceptible persons.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/hepa.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Small studies of
milk thistle treatment for liver disease have shown mixed results. Many of the
studies have been poorly designed, making it difficult for researchers to draw
conclusions about the usefulness of milk thistle. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-a/DS00397"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span> </div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Bacterial
Meningitis</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">(Groups
A, C, Y and W-135)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">My
daughters are not yet old enough to be vaccinated for meningococcal. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">I
include the following information for those of you that do have children 11 yrs
or older. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Schedule/Recommendation</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">: </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-pocket-pr.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></u></div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Meningococcal
conjugate vaccine is recommended for infants and children with certain health
conditions, however the two-dose series starts for all healthy children at age
11 years with a second booster at age 16 years. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Adolescents aged 11
through 18 years with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection should
receive a 2-dose primary series of MCV4, with at least 8 weeks between doses. </span></span><br />
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Vaccines available:<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="https://www.novartisvaccinesdirect.com/PDF/Menveo_Full_Promotional_PI.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Menveo</span></a>
(Meningococcal polysaccharide groups A, C, Y, W135 and Diphtheria)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM131170.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Menactra</span></a>
(Meningococcal polysaccharide groups A, C, Y, W135 and Diphtheria)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="https://www.vaccineshoppe.com/image.cfm?doc_id=10447&image_type=product_pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Menomune</span></a>
(Meningococcal polysaccharide groups A, C, Y, W135)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM308577.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Menhibrix</span></a>
(Meningococcal groups C & Y, Haemophilus b , Tetanus)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></b></span><br />
<br />
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<u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
Disease</span></b></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">: <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></u></div>
<br />
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Meningococcal
disease is an acute, potentially severe illness caused by the bacterium
Neisseria meningitidis. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">N. meningitidis
strains are grouped on the basis of their capsular polysaccharides, 12
serogroups have been identified (A, B, C, H, I, K, L, X, Y, Z, 29E, and W135).
[<a href="http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/meningitis.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The prominent outer
membrane proteins of N. meningitidis have been designated class 1 through class
5. [<a href="http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/meningitis.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">A handful of
serotypes are associated with most cases of meningococcal disease, whereas
other serotypes within the same serogroup rarely cause disease.[<a href="http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/meningitis.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The disease
meningitis is caused by a number of different bacteria and viruses. Bacterial
causes include Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus
pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Neisseria
meningitidis. Although a variety of cocci cause meningitis, the term
meningococcus is reserved for the Gram-negative, bean-shaped diplococcus,
Neisseria meningitidis. [<a href="http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/meningitis.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The incubation
period of bacterial meningococcal disease is 3 to 4 days, with a range of 2 to
10 days. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Meningitis
is an inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and
spinal cord. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
swelling associated with meningitis often triggers the "hallmark"
signs and symptoms of this condition, including headache, fever and a stiff
neck. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Meningococcal sepsis
(bloodstream infection or meningococcemia) occurs without meningitis in 5% to
20% of invasive meningococcal infections. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><u>Transmission:<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Meningitis
typically results from contagious infections. Common bacteria or viruses that
can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing
eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette. You're also at increased risk if
you live or work with someone who has the disease. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Humans are the only
natural reservoir of meningococcus. As many as 10% of adolescents and adults
are asymptomatic transient carriers of N. meningitidis, most strains of which
are not pathogenic [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Primary mode is by
respiratory droplet spread or by direct contact. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<u>
</u><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Between 5 and 30% of
normal individuals are carriers at any given time, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">yet few develop meningococcal disease</b>. Carriage rates are highest
in older children and young adults. [<a href="http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/meningitis.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Meningococcal
meningitis occurs both sporadically (mainly groups B and C meningococci) and in
epidemics (mainly group A meningococci), with the highest incidence during late
winter and early spring. [<a href="http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/meningitis.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Meningococcal disease
occurs throughout the year, However, the incidence is highest in the late
winter and early spring. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The communicability
of N. meningitidis is generally limited. In studies of households in which a
case of meningococcal disease has occurred, only 3%–4% of households had
secondary cases. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<u>
</u><br />
<u>
</u><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><u>Risk/Prevalence:<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Prior to 2000, an
estimated 1,400 to 2,800 cases of meningococcal disease occurred each year in
the United States, a rate of 0.5 to 1.1 per 100,000 population. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Most
cases of meningitis in the U.S. are caused by a viral infection, but bacterial
infections also can lead to meningitis. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Bacterial
meningitis commonly affects people under 20, especially those living in
community settings. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u></u></span></o:p></span></span><br />
<u>
</u><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Infants with
meningococcal meningitis rarely display signs of meningeal irritation.
Irritability and refusal to take food are typical; vomiting occurs early in the
disease and may lead to dehydration. Fever is typically absent in children
younger than 2 months of age[<a href="http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/meningitis.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">In older children
and adults, specific symptoms and signs are usually present, with fever and
altered mental status the most consistent findings. [<a href="http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/meningitis.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Factors that may compromise
your immune system — including AIDS, alcoholism, diabetes and use of
immunosuppressant drugs — also make you more susceptible to meningitis.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> Removal of your spleen, an
important part of your immune system, also may increase your risk. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Large outbreaks of
serogroup A meningococcal disease occur in the African “meningitis belt,” an
area that extends from Ethiopia to Senegal. Rates of endemic meningococcal
disease in this area are several times higher than in industrialized countries.
In addition, outbreaks occur every 8–12 years with attack rates of 500–1000
cases per 100,000 population. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><u>Protection
from the vaccine</u>:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">A peak in disease
incidence among persons 18 to 21 years of age persists, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">even after routine vaccination of adolescents was recommended </b>in
2005. From 2000–2004 to 2005–2009, the estimated annual number of cases of
serogroups C and Y meningococcal disease decreased 74% among persons aged 11
through 14 years but only <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">27% among
persons aged 15 through 18 years. </b>[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Cases of
meningococcal disease caused by serogroups C and Y among persons who were
vaccinated with meningococcal conjugate vaccine have been reported. In 2010,
CDC received 12 reports of serogroup C or Y meningococcal disease among persons
who had received a meningococcal conjugate vaccine. The mean age of these
persons was 18.2 years (range: 16 through 22 years). The mean time since
vaccination was 3.25 years (range: 1.5–4.6 years). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Two meningococcal
conjugate vaccines are licensed in the United States. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Menactra (sanofi
pasteur) was licensed in 2005 (recommended for 9months - 55 years). [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Menveo (Novartis)
was licensed in the United States in 2010 (recommended for 2yrs - 55yrs) [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Neither contain a
preservative or an adjuvant. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">A protective level
of antibody is usually achieved within 7–10 days of vaccination. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Among infants and children younger than 5
years of age, the level of antibody against serogroup A and C polysaccharide
decreases substantially during the first 3 years following a single dose of
vaccine.</b> In healthy adults, antibody levels also decrease, but antibodies
are detectable as long as 10 years after vaccination. Although vaccine-induced
protection likely persists in school-aged children and adults for at least 3
years, the efficacy of the group A vaccine in children younger than 5 years of
age may decrease markedly within this period. In one study, efficacy declined
from more than 90% to less than 10% 3 years after vaccination among children
who were younger than 4 years of age when vaccinated. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Efficacy was 67% among children who were older than 4 years of age at
vaccination</b>.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p><u></u></o:p></span></b></span><br /></div>
<br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><u>Treatment:<o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
treatment depends on the type of meningitis you or your child has. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Acute
bacterial meningitis requires prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics
and, more recently, cortisone medications, to ensure recovery and reduce the
risk of complications, such as brain swelling and seizures. The antibiotic or
combination of antibiotics that your doctor may choose depends on the type of
bacteria causing the infection. Your doctor may recommend a broad-spectrum
antibiotic until he or she can determine the exact cause of the meningitis. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Penicillin is the
drug of choice to treat meningococcemia and meningococcal meningitis. Although
penicillin does not penetrate the normal blood-brain barrier, it readily
penetrates the blood-brain barrier when the meninges are acutely inflamed. [<a href="http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/meningitis.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Many antibiotics are
effective for N. meningitidis infection, including penicillin. Few
penicillin-resistant strains of meningococcus have been reported in the United
States. Once N. meningitidis infection has been confirmed, penicillin alone is
recommended. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Wash
your hands. Careful hand-washing is important to avoiding exposure to
infectious agents. Teach your children to wash their hands often, especially
before they eat and after using the toilet, spending time in a crowded public
place or petting animals. Show them how to wash their hands vigorously,
covering both the front and back of each hand with soap and rinsing thoroughly
under running water. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Practice
good hygiene. Don't share drinks, foods, straws, eating utensils, lip balms or
toothbrushes with anyone else. Teach children and teens to avoid sharing these
items too. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Stay
healthy. Maintain your immune system by getting enough rest, exercising
regularly, and eating a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables
and whole grains. [<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Cover
your mouth. When you need to cough or sneeze, be sure to cover your mouth and
nose.[<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meningitis/DS00118/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><strong><u>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></u></strong></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">I
have presented a brief list which was specific in referencing why we currently
decline the vaccines that are recommended by the ACIP for my daughters.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
lists omits several other reasons which also provides confirmation to our
choice, I do this purposefully because these reasons only give support to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">foundation</b> understanding the disease (prevalence,
risk, transmission, treatment). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">If
you are curious about vaccines, (from my own experience) I recommend learning
about the which diseases are recommended for your child by referencing the vaccine
schedule and then becoming educated about that disease. Once you have
accomplished this, you are more competent in weighing the choice of using a
vaccine in prevention. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Although this
list provides references throughout (from the CDC, WHO, MayoClinic and others),
please do not use this as medical advice. I continue to reexamine my vaccine choices.
I encourage you to continue your research as well<o:p></o:p></span></i>AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-81977434233285062442013-11-11T10:43:00.000-05:002013-11-11T10:43:18.996-05:00Neglected Research and the Administration of Tdap During Pregnancy
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbushPPrztizTUCDu4gCgvM3RPojAtXZpPWo1cW9wDcTYd8rL44QJ68wwFKeYwmE2aL8ZVjnA2Nz4-3uWgAwnfS_Epyqyv9vXQKrYcXQvXmhriEyQL3bp6OqGhyphenhyphena1wLnHl7NQQcW6bcKy0/s1600/pregnancy+tdap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbushPPrztizTUCDu4gCgvM3RPojAtXZpPWo1cW9wDcTYd8rL44QJ68wwFKeYwmE2aL8ZVjnA2Nz4-3uWgAwnfS_Epyqyv9vXQKrYcXQvXmhriEyQL3bp6OqGhyphenhyphena1wLnHl7NQQcW6bcKy0/s320/pregnancy+tdap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">On
October 24 of last year (2012), the ACIP voted 14 to 1 in the recommendation of
administering a pertussis booster (Adacel or Boostrix) during every pregnancy
regardless of vaccination history, preferably after 20 weeks gestation.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="https://www.vaccineshoppe.com/image.cfm?doc_id=10437&image_type=product_pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/UCM152842.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
over ruled the earlier suggestion of the administration of just one booster
during the first pregnancy because antibody levels were found to wane
substantially during the first year after vaccination. Hence, leading the ACIP
to conclude a single dose of Tdap at one pregnancy would be insufficient to
provide protection for subsequent pregnancies.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
the post below, I will provide published literature as to why this particular
approach is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not well-founded on actual
science or research</b>. I will also provide some information on the relevant <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">risks of pertussis during infancy</b>, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">safety concerns of administering Tdap
during pregnancy</b> and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">modification
of pertussis epidemiology due to the current vaccination program</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Problematic
Ambitions in Administering Tdap During Pregnancy<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
underlining goal in this particular vaccination strategy (according to the CDC)
is twofold:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Mainly
(1) “reduce the burden of pertussis in infants by providing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">some</b> protection until they are old
enough to be vaccinated themselves” [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Secondly
(2) “protect the mother from pertussis around the time of delivery, making her
less likely to become infected and transmit pertussis to her infant.” [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Let
us address these individually with published data…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Reducing the burden of
pertussis in infants<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
goal of reducing pertussis infection within the infant population via
vaccination is ambitious and nothing new (Clinical Infectious Diseases 1990).[<a href="http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/161/3/487.short"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://facweb.northseattle.edu/csheridan/Bio100Win13/Tdap%20in%20risk%20groups%202012.pdfhttp:/facweb.northseattle.edu/csheridan/Bio100Win13/Tdap%20in%20risk%20groups%202012.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X13005641"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Decades
of research examining newborn vaccination against pertussis has been amassed;
none of which has been enough to implement a national recommendation from the
ACIP…until now, with a twist. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
CDC now feels strongly that this particular new approach, vaccinating women
late term during pregnancy, will provide the protection they are hoping for. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">Unfortunately, relying on transplacental
antibodies to provide protection against pertussis in infants is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>not based on published evidence</u></b>.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">In fact, the very board that recommended
Tdap during pregnancy (ACIP) states the effectiveness of </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">maternal anti-pertussis
antibodies in preventing infant pertussis is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not yet known</b> (ACIP 2011, CDC 2011).[<a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/752408_3"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
is one of two major concerns the ACIP voiced, acknowledging the complete <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“lack of evidence evaluating that
transplacental maternal antibodies induced by Tdap in the protection of infants
against pertussis”</b> (Journal of Perinatology 2010).[<a href="http://hospitals.unm.edu/mds/unmch/research/documents/pertussis.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">Even if data reflects an increase in infant
antibodies to pertussis via maternal vaccination, because there is currently no
correlate of protection in pertussis infection, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it is uncertain whether this increase could be considered clinically
protective</b> (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2011).[<a href="http://phrc.tbzmed.ac.ir/uploads/124/CMS/user/file/805/Dr.Behbahani.Rotavirus.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">This is significant since the</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"> transfer of antibodies
against pertussis to the offspring is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">influenced
by various factors</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">
and determining a benchmark for correlation would aid in establishing if <u>any</u>
protection is conferred.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"> (Current known factors that influence
transplacental antibodies: </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">the
age of women at delivery, mothers’ vaccination history, mothers’ immune response
and ability to generate IgG immunoglobulins).[<a href="http://facweb.northseattle.edu/csheridan/Bio100Win13/Tdap%20in%20risk%20groups%202012.pdfhttp:/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>-</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Tdap in risk groups
2012] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
fact, it is becoming more evident that the (aP) pertussis vaccines <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">do not yield any correlation between
antibody levels and protection against pertussis.</b>[<a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-perfect-storm-how-increase-in.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>
source 17]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Currently,
I am aware of two completed published studies (as mentioned by the CDC in 2011)
providing data that evaluates antibody levels in newborns whose mothers
received tdap during pregnancy, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>neither
produce confirmation of protection against infection</u></b>.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937810022866"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://phrc.tbzmed.ac.ir/uploads/124/CMS/user/file/805/Dr.Behbahani.Rotavirus.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">What is certain is the evident “</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">need for larger studies with
longer follow-up to help understand the immunologic responses in pregnant women
and the consequences on neonatal immunity” (Clinical Infectious Diseases
2013).[<a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/05/08/cid.cit217.short"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Interference with Infant
Immune Response to Primary DTaP Vaccination<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">(also known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blunting</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Data
to consider, several studies have suggested that maternal pertussis antibodies
can<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> inhibit</b> active
pertussis-specific antibody production after administration of DTaP vaccine to
infants of mothers vaccinated with Tdap during pregnancy, referred to as
blunting (CDC 2011).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
fact, the ACIP states that this phenomenon known as blunting </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">could
result in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">an <u>increase</u> in
pertussis susceptibility to children under 12 months</b> (Journal of
Perinatology 2010).[<a href="http://hospitals.unm.edu/mds/unmch/research/documents/pertussis.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
ACIP <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">assumes </b>that maternal pertussis
antibodies <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">might </b>reduce an infant's
risk for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>infection in the first few
months of life, but neglects to apply <u>actual data</u> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">illustrating an increase in risk for disease after receipt of primary
DTaP doses</b> (CDC 2011).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Instead,
the ACIP applies data used in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>naturally
acquired</u></b> maternal pertussis-specific antibodies, stating that one study
completed shows little or no interference between <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>naturally acquired</u></b> </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">transplacental antibodies and the DTaP
series (</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Clinical
Infectious Diseases 2012)</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">.[<a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/54/1/78.long"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">No
published literature is available yet for review examining vaccine-induced
transplacental antibodies. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Based
on data that has been completed, blunting does occur, we just don’t know to
what degree and what the effects may be. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The theorized
benefit of vaccinating pregnant mothers is a decline in risk for disease and
death in infants aged <3 months, but the trade-off is a potential <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">increase in the occurrence of pertussis in
older infants</b> (CDC 2011).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">According
to the ACIP, the potential benefit of protection from maternal antibodies in
newborns outweigh the potential risk for shifting disease burden to later in
infancy (CDC 2011, The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2011).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://phrc.tbzmed.ac.ir/uploads/124/CMS/user/file/805/Dr.Behbahani.Rotavirus.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Worth
noting, two clinical trials are currently underway (one in Canada, the other in
the USA) to evaluate the assess the immune response of infants receiving DTaP immunization
at ages 2, 4, and 6 months whose mothers received Tdap during the third
trimester of pregnancy (Vaccine 2012).[<a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/nct00553228"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://facweb.northseattle.edu/csheridan/Bio100Win13/Tdap%20in%20risk%20groups%202012.pdfhttp:/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>-</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Tdap in risk groups
2012]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">It
is unfortunate (and, in my opinion, inappropriate) that this data was not
completed prior to recommendation . <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Evidence for
Safety <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Although
in prelicensure evaluations, the safety of administering a booster dose of Tdap
to pregnant women <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">was not studied</b>.
The ACIP Pertussis Vaccines Work Group declares safety and expresses it as well
established (CDC 2011).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">What
does ‘well established’ mean exactly….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
data that is used to established safety which resulted in the ACIP’s
recommendation was collected from:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Sanofi
Pasteur pregnancy registry <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">GlaxoSmithKline
pregnancy registry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
ACIP asserts that no data collected suggests any elevated frequency or unusual
patterns of adverse events in pregnant women who received Tdap (CDC 2011, Can
Fam Physician. 2013).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3653651/#b4-0590497"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">It
is worth noting, all three are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>passive</u>
surveillance programs</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">which have
several limitations</b> which include: unverified reports, underreporting,
inconsistent data quality and absence of an unvaccinated control group (Drug
Safety 2008).[<a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.2165%2F00002018-200831080-00003"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Data
Evaluated From VAERS:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-Only <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">130 reports</b> met safety research criteria (AJOG 2012). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[<a href="http://www.musaeduca.cl/site/lib/revistas/Julio%202012/adverseeventreportsaftertetanustoxoid,reduceddiphtheria.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-The data was collected <u>before</u>
Tdap was routinely recommended in pregnancy (AJOG 2012). [<a href="http://www.musaeduca.cl/site/lib/revistas/Julio%202012/adverseeventreportsaftertetanustoxoid,reduceddiphtheria.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-Only <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3%</b> of women were administered the vaccine in the recommended third
trimester (77% in the first trimester, 19% second trimester, 3% third trimester) (AJOG 2012). [<a href="http://www.musaeduca.cl/site/lib/revistas/Julio%202012/adverseeventreportsaftertetanustoxoid,reduceddiphtheria.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The most frequent
pregnancy-specific adverse event was spontaneous abortion occurring in 16% of
reports (AJOG 2012). [<a href="http://www.musaeduca.cl/site/lib/revistas/Julio%202012/adverseeventreportsaftertetanustoxoid,reduceddiphtheria.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">GlaxoSmithKline
Registry: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">From GSK pregnancy registry:
“The safety of Boostrix (tdap) during pregnancy <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">has not been established</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no
adequate human studies have been performed.</b> [<a href="http://pregnancyregistry.gsk.com/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“<u>None</u>
of these products, except RETROVIR® (zidovudine, AZT) after the first
trimester, is approved for use during pregnancy.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">”[<a href="http://pregnancyregistry.gsk.com/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Sanofi
Pasteur Registry:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">From the Sanofi Pasteur
pregnancy registry: “This is a company-run, passive, pregnancy surveillance
system designed to collect and analyze the outcome of vaccination.” [<a href="http://www.sanofipasteurpregnancyregistry.com/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“There <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">are no adequate and well-controlled studies of Adacel in pregnant women</b>
and data are limited. Sanofi Pasteur does not recommend the use of Adacel
vaccine in any manner other than that described in the package insert.”[<a href="http://www.sanofipasteurpregnancyregistry.com/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.sanofipasteurpregnancyregistry.com/?fa=adacel"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="https://www.vaccineshoppe.com/image.cfm?image_type=product_pdf&pi=400-10"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">From
a safety perspective, ACIP adds that administration of Tdap after 20 weeks'
gestation is preferred in the hope to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">minimize
the risk</b> for any low-frequency adverse event and the possibility that any
spurious association might appear causative.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Risk of
pertussis infection <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></o:p></span></u></b><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
all honesty, when it comes down to it – expecting mothers are going to make the
decision to get the Tdap booster if the perceived benefits outweigh any risk. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">One
could read 30 peer reviewed publication arguing for (and against) Tdap during
pregnancy, but it always comes down to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">perceived
risk</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">To
estimate risk and the potential impact of Tdap administered during pregnancy,
let us evaluate the data and statistics from 2010-2011.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Using
the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System during 2000–2011, the
annual mean of pertussis cases in infants aged <12 months was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2,746 cases</b> - with deaths equaling to
18.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Using
the 2010 birth rate (4,007,000 live births) and this data, we can determine the following risk assessment for 2010:[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/births_fertility_2010/births_fertility_2010.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Without
Vaccination:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Risk
pertussis infection under 12 months = 0.007% <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Risk
of death = 0.000004%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">With
Vaccination: <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Risk
of pertussis infection under 12 months = 0.005% <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Risk
of death = 0.000002%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Not
to make light of pertussis infection, but more people died of being struck by
lightning (count = 29)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>then babies dying
of pertussis infection in 2010.[<a href="http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/fatalities/fatalities10.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Yet,
I’m pretty sure mothers perceive the risk of pertussis as more glaring then
being struck by lightning. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></o:p></span></u></b><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></o:p></span></u></b><br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Changing
epidemiology due to vaccination and the increased risk to infants <o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Everyone
is quick to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>proclaim the benefits of
herd immunity when vaccinating, yet not so many are so swift as to declare its
faults (such as protecting some while placing others at greater risk). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
implementation of a vaccine against pertussis infection, with decreasing
natural boosting,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has changed the
epidemiology of infection to the disease.[<a href="http://phrc.tbzmed.ac.ir/uploads/124/CMS/user/file/805/Dr.Behbahani.Rotavirus.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">The
resurgence of pertussis in the post-vaccination era has been widely documented.
In fact, it is the chief reason for the ACIP recommendation in vaccinating
pregnant mothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBBlxYNEE_NfcJ-OTTFqnV7VbPRSY-XB-J6nwEAuHM8t9-74LLt_Ne85KIro8EISGf7dDqAK9tP_5c6LCd-BE5y3BAwn9hfMWl6TF0PF1Bwj9ZIho2wSW4g2NMdFmxaikC2Q4yObTywnm/s1600/graph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBBlxYNEE_NfcJ-OTTFqnV7VbPRSY-XB-J6nwEAuHM8t9-74LLt_Ne85KIro8EISGf7dDqAK9tP_5c6LCd-BE5y3BAwn9hfMWl6TF0PF1Bwj9ZIho2wSW4g2NMdFmxaikC2Q4yObTywnm/s320/graph.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
The overall incidence of pertussis has been increasing steadily<br />
since 2007 and has now surpassed peak rates observed<br />
during 2004-2005. <a href="http://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2012/03/09/alamance-county-responds-to-whooping-cough-outbreak" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">Yet,
a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">shift of cases</b> from school-age
children to adolescents, adults and children under 1 year of age has been
described in the last decade. </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">As
a consequence, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pertussis circulating in
these new populations is considered<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>being
<u>the source</u> of infection for infants and newborns </b>(The Pediatric
Infectious Disease Journal 2011, BMC Infectious Diseases 2013). [<a href="http://phrc.tbzmed.ac.ir/uploads/124/CMS/user/file/805/Dr.Behbahani.Rotavirus.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2334-13-151.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">One study that examined the increase of
pertussis in California between 2006 and 2011, demonstrated decaying protection
against pertussis during 5 years after a child’s fifth dose of the Tdap
booster. The authors state this waning might be one of the causes of reported
increased infection in adolescents <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">which
increases the risk of transmission to infants </b>(Can Fam Physician 2013).[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3653651/#b4-0590497"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUmFbs8MBGo4YTyvJ9MRHNvcw24TD34kkUZZoyEPk8gWacgQaHRrsseptmBS4vX3WLyE6TCV7-jRjHBnHIPSGP_t9KbHIWTuyxXXTQZw-qF8khRgeLHaj3JmKfvQw5guCdtL_GjKLw6aG/s1600/age+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUmFbs8MBGo4YTyvJ9MRHNvcw24TD34kkUZZoyEPk8gWacgQaHRrsseptmBS4vX3WLyE6TCV7-jRjHBnHIPSGP_t9KbHIWTuyxXXTQZw-qF8khRgeLHaj3JmKfvQw5guCdtL_GjKLw6aG/s320/age+group.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/surv-reporting.html" target="_blank">here</a> - CDC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
solution for a severely limited booster vaccine? Cocooning.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Unfortunately,
this strategy of cocooning (vaccinating pregnant women immediately postpartum
and all other close contacts of infants with Tdap) to reduce the risk for
transmission of pertussis to infants is an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">insufficient
strategy </b>(CDC 2011).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
ACIP recognizes this as well as the CDC(CDC 2011).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6041a4.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
solution for this latest failing strategy and inadequate vaccine? Simply,
vaccinate during pregnancy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 56.25pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></o:p></span></u></b><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Which to choose <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">If you still regard the risk of pertussis
infection to outweigh any known and unknown risks of vaccinating during
pregnancy, then consider this: Please request the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adacel</b> vaccine. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">The Adacel vaccine contains antigens that
intend to elicit antibodies against <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fimbriae</b>
(types 2 and 3) which play a<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> critical
role in the <u>attachment</u> of the bacteria to the respiratory cells</b>
(which would, in theory, make a mother less likely to transmit the disease to
her child).[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1082800/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1082800/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1574-695X.2005.00001.x/full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">Boostrix contains mainly antigens that
intend to modify and lessen symptoms of disease, which would make a mother more
likely to become an asymptomatic carrier of the disease, which places her child
more at risk.[<a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-perfect-storm-how-increase-in.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>
sources 3-8]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">Information on Tdap boosters:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">Boostrix contains</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">: pertussis antigens (inactivated pertussis
toxin [PT] 361 and formaldehyde-treated filamentous hemagglutinin [FHA] and
pertactin). also<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- contains aluminum
hydroxide as adjuvant (not more than 0.39 mg aluminum by assay), 4.5 mg of
sodium chloride, ≤100 mcg of residual formaldehyde, and 387 ≤100 mcg of
polysorbate 80 (Tween 80).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">Adacel contains</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;">: 2.5 mcg detoxified pertussis toxin (PT),
5 mcg filamentous hemagglutinin<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(FHA), 3
mcg pertactin (PRN), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5 mcg fimbriae
types 2 and 3 </b>(FIM). Also dose includes 1.5 mg aluminum phosphate (0.33 mg
aluminum) as the adjuvant, ≤5 mcg residual formaldehyde.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: AdvTTb5929f4c;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">I
would also encourage you to read more about pertussis infection here: <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/pert.html"><span style="color: blue;">CDC Pinkbook
Pertussis.</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Similar
posts:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-perfect-storm-how-increase-in.html"><span style="color: blue;">The
Perfect Storm - How the increase in pertussis vaccine usage is causing an
'epidemic'</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-81927938206853827452013-10-25T13:50:00.001-04:002013-10-28T07:55:18.517-04:00A House of Cards: Vaccine-Induced Herd Immunity<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">House of Cards:</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"> a structure, situation, or institution that is
insubstantial, shaky, or in constant danger of collapse</span></i><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">
[<a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/house%20of%20cards"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzMqFrNRTeT-vDKTbg0DvZh9LMwxl4jSrJkb-db6A8zfl8qMFG6EK57NGeDMg9kOh8swvNWSzJKgIuELMCxYy1bomSe2_YDYHyzW-URReZdCs5rT6jlhhPe4t4B4-PDr5DQwVNUm1TcUM/s1600/house-of-cards-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzMqFrNRTeT-vDKTbg0DvZh9LMwxl4jSrJkb-db6A8zfl8qMFG6EK57NGeDMg9kOh8swvNWSzJKgIuELMCxYy1bomSe2_YDYHyzW-URReZdCs5rT6jlhhPe4t4B4-PDr5DQwVNUm1TcUM/s320/house-of-cards-21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">In the 17<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> century,
John Milton, a poet and writer, was the first to use this idiomatic expression
and it has changed little in meaning over the centuries. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">If you’ve ever attempted to build
a house out of cards you know that it has the outward appearance of strength and
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stability – all the while, the house is
threatened by imminent collapse by a simple puff of air or a slight tilt of the
foundation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">This <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">House of Cards</b> analogy is ideal for understanding what herd
immunity refers to when encompassing an introduction and reliance on a vaccine
(and boosters) for protection throughout life. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #953735; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #953735; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">*Incorporating a
vaccination schedule (whether select, delay or on schedule) into your
healthcare practice is your decision and, in my humble opinion, should be made
on the grounds of examining data that both supports its use and challenges it. Vaccine
induced immunity must be explored in further detail to ensure we are making the
most sound choice for our children. <o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">The Manipulation<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pre-existing</b> Herd Immunity <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Fundamentally,
herd immunity exists/existed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">prior</b>
to vaccination. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">With
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">each</b> national vaccine campaign,
epidemiology (and herd immunity) is modified, benefiting some while actually<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> placing another group at higher risk </b>than
before.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/09/01/12896.aspx"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://jcm.asm.org/content/42/12/5604.short"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.news-medical.net/news/2005/09/01/12896.aspx"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>]</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">While it is
perceived beneficial that some vaccinated diseases have diminished over time
(such as measles, chicken pox), it is very likely that these infections <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">existed in a precise biological niche that
was <u>very much intentional</u> </b>– benefits in which our current understanding
cannot yet comprehend.[<a href="http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2249331/pdf/epidinfect00010-0010.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>] </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">
massive disruption of previously acquired immunity <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">results in a destabilization of epidemiologic patterns for many years</b>.[<a href="http://op12no2.me/stuff/herdhis.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>
p297]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">It also results in a precarious <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">House of Cards </b>- a reliance on vaccine-induced
herd immunity.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Acquired</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">
immunity:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>occurs as a result of exposure to an
infectious agent or its antigens or of passive transfer of maternal antibody or
immune lymphoid cells, renewed throughout life from continual cyclical
re-exposure to the disease.[<a href="http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/natural+immunity"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Artificial</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">
immunity:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>acquired immunity produced by deliberate
exposure to an antigen.[<a href="http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/natural+immunity"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Infectious systems are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">highly complex biological structures.</b> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">In reference to herd immunity, a
system may contain <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">hundreds of
demographic and epidemiological variables</b> (which can be seen as the puff of
air or tilt of the foundation in the House of Cards)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– all of which influence a population’s
immunity to a virus/bacteria.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
science and intuition built on decades of practical epidemiological experience
still often <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fail to predict
outcomes/implications of vaccination programs</b>. Below, is a brief list of
some factors that may be considered threats to the house of vaccine-induced
immunity.[<a href="http://compepi.cs.uiowa.edu/uploads/Readings/Anderson85/anderson85.pdf"><span style="color: windowtext;">*</span></a>] </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Dependence
on Boosters Throughout Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Currently,
US vaccine recommendations target 17 “vaccine-preventable” diseases <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">across a</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">lifespan</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Healthy People 2020</i> (which provides a 10-year national objectives
for improving the health of all Americans) state that: <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“As
the demographics of the population <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">continue
to shift</b>, public health and health care systems will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">need to expand</b> their capacity to protect the growing needs of a
diverse and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">aging population</b>.”[<a href="http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicId=23"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
means the House of Cards (vaccine-induced immunity) depends on you, me and
grandma to get our booster vaccinations throughout life to maintain this newly
invoked herd immunity. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Currently,
we have boosters for young children, for preteens, for teens, for adults, for
pregnant women, for college kids, for healthcare workers, for seniors – oh, and
don’t forget your annual flu shot.[<a href="http://www.vaccines.com/vaccines-immunizations-information.cfm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
list is growing, not diminishing – this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">should</i></b> raise concerns. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">When
vaccination initially began, the administration of a vaccine and the immunity
to follow was thought to be similar to the naturally acquired immunity.
However, we now know vaccines offer <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">waning
and incomplete protection which may <u>lead to resurgence and epidemic
outbreaks</u></b><u>.</u>[<a href="http://izt.ciens.ucv.ve/ecologia/Archivos/ECO_POB_2006/ECOPO6_2006/Alexander%20y%20col%202006.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Booster
dose vaccination is not a pinch-hitter, rather boosters throughout life is just<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> one of many fundamental keys to maintain
vaccine-induced herd immunity within a population.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">A
Traveling Population<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
2012, over 30 million Americans traveled internationally, at the same time
welcoming 67 million international visitors.[<a href="http://perceptivetravel.com/blog/2010/12/21/american-tourist-statistics/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ustravel.org/sites/default/files/page/2010/12/Public_Forecast_Summary.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">International
travel (business/leisure) and migration represent a risk to herd immunity,
particularly vaccine-induced herd immunity.[<a href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Why-Immunize-Your-Child.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">According
to the CDC, exposure to diseases brought into the US by American who travel
abroad or from incoming visitors may overcome vaccine protection.[<a href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Why-Immunize-Your-Child.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/05/extra-mmr-vaccine-helped-prevent-mumps-in-outbreak/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Unfortunately,
the manipulation of existing epidemiology does not change globally when a
national vaccine program is implemented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unless we restrict international travel and migration, this pillar in
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">House of Cards</b> will always be at
risk of crumbling. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Example: 2010
Mumps outbreak in New Jersey and lower New York<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Source
of infection: 11-year-old boy at the camp. He had recently returned from the
United Kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccine
Protection: 88% had received at least 1 dose of mumps-containing vaccine, and
75% had received 2 doses[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5905a1.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/08/mumps.outbreak.northeast/index.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.nysacho.org/files/2013%20Statewide%20Imm%20Meeting/NYS%20%20Trends%20in%20Vaccine%20Preventable%20Disease%20Control%20final.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The response
to an outbreak such as the one in 2010: administer another booster.[<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/05/extra-mmr-vaccine-helped-prevent-mumps-in-outbreak/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">A
Mother’s Protection (or Lack Thereof)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">There’s
nothing quite like a mother’s love and protection, particularly in the case of
humoral and passive immunity.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Prior
to vaccination, it was a newborn’s birthright to receive his/her mother’s
antibodies to disease (intended to last long enough to prevent infection until
immune function is mature enough). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Prior
to the vaccination campaigns we see today, a newborn received antibodies
against infectious diseases from their mother, who themselves had been infected
as children (and re-exposed to the diseases later in life). Today, babies born
to mothers who were vaccinated and never exposed to these diseases <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">lack this protection.</b> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">(2013)
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Babies born to unvaccinated mothers
maintain their antibody protection about 61% longer than vaccinated mothers.</b>
That’s significant, a clear indication <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">that
vaccinations reduce newborn babies’ immunity</b> to measles, and very likely to
other infectious diseases for which vaccinations are given.[<a href="http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/04/29/infdis.jit143.full"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">(2001,
1994) Maternal antibodies erode faster than previously estimated, especially in
infants who were born to mother’s that have been vaccinated.[<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X00004552"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0025556494900248"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
protection this newborn population had prior to vaccination is being <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">eroded with each national vaccine campaign</b>.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">One answer
to alleviate this threat: targeting new vaccines for pregnant mothers.[<a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081026101713.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The
Catch 22 of Disease Elimination and Wild-type boosters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">An
infectious disease has the ability to offer lasting protection. Even with natural
immunity waning over time, subsequent enhancement (boost) is provided by asymptomatic
encounters with the infection. [<a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/276/1664/2071.long"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">However,
when vaccination is introduced the prevalence of infection <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">declines, which in turn reduces the amount of boosting and hence the
level of immunity. </b>What is more surprising is that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the interaction between vaccination and waning immunity</b> can lead to
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pronounced epidemic cycles.</b>[<a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/276/1664/2071.long"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
data leads researchers to rest their hope of eliminating vaccinated diseases (‘vaccine-preventable
disease’) by relying on protection promoted by circulating wild-type viruses.[<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X00004552"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Nonsensically,
that means we hope to attain <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">elimination</b>
of disease while depending on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">continuation
of the wild-type disease.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">??<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">How
can you have elimination if the disease if it is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">still in circulation</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">boosting
vaccine-induced herd immunity</b>? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Evolution
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">From
the rise in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing deadly
skin infections to the bacterial colonies on your hands evolving to resist your
antibacterial soaps and hand gels, evolution is present in our daily lives.[<a href="http://www.livescience.com/16433-everyday-evolution-flu-shots.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The two
strongest examples of evolution in disease within our current vaccination
programs is influenza and pertussis. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Of the
former (influenza), everyone is well aware of – every year, starting in early September,
we are reminded that the old vaccine we administered last year is useless and
we need to get the updated vaccine to protect ourselves, our children and our
community.[<a href="http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/ScienceResearch/ucm290700.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
influenza virus experiences constant single-point mutations which renders the prior
vaccine unidentifiable, requiring a new one every year.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21640418"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57563507/cdc-flu-vaccine-62-effective-47-states-report-widespread-illness/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<strong><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">[<a href="http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/ScienceResearch/ucm290700.htm"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Unfortunately,
data continues to support that annual <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>influenza vaccination <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">inhibits our body to fight other strains of flu</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not included in the vaccine and other respiratory
virus infections.</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21640418"><strong><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[*]</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.sinobiological.com/Influenza-Hemagglutinin-Subtypes-and-Flu-Virus-Strains-a-144.html"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">*</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">]</span></a></span></strong><a href="http://www.influenzareport.com/ir/virol.htm"><strong><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">[*]</span></strong></a></span></b><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">[<a href="http://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/sophian/files/Cowling2012b.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]</span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">With
the less discussed pertussis vaccine (the ‘ap’ part of the <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_tdap.asp"><span style="color: blue;">Td<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ap</b></span></a> booster and the <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/pi_diphtheria.asp"><span style="color: blue;">DT<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">aP</b></span></a> vaccine), mutation is more
apparent than ever before but receives a lot less buzz.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">If I
had to render a guess as to why, it could be because of the key role the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">vaccine plays in the mutation of the
bacteria</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljS83nDFtPIYckbzxH_RGO3lkk1Acct47_m9SdYheMkPjCPus9Ry9czQgpwrL0yHgtGnd-iVJwAGwRNnDethzAIkkE7Kd_BD5Adsrv4pPzTy5d5h65SHPVcpWQrhwJgFL_Vu_uHTzjPJi/s1600/pertusis-cases-vs-year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljS83nDFtPIYckbzxH_RGO3lkk1Acct47_m9SdYheMkPjCPus9Ry9czQgpwrL0yHgtGnd-iVJwAGwRNnDethzAIkkE7Kd_BD5Adsrv4pPzTy5d5h65SHPVcpWQrhwJgFL_Vu_uHTzjPJi/s320/pertusis-cases-vs-year.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Pertussis
(aP) vaccination not only makes a person <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more
susceptible</b> to B. parapertussis infection but it also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">enhances</b> the performance of the pathogen. Research completed in
2010 illustrates a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">40-fold increase</b>
in B. parapertussis lung colony-forming units <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">after vaccination of aP injections</b>.[<a href="http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/277/1690/2017.long"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/parapertussis"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">(2012)
Study completed by Kaiser Permanente Medical Center concluded that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pertussis occurs more among vaccinated children</b>
than children not vaccinated for pertussis with the DtaP vaccine.[<a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/54/12/1730"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The answer
to alleviate this problem: earlier or more numerous booster doses of acellular
pertussis vaccine.[<a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243719.php"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">It
seems the continual response to any weakness or flaw in vaccine-induced herd
immunity is an increase in booster doses, occurring earlier and more often
throughout life. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">It
is clear that each </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">infectious system that has a
current national vaccination program hold their own <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">complex biological structure with numerous variables. <o:p></o:p></b></span>AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-76405065701448135222013-10-09T11:39:00.000-04:002013-10-09T11:39:05.707-04:00Involuntary Pediatric Chemotherapy
<em><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">"Current approaches to combat cancer rely primarily on the use of
chemicals and radiation, which are themselves <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">carcinogenic</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">may promote
recurrences and the development of metastatic disease</b>."</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></em><br />
[<em><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: US Patent
#5,605,930 Compositions and Methods for Treating & Preventing Pathologics
including Cancer filed 3/7/94 Approved 2/25/97 Dr. Divorit Samid; The USA Dept.
of HNS page 56]<o:p></o:p></span></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND5w7zQqkfdc414SE0QjiWoARkBrnbDG8yz4QkUstB_FRp3MgQpE2nqqvSMKYixAX3G5rEZxAa-a36dzDN31ta2fLok5Jy2vYDy7e2F1TAOkFDzXJ7wuHWD0nfInRjgirtumrXhTE8f-e/s1600/chemo_phixr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND5w7zQqkfdc414SE0QjiWoARkBrnbDG8yz4QkUstB_FRp3MgQpE2nqqvSMKYixAX3G5rEZxAa-a36dzDN31ta2fLok5Jy2vYDy7e2F1TAOkFDzXJ7wuHWD0nfInRjgirtumrXhTE8f-e/s320/chemo_phixr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Today, in a town only minutes away from the my home, a 10 year old girl is
being forced to undergo chemotherapy treatment against her will and the wishes
of her family. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Even after</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> the local County Probate Judge ruled *<b>TWICE</b>* in favor of the
girl's parents, the hospital (Akron Children’s Hospital) continued their relentless
attack against the family without any regard to what the girl and her family desired.[<a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/10/07/Ohio-appeals-court-favors-hospital-over-Amish-family-in-cancer-case/UPI-70441381167075/#ixzz2hE5wN5zl"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/08/amish-girl-chemotherapy-_n_4064385.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">After a third try,
with inexhaustible funds, the hospital eventually had the ruling overturned and
a hospital representative is the currently guardian of the young girl. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This story from my own hometown is alarming to say the very least. I
mean, I’ve been in that hospital when I was little. My daughter has been in
that hospital. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What may be more alarming is that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">this
is not the only story of its kind</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">2013
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Ladon
Riddle 3yrs <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><<a href="http://www.krdo.com/news/mom-who-chose-cannabis-over-chemo-forced-to-revisit-chemo-options/-/417220/22244740/-/st8a33z/-/index.html"><span style="color: blue;">Click
here to read the story</span></a>><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">2011<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Sarah
9 yrs<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Oncologist
turned mother into Child Protective Services and forced 13 months of
chemotherapy even though she was cancer free.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><<a href="http://realfoodforager.com/parents-rights-violated-forced-chemotherapy-on-9-year-old-already-cancer-free-from-alternative-therapies/"><span style="color: blue;">Click
here to read the story</span></a>><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">2009<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Daniel
Hauser 13yr <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">A
mother and her son fled after a court ruled for forced chemotherapy treatments.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
parents said they "believe that the injection of chemotherapy into Danny
Hauser amounts to an assault upon his body, and torture when it occurs over a
long period of time."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/19/minnesota.forced.chemo/index.html"><span style="color: blue;">Click
here to read the story</span></a>><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">2008<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">11
yr Ontario boy taken from parents <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><<a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/boy-forced-to-get-chemo-treatments-returned-to-parents-1.767956"><span style="color: blue;">Click
here to read the story</span></a>><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A more notable case spurned the emotional and compelling 2010 documentary
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://cutpoisonburn.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Cut,
Poison, Burn</span></a> </i>where a family was forced to administer chemotherapy to
their 4 yr old son, Thomas, after objecting to conventional treatment, </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">choosing
instead to seek out less invasive, less damaging, and less life threatening
approach.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%;">Their son was <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>cancer free</u> at the time of forced administration
of chemotherapy</b>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Thomas
Navarro died during the treatments. His death certificate states the cause of
death as: Respiratory failure due to chronic toxicity of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">chemotherapy</b>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Neglect
versus Informed Choice <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Most
people, myself included, have had first or second-hand experience with cancer. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Whether
you’ve watched a mother or friend struggle, or if you happen to be a survivor
yourself – then you understand how difficult the battle is. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
my experience, in cancer treatment (especially chemotherapy) a key element is
the patient having a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">positive outlook
and attitude</b> on the treatment received. Forcing a chil) against their will
to undergo horrendous treatment for several months is questionable and will no
doubt <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">impact any treatment’s influence</b>
over the disease. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Obviously,
there are cases in which parents act irrationally without data/counsel which
seriously neglects the health of a child – but these cases are not relevant to
that scenario. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Cancer,
not that long ago, was a rare disease and now it is a leading cause of death
among Americans.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Over
the century, we have dramatically altered the way we live and eat which is obviously
having a significant effect on our (and our children’s) health. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Today,
the majority of members in our society are freely selecting to adopt unhealthy
habits. In fact, we are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">encouraged</b>
to do so – each one of us encouraged to let our children learn and live a
lifestyle that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">promotes disease</b>, while
at the same time, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we are losing the
right to select which medical therapies to treat our children’s diseases with. <o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
majority of chemotherapy drugs used on children and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>not</u></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">approved by the FDA
for pediatric use</b> and are known to be carcinogenic (meaning it causes
cancer).[<a href="http://www.cancerlaw.net/chemo.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-165/pdfs/2004-165.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Alternative
Treatment <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">If
you have witnessed someone going through chemotherapy, you know it is not a
health-promoting treatment. Chemotherapy utilizes a mixture of toxins to
eliminate and kill cancer cells (which also does not discriminate against the
healthy cells in the body). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Getting
the correct diagnosis is critical and conventional medicine excels at this. Another
important factor in curing cancer is to know all your options for conventional and
alternative treatments. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Chemotherapy
is only one of several cancer treatments <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- If you are interested in alternative
treatments, start here:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.burzynskiclinic.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Burzynski Clinic</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><a href="http://gerson.org/gerpress/"><span style="color: blue;">Gerson Institute</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/index.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Dr.Gonsalez.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">It
can be said with most certainty that when someone donates their time or money
to a pink-ribbon walkathon or cancer charity, they believe that are doing a
good thing. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">They
believe they are funding cancer research that is vital to curing cancer.
However, the money donated to these <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">charities
perpetuates the status quo of cancer treatment </b>(namely toxic pharmaceuticals
and expensive machines). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">National
Cancer Institute's annual budget was $5.2 billion (2010). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Alternative treatments that are witnessing real
progress against cancer <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">do not receive
any money from the government or these charities</b>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The most promising cancer therapies to emerge in the past three decades
from the Burzynski Clinic is all self-funded.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="NormalWeb4" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="NormalWeb4" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Action<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you find what Akron Children’s Hospital is doing to be deplorable,
consider going to their facebook page and making a public statement. You find
you are not alone – adding your voice to many others who are speaking up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="NormalWeb4" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Facebook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/akronchildrens"><span style="color: blue;">Akron
Children’s Hospital</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="NormalWeb4" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you have not yet seen the documentary Cut, Poison, Burn – you can
purchase it<a href="http://cutpoisonburn.com/"><span style="color: blue;"> here</span></a> or view the official trailer:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/SCmr2OGmMDQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="NormalWeb4" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-63668252439835005242013-10-03T12:10:00.000-04:002013-10-09T12:42:40.003-04:00Your Rights (or Lack Thereof) Against Mandatory Vaccine Programs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1L8A308Xg0l4zu6A0kwEZ3WLxcin71UxIGC29RzRX75lzu8kTEDuZAPWGC8pY6tIise34hod3g3s9ZrBZTQm3V7AcS5GxCqQn8r8yS81eOnZw-5sKlszC-JonYlL1RMNpvEKKrowJM5ub/s1600/no+shot+no+job.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1L8A308Xg0l4zu6A0kwEZ3WLxcin71UxIGC29RzRX75lzu8kTEDuZAPWGC8pY6tIise34hod3g3s9ZrBZTQm3V7AcS5GxCqQn8r8yS81eOnZw-5sKlszC-JonYlL1RMNpvEKKrowJM5ub/s320/no+shot+no+job.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Mandatory
flu vaccine policies are touching more lives than ever right now, especially in
the healthcare field – here is why and who is speaking up against it (it might surprise
you).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">New
Hospital Policies <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">New
hospital policies on mandatory flu vaccines for its employees is an excellent
example of what rights and liberties we really have to say no. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">As
you may be aware of, the newly enacted Affordable Heathcare Act (aka Obamacare)
has been implemented. What you may not be aware of is that the Policy
establishes a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hospital Value-Based
Purchasing program</b>.[<a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-08-31/pdf/2012-19079.pdf#page=418"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">What
the heck does that have to do with flu vaccines and HCWs – well, under the Hospital
VBP Program, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">reduce payment amounts depending on if performance
standards</b> are reached within that hospital.[<a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-08-31/pdf/2012-19079.pdf#page=418"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title18/1886.htm"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://housedocs.house.gov/energycommerce/ppacacon.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">What
performance standards, exactly? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Beginning
JAN 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> (2013), hospitals will be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">required to submit summary data on influenza vaccination</b> of their
healthcare personnel (via the CDC and the National Healthcare Safety
Newtork-NHSN).[<a href="https://www.premierinc.com/quality-safety/tools-services/safety/safety-share/pss_NHSN_08302012.jsp"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
summary, hospitals will not get fully reimbursement through government funds <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unless they meet their performance standards
for influenza vaccination</b> set by the government. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">….ahhhhh,
now it makes sense why hospital’s ‘care’ so much about their patients being
protected from catching the flu from their personnel.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">No
Exemption For You <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">First
off, as you may be aware, there are State laws in place that provide exemptions
for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">some</b> populations. Such as:[<a href="http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/membersonly/128immunization.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-children
attending day-care centers<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-day-care
center employees<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-schoolchildren<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-college
students <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-hospital
patients<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">-residents
of long-term care facilities<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">However,
the laws protecting average adults such as myself (and you) are lacking.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/policies/downloads/vacc_mandates_chptr13.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">If
the administration at your job decided one day that mandatory vaccination was
in the best interest for their bottom line then (unless barring approved medical
exemption) you would be required to oblige or face <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">termination</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">There
is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no religious or philosophical
exemption option</b> for you – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">even if
you State allows these for populations that are listed above</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">You
read that right - <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no constitutional
right exists to either religious or philosophic exemptions for the average
person</b>. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
liberty secured by the Constitution of the United States to every person within
its jurisdiction <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">does <u>not</u> import
an absolute right for vaccine exemption</b>. This is considered for the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>common good and that an organized society
could not exist without “safety to its members”.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/policies/downloads/vacc_mandates_chptr13.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">But
what happens when Policy is carried out <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">without
scientific evidence supporting it</b>? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">People
start to speak up…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The
Push Back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">I get
it, the strategy for this recommendation is based on the argument (rather than
actual data) that because of their proximity to patients, HCW mandatory
vaccination protects themselves and their patients from influenza (and complications
from it). <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Unfortunately,
the evidence base supporting this mandatory policy is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unsound, prejudiced and not supported by existing literature</b>.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3502850/"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">There
are many policies that are carried out that lack evidence, but when real people
are losing everything they’ve worked for because of it then people start
getting noisy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">(And
if you have not been affected or know someone who has than it is only a matter
of time until you do).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Last
year in my state of Ohio, which has a mandate that hospital employees be
vaccinated, the healthcare company TriHealth <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">fired more than 150 workers for not complying with influenza vaccine
mandates.</b>[<a href="http://www.wlwt.com/news/local-news/cincinnati/TriHealth-fires-150-employees-for-not-getting-flu-shots/-/13549970/17523386/-/3khe3s/-/index.html#ixzz2DHnWOXem"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Such
massive terminations from hospitals do not go unnoticed, National Nurses Union
(the largest nurses union in the country) began to speak publicly on its
opposition to such mandatory policies required of healthcare workers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“RNs
care deeply about health policies regarding the transmission of the influenza
virus in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>health care settings, but
believe that comprehensive employer-sponsored voluntary vaccination programs
can be effective <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only if extensive
education is provided on the risks and benefits of vaccination</b>, the
vaccines are conveniently accessible to employees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Mandatory
flu vaccination programs <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">engender
distrust and resistance among employees</b>; offer a disincentive to providing
vaccination education to employees, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">raise
ethical and legal questions about the personal employment rights of employees.”</b>[<a href="http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/entry/largest-national-nurses-union-opposes-mandatory-flu-vaccination"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
National Nurses Union (NNU) joines the Occupational Safety and Health Agency, as
well as other major healthcare unions and organizations, who all say there is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">insufficient evidence for the federal
government to promote mandatory influenza vaccination programs that might
result in employment termination.</b>[<a href="http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol152010/No1Jan2010/Articles-Previous-Topic/Mandatory-Influenza-Vaccination-in-Healthcare-Workers.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">The
co-president for the NNU, Karen Higgins, goes on record to state: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">“It
is unfortunate that for-profit pharmaceutical companies were consulted in this
matter yet the voices of the nation’s direct-care hospital RNs have gone
unheard. Nurses are calling for an open process to explore <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the best way to protect patients and healthcare workers, not one that
is driven by corporate profits.”</b>[<a href="http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol152010/No1Jan2010/Articles-Previous-Topic/Mandatory-Influenza-Vaccination-in-Healthcare-Workers.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The
Data <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Data
published just last month (SEPT 2013) from the CDC, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">illustrates little evidence of protection for patients when a mandatory
flu vaccination programs for HCW’s is employed.</b>[<a href="http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2013/09/analysis-finds-limited-evidence-hcw-flu-vaccination"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">In
fact, The Cochrane Review analysis found no evidence to support compulsory
vaccination of HCW (finding “low or very low levels of evidence”).[<a href="http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2013/09/analysis-finds-limited-evidence-hcw-flu-vaccination"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Data
published in 2009 from a meta-analysis review presents NO evidence that the flu
vaccine decreases complications, such as pneumonia, or TRANSMISSION.[<a href="http://www.escriber.com/userfiles/ccoch/file/CD001269.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">This
is not only unsettling but outrageous considering hardworking people are losing
their jobs and their families are suffering because of this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Vaccination
of healthcare workers to protect vulnerable patients should be viewed as an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">evidence-based recommendation</b>. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Period.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Please
continue share the stories you come across where nurses or healthcare workers find
themselves having to choose between maintaining their financial security or
holding on to their personal beliefs and convictions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><strong>The
post is dedicated to my friend, who has requested to be anonymous because she fears that she will be terminated if this post is seen by her employer.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Below
is part of the document she recently received from her employer/hospital. She
is currently breastfeeding and has a choice to administered an influenza
vaccine or be terminated. Medical exemption does not qualify breastfeeding as a
contradiction. All medical exemption must be approved by a review process
established by hospital leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";">Your
voice is heard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH5AyY35S8i0T7YNHFKBZEuexcUxzBLE49LasgWQP7dBRcZVA3IMZL0ZDS-FA3qdH3C-4gnzrsEQRrKI5VtlXvPmZWBF2es0HLJ-niHZgq7TanRv31eU3Ug_HjfhocfsVhzE5Ncgr69tb/s1600/fluu_phixr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH5AyY35S8i0T7YNHFKBZEuexcUxzBLE49LasgWQP7dBRcZVA3IMZL0ZDS-FA3qdH3C-4gnzrsEQRrKI5VtlXvPmZWBF2es0HLJ-niHZgq7TanRv31eU3Ug_HjfhocfsVhzE5Ncgr69tb/s320/fluu_phixr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-56429602951947584552013-09-26T08:51:00.001-04:002013-09-26T08:51:31.133-04:00Common Questions on Vaccine Injury<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyKhBwasXlQ9Q4VtxUHPoLvSRhtit1hYsKf3E04SxGjOgMyiTCa-7jkvwN9tasDGWjvptCHl7Npybgp_6TgZiNQEl_3aipWalVI8aB5jMkfgWJEcgnZ54GVEkiN-x42zl9c7j6BIAN9fq/s1600/ribbons_phixr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyKhBwasXlQ9Q4VtxUHPoLvSRhtit1hYsKf3E04SxGjOgMyiTCa-7jkvwN9tasDGWjvptCHl7Npybgp_6TgZiNQEl_3aipWalVI8aB5jMkfgWJEcgnZ54GVEkiN-x42zl9c7j6BIAN9fq/s320/ribbons_phixr.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Despite precautions and testing, some children and adults
suffer lifelong medical problems, or have died, as a result of being
vaccinated. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In 1986, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
(VICP) was developed to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">safeguard
vaccine supply</b> (manufacturers) and to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">compensate</b>
those who have developed injuries from vaccination.[<a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/statisticsreports.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So far this year (2013), the amount paid out by the </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">is</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">224 million
dollars</b>.[<a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/statisticsreports.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Because
vaccine injuries, disabilities and deaths are<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> real</b>, it is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">critically
important</b> that you take the time needed to gather information and make a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">confident, educated decision</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Below
are some common questions regarding vaccine injury and compensation: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">What
type of injuries are compensated by the VICP?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">To
qualify for a claim, the injury must result in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">at least one out of the four</b> following damages:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">-Last for more than six months (post
vaccination) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">-Resulted in a hospital stay <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">-Resulted surgery <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">-Resulted in death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I
would suggest checking out this <a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/vaccineinjurytable.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">Vaccine
Injury Table</span></a> which lists conditions that are presumed to be caused by
vaccines. It also lists time cut-offs which will help determine if the injury
is causal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">These conditions are otherwise
known as ‘table injuries’ which are <b>known, compensated injuries</b> due to
adverse reactions from vaccination. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It is important to note that
compensation has been made for many vaccine-related injuries that are <b><u>not</u></b>
listed on the injury table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If your injury is not on the
Table or if it did not occur within the time period listed, then you are simply
required to prove that the vaccine caused the condition. Such proof is based on
medical records or opinion, which may include expert witness testimony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Who files the claim?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you believe you have a
claim, you should file a report (VAERS) and contact a lawyer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The National Vaccine Information Center
maintains a list of attorneys who deal specifically with VICP claims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find <u><a href="http://www.nvic.org/injury-compensation/hepatitisprogram/lawyers.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">their
list of attorneys here on the NVIC website.</span></a></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">You do not need to be a doctor
or a citizen of the US to file a claim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Are all vaccines covered by the
VICP?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Although most vaccines
recommended for children are covered, <b>not all are eligible for compensation</b>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Check out <u><a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/vaccinetable.html"><span style="color: blue;">this list of
the which vaccines are covered on the VICP website.</span></a><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span></o:p></span></u><br /></div>
<u><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></span></o:p></span></u><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">How long do I have to file a
claim? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Depending on the adverse event
that took place, the amount of time you have to file a claim changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">For example, if the vaccine
injury results in death – you have 2 years to file a claim. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If you (or your child) is
injured in any other way other than death, you have 3 years from the onset of
the first symptom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Click <a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/deadlines.html"><span style="color: blue;">here to read more
about the deadlines</span></a> regarding vaccine-injury claims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Is autism considered a
vaccine-related adverse event?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">No and yes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The official statement provided
by Health and Human Services asserts that: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“HHS has never concluded in any case that autism was
caused by vaccination”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">That’s all fine-and -dandy,
however, <b>numerous cases that have been rewarded on the ground of
vaccine-induced encephalopathy (brain disease) has associated autism spectrum
disorder. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Two compensated examples from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this year alone</i>: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">10 yr old Ryan Mojabi<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was awarded compensation from neuroimmunologically
mediated dysfunctions in the form of asthma and ASD[<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/post2468343_b_2468343.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">15 month old Emily Moller was awarded compensation
on the ground of her injury listed as “encephalopathy characterized by speech
delay and probable global developmental delay” (seizure disorder and PDD-NOS, a
form of ASD). [<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/post2468343_b_2468343.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">More damning to the case
against the HHS state is an <a href="http://www.national-toxic-encephalopathy-foundation.org/vaccomp.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">article
published in 2011 from the Pace Environment Law Review</span></a> (PELR), <b>where it
was found that at least <u>83 cases</u> of vaccine injuries compensated by the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) involve acknowledged brain damage</b>
<b>that included autism</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In 47% of the cases reviewed
(39 out of the 83), there is confirmation of autism or autism spectrum disorder
beyond parental report.[<a href="http://www.national-toxic-encephalopathy-foundation.org/vaccomp.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The published review
illustrates that the VICP has been compensating cases of <b>vaccine-induced
brain damage associated with autism</b> for more than twenty years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">How much is awarded and how
long will it take?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It takes on average <b>2-3
years</b> to work through the process.[<a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/statisticsreports.html"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There is no limitation on the
amount of an award in a vaccine-related injury; however, the law does contain
certain restrictions. For example, the compensation for vaccine-related death
is limited to $250,000.[<a href="http://www.state.in.us/isdh/files/VICP.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Awards range from $80,000 to
$5.9 million – with the <b>average amount awarded to individuals with an injury
at approximately $800,000.00</b>.[<a href="http://www.state.in.us/isdh/files/VICP.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Where does the money come from?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Since 1988, when the National Childhood Vaccine injury Act was enacted,
a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“no-fault” system</b> was created to
compensate the individuals that have been harmed by the administration of a
vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The
manufacturer does not at any time pay for any injuries caused by their vaccines</span></b><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> unless the
injured person rejects their awarded claim (money) by the court and decides to
sue a manufacturer (I am unaware of any documented case of this happening since
1988).[<a href="http://www.state.in.us/isdh/files/VICP.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
All money awarded is paid from the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Vaccine
Injury Compensation Trust Fund</b> which is funded from a tax of $0.75 on every
dose of vaccine that is purchased (via </span><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">your insurance premiums or direct
purchase of vaccines).[<a href="http://www.state.in.us/isdh/files/VICP.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">*</span></a>]
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The
Department of Treasury collects the taxes and manages the Fund’s
investments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below are some documents
you can review to learn more about how the money has been allocated and how
much has been spent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/tfmp/vaccomp/vaccomp.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Vaccine
Injury Compensation Trust Fund Monthly Reports</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation/statisticsreports.html"><span style="color: blue;">HRSA –
Statistic Reports</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Vaccines
carry with them risk of sickness, injury and death. To bring attention to that
fact and the growing crisis of the injured, October is designated <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Vaccine Injury Awareness Month.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">How
can we help those who have been injured? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">One
of the ways we can assist these families is by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">spreading the word that vaccine injuries are real and they are more
common than we are led to believe.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">If
you are on facebook or twitter, please use the image below as your profile
image for the month of October. Please spread the word amongst your own networks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Bring
the issue of vaccine injuries out into the public’s eye!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ2KT95ZQY9HnBJHSGNPHZUBVeGY6LyRf-iglePjO9EdY1ZLeSseObClF2Lq98GlgUagEyaD8uupUZJN6qsS_Q0BL-rgcrU06mJd5p_KvHF1YSdRZjWAGDgP_0AEOU4Q2-LGB5_e2qKpG/s1600/october1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ2KT95ZQY9HnBJHSGNPHZUBVeGY6LyRf-iglePjO9EdY1ZLeSseObClF2Lq98GlgUagEyaD8uupUZJN6qsS_Q0BL-rgcrU06mJd5p_KvHF1YSdRZjWAGDgP_0AEOU4Q2-LGB5_e2qKpG/s320/october1.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
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<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">More information can be found <a href="http://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation"><span style="color: blue;">at the VICP website</span></a> which is
maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Health
Resources and Services Administration.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-85721884846389149022013-09-20T10:33:00.001-04:002013-12-13T08:51:56.184-05:00A Moth to the Flame - Blinded by the Light <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf1mqymm8r7VB7euM_wRarVOgXA3K0nKcqQPqia8Oz0pTyjE_uxWHZ_LBUVWJyNTrVBzuq7MEDPpcKpySN6c_vRA-dEsYWunm8bEZSFGkSF9fWZ7LUH-ady7ewVhWobz-WJIoCHvp5Vnj/s1600/killer-moths_phixr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf1mqymm8r7VB7euM_wRarVOgXA3K0nKcqQPqia8Oz0pTyjE_uxWHZ_LBUVWJyNTrVBzuq7MEDPpcKpySN6c_vRA-dEsYWunm8bEZSFGkSF9fWZ7LUH-ady7ewVhWobz-WJIoCHvp5Vnj/s320/killer-moths_phixr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This space has been shaped and transformed by each reader that has
touched my life. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">In the last 6 years writing and researching, I have yet to clarify
the title, Blinded by the Light. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">So with that, here is a restricted piece of me, shared and exposed
to you. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Light<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><em>The parable of the Moth</em> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It is not yet fully understood why
moths are attracted to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">artificial light
sources</b>, but there is no denying that moths will float and cluster to a
light source without delay once it is presented to them. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As a caterpillar, a moth will spend the
majority its life devouring it’s sustaining source of life - foliage and
leaves. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Considered an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">invasive</b> insect, the caterpillar will eventually shed it’s skin for
the last time revealing it’s chrysalis. While inside, the body will break down
into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaginal_disc"><span style="color: blue;">imaginal cells</span></a>
which will re-place themselves back into a new shape. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When the moth is ready to emerge, the
body will work at pulling itself through a small hole, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">each early attempt will result in failure</b> – progressing ever so
slowly, basically unperceivable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Yet, in this delicate state -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if the moth is assisted in any way, you will
find the moth to be so badly deformed that it cannot fly and will eventually
die shortly after.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As we see, this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">struggle shapes the moth</b> – giving form to the body, forcing the
fluid into the wings. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It has been theorized that, in fact, moths
are not attracted to the artificial light itself. Rather, the moths (like all
sighted creatures) see a ‘Mach band’ which is the region surrounding a bright
light source that appears darker than the surrounding environment with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the aspiration of seeking refuge</b> from
predators of the night.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Oblivious and unaware to their actual
reality, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the moth is distracted and
disoriented by the artificial light.</b> Feeling secure and protected, the moth
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">seeks sanctuary in the illusion of
darkness cast by the brightly lit false light. <o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Lesson <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Excerpt from <a href="http://www.robertlanza.com/biocentrism-how-life-and-consciousness-are-the-keys-to-understanding-the-true-nature-of-the-universe/"><span style="color: blue;">Biocentrism</span></a>
(written by <a href="http://www.robertlanza.com/who-is-robert-lanza/"><span style="color: blue;">Dr.
Robert Lanza</span></a>, the Chief Scientific Officer at Advanced Cell Technology):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“While I was sitting one night with a poet friend watching a great
opera performed in a tent under arc lights, the poet took my arm and pointed
silently. Far up, blundering out of the night, a huge Cecropia moth swept past
from light to light over the posturings of the actors. ‘He doesn’t know,’ my
friend whispered excitedly. ‘He’s passing through an alien universe <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">brightly lit but invisible to him</b>. He’s
in another play; he doesn’t see us. He doesn’t know. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Maybe it’s happening right now to us</b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Are we similar to the huge Cecropia
moth? Blundering on in the darkness, oblivious to the Light within us and
emanating from all things around us? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Like the caterpillar, we are each profoundly
blessed with a transformation onto this plane of existence. We struggle, strive
– thrive and become stronger through our experience of life. And like the moth,
all the while, artificial light beckons us during our journey – promising false
security. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The genuine Light is within you, within
us. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We all return to each other in the end…or
rather, what our human comprehension recognizes as the end. Your true Home, my
true Home. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We carry a piece of our Home within us –
I urge you to recognize and honor the Oneness with everyone and everything you
experience today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Blinded by the Light - by Amanda Kulick </span></i><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I traded my Home for wings,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I traded my security to fly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Now I blunder in the in the darkness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Blinded by the light,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">all that I witness outside is false. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For the true illuminating Light is within. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">No need to pursue Truth,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">with fragile wings and courageous flight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The rhythm of my heart bursts with It. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Each pulse comforting me: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I left Home, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">but Home never left me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-53192644501864864242013-09-11T13:24:00.000-04:002013-09-11T13:27:32.528-04:00Common Reactions from a Crunchy Mama - GIFs style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoeN2rHjSF3IeQL6Esreoq89YRs26cYqoV03s94DiVSBAka6DA6cLZRnY93BzZnGeffJMhHor5t9AzRZ0My6R5vqHgJJoOSwKaCsGMomRCk4hD_1nRrMvO7ZDhgD83XJxw5canTubaXbD/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoeN2rHjSF3IeQL6Esreoq89YRs26cYqoV03s94DiVSBAka6DA6cLZRnY93BzZnGeffJMhHor5t9AzRZ0My6R5vqHgJJoOSwKaCsGMomRCk4hD_1nRrMvO7ZDhgD83XJxw5canTubaXbD/s320/0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Here are some
common reactions from someone living and parenting in a more natural approach…
and although these pictures below are used in a comical manner, there is an
underlying genuine meaning to this post. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I use the
word ‘reaction’ purposefully in the title because reacting is something we should
do our best at preventing - at least I know I do, for my own sanity. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I get it - I know that
it is not only challenging to be a parent, but place that in combination with
living and embracing lifestyle choices that are not yet common in mainstream
parenting – you can find yourself being confronted on a daily basis. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">If we are
able to interrupt our REACTION and instead CHOOSE how we RESPOND, then the situations
that tend to harm others (physically, mentally and emotionally) can be reduced. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">When someone
says and does something that we might not necessarily choose for
ourselves/children, be confident in your own choice – so much so, that you do
not feel threatened by the choices made by others. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">As you go
through this day, make a deal with yourself to observe how you impact others! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> ****</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">‘I turned out
just fine’ from ________ (insert any nonsensical societal/medical tradition) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">When I see a complete stranger wearing an Ergo carrier.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">When someone
tells me co-sleeping will result in a clingy kid that will never leave my
bed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">When I find
another crunchy mama that lives in my neighborhood </span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFY-LCjAVGu5Np5cWoVNS_9Qi5_qDFzHBixTttH-rg8-8FhoZHz8SX8D6FJ-x6NRIfUVQHm2f9lV8vIdxEzKPEO2Qsi3SIF53vXRsKu9PljDb-5LBSSw0WsFMX9jr1rna5GHUnfbUK_-wn/s1600/another+crunchy+mom.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFY-LCjAVGu5Np5cWoVNS_9Qi5_qDFzHBixTttH-rg8-8FhoZHz8SX8D6FJ-x6NRIfUVQHm2f9lV8vIdxEzKPEO2Qsi3SIF53vXRsKu9PljDb-5LBSSw0WsFMX9jr1rna5GHUnfbUK_-wn/s1600/another+crunchy+mom.gif" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">My reaction
to the ever so common argument: “Formula is just as good as breast milk.”</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIQVflvUH_NAUmcCD5SxQ5vfPJ8yIsE80kxEk30DBZd5xV2AZfZMlcg_v6ps7IPybOFw7X7xjD7Ph30XftsP2vSYgbJwHl_sZU_-VeNTk2v_HXVYEATHjxrMaj6ZSd6FaZwGmOD18_BkA/s1600/shut+up.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIQVflvUH_NAUmcCD5SxQ5vfPJ8yIsE80kxEk30DBZd5xV2AZfZMlcg_v6ps7IPybOFw7X7xjD7Ph30XftsP2vSYgbJwHl_sZU_-VeNTk2v_HXVYEATHjxrMaj6ZSd6FaZwGmOD18_BkA/s320/shut+up.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">People who say that organic, whole food isn’t any better then
conventional pesticide, GMO crap. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The feeling I
get as soon as I comment on a circumcision debate in online forum </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">When my
daughter picks up anything at the store, looks at the ingredients and puts it back
on the shelf</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">When I hear
someone is planning on trying for an au natural birth</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfUN3VgwZ8UHPf9ce1WaEy7FzGtAlHxaGjMFz4qMqE-sH2soZ26wSjcbRyHJ1-SQ93NJ9KnLc8yONf_4REJr7WoCwEIala-HDv6ZPzpfsY5Vuht0afY7_X9q7I6nJYXvlhwmokyap_Wc8/s1600/happy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfUN3VgwZ8UHPf9ce1WaEy7FzGtAlHxaGjMFz4qMqE-sH2soZ26wSjcbRyHJ1-SQ93NJ9KnLc8yONf_4REJr7WoCwEIala-HDv6ZPzpfsY5Vuht0afY7_X9q7I6nJYXvlhwmokyap_Wc8/s320/happy.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Every time I
go to a natural food/health store </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKxIOY_wd4hcAK0Pc9epe5PigjtxAxeGZwgnG9yLKJ95lmXQTdyN3_MmrZgRYqltYEZcCLu5yjSJQ6dw3OWKn1mf0lD5s8Pq7N4_Kplv9aZzgeZeiDsirob7A-2HAVpPVly_xjaY-n9hx/s1600/adventure+time.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKxIOY_wd4hcAK0Pc9epe5PigjtxAxeGZwgnG9yLKJ95lmXQTdyN3_MmrZgRYqltYEZcCLu5yjSJQ6dw3OWKn1mf0lD5s8Pq7N4_Kplv9aZzgeZeiDsirob7A-2HAVpPVly_xjaY-n9hx/s320/adventure+time.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">that one
time, I watch that one documentary that made me cry like a baby. (who I am
kidding, every documentary I cry like a baby) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Being told
your kids need to be vaccinated to go to school </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO6I_v-RFZ1-teIQMyMlevmEDkyNv-n1lJdRuI7BZ1zpYzWtM7poM5SZvnfc0EISbAbXqmn2orS3a8915OeGijL4TCFrkHPAjIPpGaquxjmFrtT0TKViNmGOUiQlLWU18kZmx17_uaRnM/s1600/shut+up+again.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO6I_v-RFZ1-teIQMyMlevmEDkyNv-n1lJdRuI7BZ1zpYzWtM7poM5SZvnfc0EISbAbXqmn2orS3a8915OeGijL4TCFrkHPAjIPpGaquxjmFrtT0TKViNmGOUiQlLWU18kZmx17_uaRnM/s320/shut+up+again.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt;">And then finding a doctor that supports your choice to file a vaccine exemption </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2eRzF7Uk8M5D_DlJ6bUKBSqfbEiOaTIkqwAA2w5KHUuoqjODB3Cv4FMLQhGdqKmokFCIM7SKZCYA95EtDcKy2oAP59fXiZRnehuixoVNht31Dv3klXBvH8u3Ct_qXjs9wmFV7Z3T8EZu/s1600/SEINFELD.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2eRzF7Uk8M5D_DlJ6bUKBSqfbEiOaTIkqwAA2w5KHUuoqjODB3Cv4FMLQhGdqKmokFCIM7SKZCYA95EtDcKy2oAP59fXiZRnehuixoVNht31Dv3klXBvH8u3Ct_qXjs9wmFV7Z3T8EZu/s1600/SEINFELD.gif" /></a></div>
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AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-1197968572351520592013-09-04T15:17:00.001-04:002013-09-04T15:18:25.145-04:00Ways My Child Is Different Than Your Dog <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEDtyYoRjYL03pHq5SXbSPsCcbteNdnm2nUszJoMy8ccqWciAXoA0SVCOnQ5qiHH2Cu3Xp9iSW9bf_I7K5CuHxYEB6t5Wv2s2G33jxKoUhaDW9cxuevLq4wlV3HjH8sSrHMvwE8yOTzXt/s1600/dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEDtyYoRjYL03pHq5SXbSPsCcbteNdnm2nUszJoMy8ccqWciAXoA0SVCOnQ5qiHH2Cu3Xp9iSW9bf_I7K5CuHxYEB6t5Wv2s2G33jxKoUhaDW9cxuevLq4wlV3HjH8sSrHMvwE8yOTzXt/s320/dog.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">There are many similarities between the relationship and bond formed between pet owners and their pets – and those raising (human) children. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">A pet owner will make many sacrifices and investments to provide a loving and suitable home for their family pet. In return, the bond of unconditional love, comfort and enjoyment a pet provides is immeasurable. The love shared between them is lasting and profound. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I have many people in my life experiencing this intense love with their animals, those of which that have not yet had children, are unable to have children or simply opt-out of having children all together. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I honor and embrace this love – no matter what the species. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This bond between owner and animal is so strong, you may eventually come across the comparison that a person’s dog or cat is just like having a child. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">In fact, you may come across people who insist raising their dog is just like raising a child.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">There is no doubt that animals generate the type of Love that is universal and that can be deeply felt by everyone regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or handicap.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">With that being said, although similarities do exist, raising a dog/cat is not remotely the same as raising a child. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Parental Development Caused and Reciprocated By Kids (Not Dogs or Cats) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Growing and changing over the course of their child’s lives, parents experience complexity and diversity in relation to their growing child. As a child grows and develops, so does the parent – many of which transcends the owner/pet connection. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Some of the points below reference ‘The Six Stages of Parenthood’ by researcher Ellen Galinsky. [<a href="http://www.arbetterbeginnings.com/downloads/SAToolkit/CYHD3.pdf">*</a>][<a href="http://www.education.com/reference/article/stages-parenthood">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Imagery of Future </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Even before you hold a child in your arms, the journey for the parent begins. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">A parent begins to create images and ideas in their mind of what lies ahead for both their child and themselves. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">As time goes on and the parent (and child) develops, these images are modified and transformed – some may encompass siblings and even grandchildren.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">When my daughter was an infant, I would imagine what her voice would sound like when she got old enough to talk and say my name, “Momma”. Over time, I started to generate ideas of who her best friend would be or what high school she would want to go to. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Creating these images of a child stimulate the parent to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">investigate their own values and they eventually must learn to respect their partner’s values and dreams for the child they share. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Imagery does not make the owner/pet bond less meaningful – it simply distinguishes it from raising a child. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Attachment, Autonomy and Priorities </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">There is no doubt that a bond between human owner and animal can be powerful and intense. I have experienced it myself. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">However, another key distinction arises with children: Like a dog or a cat, parents create the bond of attachment through holding, touching and caring for their child – however, with a child a distinct variety of issues and questions arise regarding attachment, autonomy (both for the parent and the child) and priorities. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Parents are faced with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">meeting the needs of their child and the need to balance responsibilities to their spouse, friends and career</span></b>. Child care and work schedules must be flexible as well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Consider relinquishing the desire to relocate closer to family because you value raising your children in an area with a better school system <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- - or picking up a second job (giving up time spent with your spouse and family) to pay for private school or expensive, enrichment classes (ex. dance, musical instrument). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Attachment arises between both owner/animal and parent/child – however, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the complexities and intricacies of the issues raised over time with children are dissimilar then raising an animal. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Authority and Freedom </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">In some cases, parents begin to generate ideas of what type of disciplinarian they might be before a child is even born. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">“I swear I’ll never be like my mother, I swear I’ll never be like my mother, I swear I’ll never be like my mother.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">No matter what underlying issues a parent holds prior to kids, parents soon begin to understand and respect that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">their child is not an extension of themselves, rather they must guide, nurture and discipline their child’s unique persona.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Eventually, the unique dilemma of allowing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">enough freedom for a child to grow and develop arises</span></b> – at the same time, communicating and establish limits (which also allows for further personal development, both parental and for the child).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This particular point is compelling when distinguishing between the type of relationship you have between a child and an animal. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">True, you must train and discipline an animal, however, as a parent, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one of the most difficult aspects is letting a child experience disappointments and failures – a parent understands that they must endure their pain of letting a child go because it is for their benefit in the end. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Parental Values and Outside Influences</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Another intricate layer that exists when raising a child: As <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the parent recognizes that he/she is not the only core influence in their child’s life</span></b>, they must decide and learn how they will translate their beliefs and values to their child (especially once their child starts learning new reasoning skills). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">As a child grows, a parent realizes that “my child is not me”. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This is essential in distinguishing between an animal and a child because a parent must learn to illustrate their beliefs while at the same time respecting a child’s birthright in choosing their own beliefs.</span></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Parents must learn how to answer a child’s questions (ex. “what does ‘abortion’ mean?”, “why do people choose to be vegetarian?”, “what happens after we die?”) while promoting specific values and knowledge. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">As children grow, a parent may find themselves playing damage-control as outside sources (teachers, friends, media) begin to influence their children in more profound ways. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Ultimately, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">parents are motivated to continually evaluate their beliefs and values</span></b> – as the child grows, they must learn to differentiate their own personal perspective and allow their child to develop their own. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This particular facet is missing in the owner/animal model. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Inter-dependence and </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Independence</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Preferences in clothing, behavior toward the opposite sex, language, hairstyle, physical growth – the list could literally go on forever. Children are forever growing, changing, and testing independence while, at the same time, demanding familiarity and intimacy. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To provide the most effective guidance and communication in times of growth and change, parents must have a superior understanding of themselves. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The relationship with a child is continually re-defined, swinging back and forth between closeness and distance which may leave a parent’s head spinning like a top.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Animals are quite different in this respect. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Departure</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Another key discernment among animals and children: the child eventually grows up and leaves home. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Eventually, after all of the investment (monetary, emotionally, spiritually) the child leaves the parent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Parents may worry and wonder all sorts concerns: how far away the child might go or how often they will be together. New habits and traditions may be created merely in search for new ways to stay close as a family. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The complexity deepens as a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">parent must learn to accept the separateness, eventually redefining their own identity without their children present in their everyday life</span></b>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Conclusion </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Animals provide immeasurable comfort, love and enjoyment to their owners. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">To those families that do not have children, animals are a pleasant joy that offers profound enrichment for many years. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">However, as mentioned above, children largely differ from pets. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Ultimately, parenting a child is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">process </span></b>– one that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">promotes and supports the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of a child and the parent</span></b>. </span></span></div>
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AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-12643784445859160812013-08-28T08:50:00.000-04:002013-09-25T13:16:56.374-04:007 Questions Closer to an Informed Vaccine Choice<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWAMG-t4RB3BkLHtlMIjlSNZSiN8n25KN8onETQ7JDAhw-fUGfp6E3vJqYmmIAc37wZjbmA72I1p8E03oTy-D0PSeZjuC2Eutsomsbuds_OmQXlES56sArdUO9RmsipEeKjhaW9GhYNxU/s1600/teen-vaccine_phixr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWAMG-t4RB3BkLHtlMIjlSNZSiN8n25KN8onETQ7JDAhw-fUGfp6E3vJqYmmIAc37wZjbmA72I1p8E03oTy-D0PSeZjuC2Eutsomsbuds_OmQXlES56sArdUO9RmsipEeKjhaW9GhYNxU/s320/teen-vaccine_phixr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">In the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">US</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">, vaccination has become viewed as routine; a rite of passage we must all take in order to be our most healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This standard, routine intervention had led to a tolerance among parents (and doctors) of a revoltingly deficient exchange of information regarding the procedure of vaccination.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">An erosion of informed consent – which we must teach ourselves how to reclaim. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">In this post, I offer you a list of some examples of what my informed consent is established on with several resourceful and educational links. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Please feel free to add to this list in the comment section! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Info</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">rmed Consent and Why It Is Essential </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I hear the word ‘informed consent’ thrown around a lot, but I’m not entirely sure many understand what the term encompasses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">What informed consent is <u>NOT</u> (in terms of vaccination): Claiming you are an expert in immunology, thinking you know more then your doctor, generally mistrusting medicine. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Rather – </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Info</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">rmed consent is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">process of communication </span></b>between a patient and physician that results in the authorization to undergo a specific medical intervention.[<a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/legal-topics/patient-physician-relationship-topics/informed-consent.page">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">According to the American Medical Association, this communications process is both an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ethical obligation and a legal requirement in all 50 states</span></b>.[<a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/legal-topics/patient-physician-relationship-topics/informed-consent.page">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">(Just FYI, Medicare & Medicaid Services uphold the legality and ethical consideration of informed consent)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Shockingly, (according to a study reviewing 7 pediatric practices) the median time spent on the exchange of vaccine information is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">less then</span></b> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 minutes</span></b> at well child visits (with a cumulative discussion of vaccination within the first 2 years of life estimated to be less then 10 minutes). [<a href="http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=348078"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Established timetable during a well-child visit examined in the study referenced[<a href="http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=348078"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></span></a>]:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">(time listed in minutes)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">4.9 = physical exam</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1.9 = vaccine discussion</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">9.5 = discussed other health concerns</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">0 = vaccine administration (performed by a nurse 1.6 minutes) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This is deplorable. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Informed consent can only be effectively exercised if the patient (or caregiver) possesses enough information to execute it</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">.[<a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/legal-topics/patient-physician-relationship-topics/informed-consent.page">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I’m going to go out here on limb and state that two minutes is not enough to impart disclosure of relevant information on each vaccine administered at that visit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Our children deserve better then this. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Info</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">rmed consent should be imperative because it is intended to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">protect each patient’s right to self-determination, bodily integrity and our voluntary choice in the decision making process</span></b>.[<a href="https://ssl3.ama-assn.org/apps/ecomm/PolicyFinderForm.pl?site=www.ama-assn.org&uri=/ama1/pub/upload/mm/PolicyFinder/policyfiles/HnE/E-8.08.HTM">See AMA Ethical Opinion 8.08</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Here are a few key points to start in developing your consent on vaccination:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">1 - Do I know which disease I am vaccinating against?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This question seems simple enough – yet, it may take some time and research on the parent’s part.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Firstly, you may expect your child to be administered two injections, however these may consist of combination vaccines combined into a single injection – resulting in 7 vaccines (ex MMR-V and DTaP at 12 months) in 2 simultaneous ‘shots’. [<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Vaccines/multiplevaccines.html">*</a>][<a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">To start, contact your doctor <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">prior to any visit to obtain information on which vaccines are going to be recommended.</span></b> This will provide you with enough time to become familiar with each vaccine <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and the corresponding disease</span></b> (<a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-can-i-get-my-husband-to-understand.html">particularly the prevalence, transmission, symptoms, treatment</a>). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Once you begin to read and become familiar with each disease/vaccine, you are much better prepared to work on a list of any questions you have to present and discuss with your doctor at the visit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Some good points to ask regarding the disease itself: </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-can-i-get-my-husband-to-understand.html">-How prevalent is the disease? </a></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-can-i-get-my-husband-to-understand.html">-How is the disease transmitted? </a></span></span></u></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-can-i-get-my-husband-to-understand.html">-What are the symptoms and what is the treatment if infection occurs? </a></span></span></u></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-can-i-get-my-husband-to-understand.html">-What is the risk of severe reaction?</a></span></span></u></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">You can reference <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/index.html">the CDC’s Pinkbook for more information</a> on these questions. I would also use a <a href="http://www.nvic.org/Vaccines-and-Diseases.aspx">second source to confirm here</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">A quick side note: It is helpful to save some links that you come across in the beginning of your research that you can reference easily. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Links that are helpful:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><br /><a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">Search Clinical Trials</span></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">Package Inserts</span></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.nvic.org/"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">National Vaccine Information Center</span></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/index.html"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="color: purple;">CDC Pink book: </span></span><span style="color: purple;"><span lang="EN" style="color: purple; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases</span></span></a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">2 - D</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">o I know which vaccines are Recommended vs. Required?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Not all recommended vaccines are required for school attendance; in fact, all 50 states offer some type of exemption (<a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/07/vaccine-exemption-and-your.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">click here to learn more about exemptions</span></span></a>). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">All states allow for a medical exemption, while 48 offer non-medical exemption (the exceptions are </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Mississippi</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> and </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">West Virginia</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">).</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Which vaccines are required for school <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">is dependant upon which state you reside in</span></b>.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/laws/state-reqs.htm">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">If you do decide to file an exemption,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> due to differences in State laws,</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it imperative to become familiar with your own State’s requirements</span></b> before writing your exemption. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Laws/state-vaccine-requirements.aspx"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext;">Click here to find your state</span></span></a> and learn more in depth about what is required for vaccine exemption. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only want to consider the vaccines that are required by your State for school attendance</span></b>, then click below to go to an interactive CDC database for your state to learn more:</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/schoolsurv/schImmRqmt.asp">Childcare and school vaccination requirements</a></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This tool provides state vaccination requirements, state exemptions, and links to state web sites reporting requirements. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">3 – Have I evaluated the state of health of my child at the time of vaccination?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Although the AAP instructs medical professionals to vaccinate sick children on schedule (even if they exhibit symptoms of runny nose, fever, ear infection, a cough, and mild diarrhea), logic on this advice is lost on me. [<a href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/pages/Vaccinating-A-Sick-Child.aspx">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Firstly, if a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">vaccine is administered to a sick child and an adverse vaccine reaction occurred it would be challenging (dare I say impossible?) to discern if the reaction was due to the vaccine</span></b> or if it was due to a pre-existing condition. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Secondly, certain factors during illness (such as medication taken during illness, interrupted sleep patterns and stress) have been illustrated in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">affecting an adequate antibody response to vaccination/illness</span></b>.[<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/acetaminophen-weaken-effectiveness-kids-vaccines/story?id=8841740">*</a>][<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/acetaminophen-weaken-effectiveness-kids-vaccines/story?id=8841740">*</a>][<a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/ccp/63/5/787/">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">A few examples in recent publications: one study illustrated that children who have been administered <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a fever reducer resulted in significantly fewer antibodies after vaccination</span></b>.[<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/acetaminophen-weaken-effectiveness-kids-vaccines/story?id=8841740">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">If you do decide to vaccinate a child that is ill, I would advise learning more about which medications should be avoided.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">A child who is sick or has been recently sick may be at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">increased risk for having a serious vaccine reaction.</span></b> You may consider asking your doctor to give your child a physical exam to make sure your child is healthy before vaccination.[<a href="http://www.nvic.org/VaccineSafetyTips.aspx">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">4 – Does age at the time of vaccination effect vaccine-induced immunity? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Questioning whether to wait until the child is older (over 24 months of age) is a valid concern when it comes to vaccination. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This is for several reasons: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">According to WHO, early life immune responses have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">age-dependent limitations to all vaccines</span></b>. In fact, antibody responses to most PS antigens are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not elicited during the first 2 years of life</span></b>. [<a href="http://www.who.int/immunization/documents/Elsevier_Vaccine_immunology.pdf">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This is compounded by the fact that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">maternal antibodies negatively influence infant antibody responses</span></b>. Specifically, IgG antibodies are actively transferred through the placenta - upon immunization, maternal antibodies bind to their specific epitopes at the antigen surface, competing with infant B cells and thus limiting B cell activation, proliferation and differentiation. [<a href="http://www.who.int/immunization/documents/Elsevier_Vaccine_immunology.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The inhibitory influence of maternal antibodies on infant B cell responses <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">affects all vaccine types</span></b>. [<a href="http://www.who.int/immunization/documents/Elsevier_Vaccine_immunology.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Additionally, antibody responses elicited <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">before 12 months of age rapidly wane and antibody titers soon return close to baseline levels.</span></b> Short-lived antibody responses are a hallmark of early life immunization with most [<a href="http://www.who.int/immunization/documents/Elsevier_Vaccine_immunology.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Vaccines mediate protection through the induction of highly specific IgG serum antibodies. The reasons listed above can explanation on why you find vaccination in children (under 24 months) held in a series of 3 or 4 injections/boosters over a very short period of time (ex. Hep B, Polio, Hib, PCV, Rotavirus). [<a href="http://www.who.int/immunization/documents/Elsevier_Vaccine_immunology.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">5 - Am I familiar with my family history of vaccine reactions, severe allergies or autoimmune/neurological disorders?</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Typically, an allergic response is not triggered the first time the body encounters the allergen</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> (substance that causes an allergic reaction). In fact, some people can be exposed to the allergen several times before an allergy develops. (It is only after one or more episodes of exposure to an allergen that the immune system becomes sensitized and produces IgE antibodies to the allergens.)[<a href="http://www.wellness.com/reference/allergies/vaccine-allergy/symptoms-and-causes">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This is why it is important to know if there is a family history of vaccine reactions, severe allergies or autoimmune disorders BEFORE vaccination occurs. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">If your child exhibited a reaction (even if it was mild) to vaccination in the past, it is important to tell your doctor. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A child who has had a previous vaccine reaction may have an increased risk for a more severe reaction</span></b>.[<a href="http://www.nvic.org/VaccineSafetyTips.aspx">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Be sure to tell your doctor if your child or anyone in your family is allergic to eggs, gelatin, neomycin (a drug), or any other component that may be found in vaccines (you can find out more about each vaccine on the package insert). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">If you are not satisfied with the answers you are given, get a second opinion from a trusted health care professional.[<a href="http://www.nvic.org/VaccineSafetyTips.aspx">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">6 - Do I have information about side effects and the clinical research completed on each vaccine?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Like any medication, vaccines cause side effects. The most common side effects are considered ‘mild’.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/vaccine-decision/side-effects.html">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This resource (<a href="http://www.vaccines.gov/basics/safety/side_effects/index.html">click here</a>) is extremely useful <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to quickly assess the side effects that have been associated with each vaccine that has been licensed in the </span></b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">US</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> (The information contained on this link is located on vaccines.gov and is copied directly from CDC</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">s Vaccine </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Info</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">rmation Statements, which in turn are derived from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for each vaccine.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I would also recommend reviewing the package inserts (<a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts">click here</a>) to review the clinical data that was gathered in the licensure of each vaccine. To further that research, conduct a quick search on <a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search">clinicaltrials.gov</a> for each vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Once you have gathered <a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/03/how-can-i-get-my-husband-to-understand.html">the information regarding each disease (prevalence, treatment, symptoms and transmission</a>) and the corresponding risk of vaccine reaction, you can make a superior decision in vaccinating. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">7 - Do I know how to identify and report a vaccine reaction?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">If you choose to vaccinate, whether according to the CDC/ACIP schedule or an alternative schedule, it is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">important to know how to identify and report a reaction.</span></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Even if severe reactions occur rarely<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, they still do occur and it’s important to discuss how to how handle them properly with your doctor before you place yourself or your child at risk. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">(I would advise additional research on your own as well as discussing this with your doctor.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Here are a few bullet-points I’ve come across: </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monitor your child closely 72 hours after vaccination</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> for unusual symptoms or behavior changes, which may indicate a vaccine reaction is occurring. (Vaccine reactions have been known to occur as long as four weeks after vaccination.)[<a href="http://www.nvic.org/VaccineSafetyTips.aspx">*</a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">A vaccine reaction may include one or more of the following symptoms: [<a href="http://www.nvic.org/VaccineSafetyTips.aspx">*</a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•rash</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•hives</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•itching</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•swelling, redness, and pain at the injection site</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•high fever</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•difficulty breathing or wheezing</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•paleness or changes in skin or lip color</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•muscle weakness or limpness</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•excessive sleepiness or lack of responsiveness</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•rapid heart beat</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•dizziness</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•unusual irritability or other behavior changes</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•prolonged crying (especially high-pitched screaming in infants)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•seizures or convulsions (shaking, twitching, jerking)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•vomiting or diarrhea </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">If you observe any of these symptoms -- or any other symptom that causes you concern -- get medical help right away. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">If your child experiences serious health problems following vaccination, ask your doctor to report it to federal health authorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Your doctor is required by law to report adverse reactions to vaccination within 30 days of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>vaccination.</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may also report serious health problems following vaccination to the government yourself.[<a href="http://www.nvic.org/VaccineSafetyTips.aspx">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.acaai.org/allergist/Resources/ask-allergist/Pages/Severeallergicreactiontovaccines.aspx">Here is a good</a> resource from the ACAAI (</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">American</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">College</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology) that discusses a few allergic reactions to vaccination. <a href="http://www.wellness.com/reference/allergies/vaccine-allergy/symptoms-and-causes">Here is another link</a> regarding vaccine allergies. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Conclusion: </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Info</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">rmed Consent and Supporting Others </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Making an informed consenting choice is not about arriving at a destination of ‘informed’ versus ‘uniformed’, rather it is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">title that you earn when you make the <u>commitment to the journey</u> of placing effort into learning more.</span></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">You can choose today to make a better, more informed choice in everything you do!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">There are those of us that vaccinate, those of us who select, those who delay and those who decline completely – the beauty is in recognizing that no great, loving parent has ever been perfect. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Take comfort in knowing that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we all do the best we can with the resources we have at that moment. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Our purpose is to help expand those resources (for ourselves and for others), connect to other great thinking minds and continue to progress! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">***</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">THE DECISION TO VACCINATE IS YOURS AND YOURS ALONE.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical or legal advice.</span></span></div>
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<!-- Image map text links - End - --><br />AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-26402922278963982412013-08-19T15:46:00.000-04:002013-08-19T15:46:58.469-04:00Why I Won't Ask My Husband To Get A Vasectomy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">My husband and I have two beautiful daughters and as much as I love, love, love them – we are done, done, done with having kids.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">There are many options available to us and a vasectomy seemed a reasonable, reliable choice. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Before</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> learning more about the procedure, I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">assumed </span></b>vasectomies carried a low incidence of side effects with little overall risk. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">MY husband and I didn’t know much about vasectomies, just what your average person would know I guess. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in my experience, most men will not take sufficient effort and time to research the topic of vasectomies. However, this particular procedure influences a delicate function and sensitive area which should be regarded with additional respect, so I took it upon myself to learn on behalf of my husband.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">After extensive reading, in my opinion, statistics and information that levels up to nearly<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> 1 in 20 (5%) </span></b>and higher<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></b>of<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> chronic conditions/disorders possible</span></b> – this is too high a risk percentage for me to ask of my husband to carry out when there are other methods available. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Of course, I fully support every couple to make their own choice in such a private matter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">My goal in sharing this information is to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">create a greater awareness for men (and their partners) about the risks of vasectomy surgery, particularly such longer term pain-related side effects that may not be disclosed properly when prompted by a medical professional. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">A Quick Once-Over on the Procedure </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The surgical procedure for male sterilization (permanent male birth control) is known as a vasectomy. (<a href="http://www.vasectomy-information.com/moreinfo/history.htm">Click here to review an interesting read about the history of vasectomies</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The procedure is considered a minor operation under local anesthesia which usually takes 20 to 30 minutes to carry out and involves cutting the tubes that carry the sperm (vas deferens) and sealing them off with sutures or surgical clips. This prevents sperm from mixing with the semen that is ejaculated from the penis.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">…and for those of you wondering, an egg cannot be fertilized when there are no sperm in the semen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">After a short recovery at the doctor</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">s office (usually an hour or less), the patient is free to go home and rest (bag of peas, please?). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Recovery usually takes a few days; however, patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise for a week. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">There is normally a two-month wait after the surgery when the semen is tested to confirm a negative sperm result.[<a href="http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.aspx?Id=6590">*</a>][<a href="http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/vasectomy-14387">*</a>][<a href="http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/vasectomy-4249.htm">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The cost of a vasectomy can range from $800 to $1000 in the </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">US</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">. In the event you change your mind, it will cost you even more – approximately around $6,000-$15,000.[<a href="http://health.costhelper.com/vasectomy-reversal.html">*</a>] <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">The Short of It</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12pt;">Short term post procedure complications </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Allergic reaction to the anaesthesia used during procedure</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">[<a href="http://www.vasectomy-information.com/moreinfo/risks.htm">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">A few men will develop itching & hives due to an allergic reaction to anaesthesia[<a href="http://www.vasectomy-information.com/moreinfo/risks.htm">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Post-operative pain</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">[<a href="http://www.vasectomy-information.com/moreinfo/risks.htm">*</a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">All men experience some form of pain in the scrotum, it usually disappears within 2 days, but the scrotum will still be sore for a few more. <span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bruising & swelling</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">[<a href="http://www.vasectomy-information.com/moreinfo/risks.htm">*</a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This is normal. The bruising and swelling doesn</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">t always happen immediately - it often happens after a few days but in most cases has mostly disappeared after two weeks.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bleeding</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">[<a href="http://www.vasectomy-information.com/moreinfo/risks.htm">*</a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Frequently blood may seep under the skin, so that penis and scrotum appear bruised. If there is no dangerous swelling, this problem usually disappears without treatment within a week or two. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Hematoma </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">[<a href="http://www.vasectomy-information.com/moreinfo/risks.htm">*</a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Pooling of blood within the tissue of the scrotum occurs in up to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">29 percent of all vasectomy patients</span></b>. It usually starts within the first week after the procedure, and can cause a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">painful swelling.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Lasting Pain</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12pt;">Chronic Pain Conditions Following Vasectomy</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Post-vasectomy pain syndrome</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Post-vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS) is a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">chronic</span></u></b> and sometimes <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">debilitating condition</span></b> that can develop immediately or several years after vasectomy.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11061886">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The incidence of PVPS can range <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">approximately from 10-15% (that’s at least 1 out of every 10 vasectomies</span></b>).[<a href="http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-60327-126-4_13">*</a>][<a href="http://pubmedcentralcanada.ca/pmcc/articles/PMC1964127/pdf/16263006.pdf">*</a>][<a href="http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/rcse/arcs/2005/00000087/00000006/art00002">*</a>][<a href="http://vasectomy-lib.s3.amazonaws.com/The%20Journal%20of%20Urology%201997%20MYERS.pdf">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Considering the high incidence of such a chronic condition, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">recent recommendations instruct doctors to warn patients there is a risk of long term pain following vasectomy procedures</span></b>.[<a href="http://www.vasectomy-information.com/moreinfo/risks.htm">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The treatment for PVPS (and the other of chronic/persistent pain conditions following a vasectomy) can include conservative treatments (ex. avoidance of sexual activity and anti-inflammatory medications) or surgical methods (ex. removal of the epididymis and vasectomy reversal).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Other Chronic Pain Conditions Following Vasectomy</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Persistent pain after the vasectomy procedure has been evaluated in Urological literature as early as the late 1970’s. Here are several studies examining characteristics of chronic genital pain after vasectomy:</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://vasectomypain.org/NangiaReversalArticle.pdf">Vasectomy Reversal for the Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome: A Clinical and Historical Evaluation</a></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://vasectomypain.org/NangiaReversalArticle.pdf">The Journal of Urology DEC 2000</a></span></span></u></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">patient’s genital pain complaints included epididymal pain, pain on ejaculation and pain during intercourse.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022534701651917">Vasectomy Reversal for Treatment of the Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome</a></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022534701651917">FEB Clinical Urology 1997</a></span></span></u></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">patients complained of testicular pain as a dull ache that increased with sexual arousal, intercourse or ejaculation. A retrospective study of post-vasectomy patients found <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">33% had <u>chronic</u> testicular discomfort</span></b> and 15% considered the pain troublesome. The pain was described by some as a dull ache and others as a sharp severe pain. The sharp pain was testicular and could increase in frequency after intercourse.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.1992.tb15494.x/abstract">Chronic Testicular Pain following Vasectomy</a></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.1992.tb15494.x/abstract">British Journal of Urology FEB 1992</a></span></span></u></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">5% of the patients complained of pain associated with intercourse.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2007.07128.x/full">The incidence of chronic scrotal pain after vasectomy: a prospective audit</a></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2007.07128.x/full">BJU International DEC 2007</a></span></span></u></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">4% of 488 men had pain with intercourse. Other patients with post-vasectomy pain have required epididymectomy for relief of pain.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.1991.tb15362.x/abstract">Epididymectomy for Post-vasectomy Pain: Histological Review</a></span></span></b></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1464-410X.1991.tb15362.x/abstract">British Journal of Urology OCT 1991</a></span></span></u></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">9 out of 10 patients reported constant pain in either the testes or epididymides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four of ten had pain with activity, and three had pain during intercourse.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Uncertainty of Cancer Association</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12pt;">Prostate Cancer Concern </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The link with prostate cancer and vasectomy procedures is inconclusive. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">With several studies confirming an increased risk, it is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">medically advised that when a man considers a vasectomy, the uncertain association between cancer risk and the procedure should be <u>a routine part of informed consent</u>.</span></b>[<a href="http://urology.stanford.edu/about/articles/vasectomy.html">*</a>][<a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=403550">*</a>][<a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199205213262104">*</a>][<a href="http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/132/6/1051.short">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">In 1993, a team of Harvard epidemiologists presented data from two large studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). One of the two studies was retrospective, while the other was prospective and followed new patients. Both studies found vasectomy to be associated with a moderately elevated relative risk of prostate cancer that increased with time after the procedure. After more than 20 years, a vasectomized man appeared to be twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as a nonvasectomized man of the same age.[<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/vasectomy/page5.htm">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">A definitive conclusion has not yet been made regarding cancer risk and vasectomy, as many studies provide no association with cancer and vasectomy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is noted however, that the vasectomy <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">procedure with other potential risk factors </span></b>(such as race, family history, and dietary habits) may link vasectomy as an associated factor (but not causally linked) to the development of prostate cancer as a primary carcinogen.[<a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199205213262104">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The studies that have been completed over the last 20 years are inconclusive, yet the medical community agrees that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">further research is essential.</span></b>[<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/vasectomy/page5.htm">*</a>][<a href="http://urology.stanford.edu/about/articles/vasectomy.html">*</a>][<a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199205213262104">*</a>][<a href="http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/132/6/1051.short">*</a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">While infection after a vasectomy is fairly common, a small number of men do run into trouble after the operation (one study illustrated a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">32.9% overall infection rate</span></b> after vasectomy).[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6626903">*</a>][<a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/209023-a-fever-after-a-vasectomy/">*</a>][<a href="http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/vasectomy-14387">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The most common infection following vasectomy is of the incision site. Infections of the urinary tract and epididymis are also typical. Rarer types of infections can include Fournier</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">s gangrene and endocarditis (an inflammation of your heart</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">s inner lining).[<a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/209023-a-fever-after-a-vasectomy/">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Any infection, particularly with the growing occurrence of bacteria that have become resistant to antibiotics, should be treated seriously. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Here is Karen’s story regarding infection after a routine vasectomy procedure on her husband: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-513726/How-vasectomy-operation-killed-husband.html">How a vasectomy operation killed my husband.</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Where have all the cowboys gone?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 12pt;">Sperm backup, re-absorption and immune response </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">When a vasectomy is performed sperm are still produced, however, there is no longer an exit strategy. This results in several peculiar responses from the body:</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Congestive Epididymitis </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">If the re-absorption of backed up sperm fails or is inadequate, the epididymides become enlarged, inflamed and can be quite painful. Epididymitis is one of the more common post-vasectomy complications, occurring in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">approximately 1 out of every 15 vasectomies</span></b>. Heat and anti-inflammatory medications (alone or combined with antibiotics) are used to treat this condition. This particular side effect <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">can lead to chronic post-vasectomy pain</span></b> and can affect a man’s ability to participate in physical activities on a long-term basis.[<a href="http://www.painaftervasectomy.org/index.php?p=1_6_Other-Vasectomy-Side-Effects">*</a>][<a href="http://www.emedicinehealth.com/testicle_infection_epididymitis/article_em.htm">*</a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1553215/">*</a>][<a href="http://www.vasectomy.com/vasectomy/procedure/vasectomy-risks-complications-and-side-effects#ixzz2c9VN1Zle">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Anti-Sperm Antibodies </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Typically, immune cells will not come in contact with sperm, however, in the event of vasectomy certain barriers are breached an immune response will be mounted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Membranes in the epididymis increase in size to break down and absorb matured sperm which triggers the immune system to produce more macrophages and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">large majority of men (up to 75%) will develop anti-sperm antibodies</span></b>.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7039414">*</a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/114428">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Concern has encouraged researchers into learning more about anti-sperm antibodies and the effects on the body because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">immune reactions against parts of one</span></b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">'</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">s own body can cause disease.</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">[<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/vasectomy/page4.htm">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Current knowledge has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not yet</span></b> yielded large concern at this time, nevertheless rheumatoid arthritis, tumor growth, atherosclerosis (clogging of arteries), and multiple sclerosis are just some of the illnesses suspected or known to be caused by immune reactions of this type.[<a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/vasectomy/page4.htm">*</a>][<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0090429594902461">*</a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1916341/">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Granulomas</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">When sperm leaks out into the scrotum via the cut/damaged vas defrans (the tube that is severed to keep the sperm from entered the semen), another immune response occurs. The sperm is surrounded by a protective mass (granuloma) which is commonly felt as <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">swelling and radiating pain in the groin which can last up to year.</span></b>[<a href="http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-sperm-granuloma.htm">*</a>] <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Granulomas occur <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in approximately 40% of vasectomies</span></b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">nearly 1 out of every 5 men that has a vasectomy will experience pain that last more than 3 months</span></b> (described as interfering with daily activities).[<a href="http://www.vasectomy.com/vasectomy/procedure/vasectomy-risks-complications-and-side-effects#ixzz2c9VN1Zle">*</a>][<a href="http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-sperm-granuloma.htm">*</a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16259833">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;">****</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Before choosing a vasectomy, a couple should seriously consider the many alternative methods of contraception – particularly when there is risk is chronic pain. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I hope this information helps with creating more awareness of risk that may not be discussed openly/willingly from your medical professional. </span></span></div>
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<!-- Image map text links - End - -->AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-41138460233550264582013-07-30T14:15:00.002-04:002013-07-30T14:19:48.856-04:00How to be an Asshole Attachment Parent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVJQ1rDdOPZRE5gcL_mrvDzoZOE-iKMz8xsa2BxLP3Pg66hjWSabVG_3MKLj52K78eamL_DY1RyFFc_C0eKXbyMJ1wkYhZIWu-MNHyaOafBrg0LaTvDel3qrhS6ifaxmYU1NBAftgQWqi/s1600/jerk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVJQ1rDdOPZRE5gcL_mrvDzoZOE-iKMz8xsa2BxLP3Pg66hjWSabVG_3MKLj52K78eamL_DY1RyFFc_C0eKXbyMJ1wkYhZIWu-MNHyaOafBrg0LaTvDel3qrhS6ifaxmYU1NBAftgQWqi/s320/jerk.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Being labeled as an asshole often plagues those who find themselves in the Natural Parenting niche.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">In the natural/attachment/progressive/whatever-term-you-fancy parenting community, <b>our passion is often times our own Achilles Heel in respects to overstepping boundaries and putting our foot in our mouths</b>, albeit this problem festers deep within the mainstream just as much (have you seen some of those facebook pages, yiiiiikes).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">No matter who started what or who the bigger ass is, I bring this issue up because I sincerely believe that we (the natural community) can begin to alleviate this problem between mainstream and alternative <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">because we we are the ones advocating the value in attachment, respect and unity</span></b>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I think often times we don’t consider what other parents are experiencing because we are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">too busy</span></b> (or simply refuse) to stop, look outside our own little bubble and, most importantly, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">value someone else’s choice</span></b>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I get it, breastfeeding – hey, you nailed it (me too), and if you had difficulties you pulled up your big-girl britches and dealt with it…and don’t even begin to mention the ethical concerns surrounding circumcision, the research reinforcing the detrimental effects of spanking and the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>blah blah blah …. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I agree these issues are important and my heart is engulfed in the same advocacy, my friend. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But there should be some reverence for the life another human being is actively choosing to live. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This doesn’t mean we will understand it nor <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">does it mean we must validate it or approve it. </span></b>Another person’s life is not up for our approval in the first place. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The bottom line is we must be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more diligent in respecting the choices others make. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Generation X, Attachment Parenting and Over Compensation <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I’ll be the first to admit my guilt of totally saying things before I think (who hasn’t?). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hi, my name is Amanda and I’ve totally been an ass. </span></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">At times, maybe I’m quick to be offended…other times I’m quick to offend.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">With everyone fixated with social media and publishing their opinion on pretty much everything (hey, myself included), we are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">flooded with perspectives that are different for our own every minute, every day. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">From a sociological perspective, parents my age belong to a cohort that was molded by Nintendo, daycare, star wars and divorce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">That’s not necessarily a bad thing (Star Wars is pretty damn awesome), however according one study, our generation “went through its all-important formative years as one of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the least parented, least nurtured generations in </span></b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">U.S.</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> history</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">”.[<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400068827/selfassessmen-20" target="_blank">*</a>][<a href="http://www.edutopia.org/generation-x-parents-relationships-guide?page=6" target="_blank">*</a>] <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1400068827/selfassessmen-20"></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This piece of knowledge married with a bit of Psych 101: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is unhealed from your own childhood will reveal itself when you have little tots of your own. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">And viola – attachment parenting is birthed (naturally, of course).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Don’t get me wrong – again, I love the tenants of attachment parenting, the foundation of progressive parenting, and the community of natural parenting. I live by them, just like you (and write about them too). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I suspect that some (okay, many?) natural parents today may be fueled by a strong desire to do a better job at parenting than their parents did (I know this rings true to me). Again this isn’t a bad thing either. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">However, where our natural community severely veers off tract is in two aspects (maybe more, but these are the two that I found myself affected by): </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">(1) given the crack-pot job some of our parents did (and the majority of other parents embracing mainstream choices in parenting), we are left with a real lack of constructive role models to go about showing us how to be a sufficient parent….leading often times to over-compensation…and hence, unwittingly acting like an ass. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">(2) We see other children crying it out, formula fed by choice, rode in strollers, fed crap food – and subconsciously maybe we feel like if we help them, then <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we are helping our own childhood-self in some way</span></b>. Because as children <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we</span></b> cried it out, was fed junk food and left feeling a real lack of affection – and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we didn’t “turn out just fine</span></u></b>”. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">It’s not all about being a product of divorced, overworked parents and latchkey programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe every generation simply has unresolved issues with itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I implore you, fellow AP parents: Stay committed to your decisions, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">but stay flexible in your approach</span></b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">(with counter-steps on how NOT to become one)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Recognize and become familiar with your own tendencies to act callously toward others (no one is perfect and we can all improve treating others better). Hopefully, this list this will give us a great advantage to recognize (in yourself and in others) douche-bag <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>propensities - and with any luck, stop giving other natural parents a bad name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 1 </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Become an expert on something, anything – you pick. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Counter-step: Focus on learning and as soon as you think you know something entirely, your jerk-alert should go off. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Bonus Tip : You know, the more alternative parents get a real bad rap for this (aka santimommy), but if you think this is the only group of parents acting like a bunch of assholes, then you are poorly mistaken. No one is immune to falling prey to this step. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Pride yourself as a seeker not a know-it-all.</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 2 </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Speak in absolutes. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">“I will never ____.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">“My children always ____.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">“She should never _____.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Counter-step: Be. Meticulous. About. The. Words. That. Come. Out. Of. Your. Mouth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Bonus Tip: No matter how thoughtful you are with your words, at some point in time you are likely to offend someone – fact is, there are people out there scouring the ends of the Earth to be offended. The best you can do is to <u>place</u> <u>effort</u> into saying things with kindness and coming from a place of love. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Good luck! </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 3 </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">At every chance available to you, declare other people’s incompetence.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Counter-step: I know, this step is hard especially if you are learning about your own tendencies of overcompensation. No one is perfect and not everyone wants your two-cents on the subject. You may get burned a few times to eventually learn which of your friends appreciate your unique perspectives. Appreciate other’s point of view too and find value in it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Bonus Tip: If a friend posts a picture of her child in the car, please refrain from commenting that the child in not properly restrained followed by links to carseat safety and video on youtube of the benefits of extended rearfacing. While I agree there is value in information – consider talking to her off record or send a private message. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 4</span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You have a small list of close friends and a long list of enemies which you are equally proud of. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Counter-step: True, you can’t get along with everyone and its not your business to make everyone like you – but better yet, give your attention to that which you support and love, not that haters. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Bonus Tip: We’re all in this together, my friends. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You can’t get rid of hate with hate, only love can do that. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Parents in the Natural community have another platform to push now – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the one that unites us</span></b>: mainstream and alternative. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">United we can accomplish a better future for our children, better then we can ever imagine. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Stop. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Think. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Smile. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Encourage. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Or move Along.</span></span><br />
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<!-- Image map text links - End - -->AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-58789023506364307412013-07-12T10:50:00.000-04:002013-08-12T08:17:07.169-04:00Common Sense, Science and HPV Vaccination<div style="color: black;">
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 9pt;">Sources include data from: National Cancer Institute, CDC, John Hopkins University, FDA, Merck Inc. and Co., GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Institutes of Health, Winship Cancer Institute, VAERS. Publications from: Current Pharmaceutical Design (2013), Discovery Medicine Journal (2010), American Journal of Public Health (2012), Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs (2012), Canadian Medical Association Journal (2003), Research and Reporting Methods (2010)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/73676143876901186" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKwlj87c-wkp8rC1RHDPQd9VZk8bn7syYWF_nGoWigsu0vKvh-b-4kboTXOeoDGa_ywSg2rPzYB97RSaRlrn7TL3Em_pJaUhUBRVwpHtyHpDa79n3dUMWJ5bJkpPXc8xt8oRW7KpPUD1e/s320/not_rocket.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">“Your daughter could be one less.”[<a href="http://www.gardasil.com/">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">An advertising campaign slogan seemingly designed to promote fear rather than actual <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">evidence-based</span></b> decision making about the potential benefits of the HPV vaccine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">When one takes a hard look at the scientific evidence, the more you may consider the sheer lunacy of the vaccine.</span></span></div>
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<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A Quick Recap </span></span></b></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The first HPV vaccine was added to the recommended routine childhood immunization schedule by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2007.[<a href="http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM094042">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This vaccine is given as a series of three shots over 6 months - two vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) are currently approved and available for administration in the </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">US</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccine.html">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Out of 130 different types of HPV, nearly 30 are transmitted via sexual contact, 15 of which are oncogenic (may progress to tumor formation). Gardasil vaccinates against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccine.html">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">HPV vaccination is recommended for <u>all</u> girls age 11 to 12, with "catch-up" doses for girls and women from 13 to 26 who haven</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">t been vaccinated (there are no booster recommendation as of yet).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccine.html">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Both vaccines are available for females. Only Gardasil is available for males (recommended ages 11-21).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccine.html">*</a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6050.pdf%20%20http:/www.cdc.gov/hpv/vaccine.html">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Let Thy Numbers Speak Clearly</span></span></b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Prevalence of Cervical Cancer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">“Your daughter could be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">one less</span></i>.” [<a href="http://www.gardasil.com/">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Of this entire post, the information in this section may be the most profound to the reader. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Based on data collected from 2008-2010 from Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (published by the National Cancer Institute), <b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">there is a</span></span></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> 0.66% </span></span></b></b><b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">chance your daughter will be </span></span></b></b><b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal;">diagnosed</span></span></b></b><b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> with cancer of the cervix at anytime during her life.[<a href="http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cervix.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Approximately 0.1% will be diagnosed under the age of 20.<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cervix.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The median age at diagnosis for cancer of the cervix is 49.<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cervix.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/statistics/age.htm"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It is of extreme importance to recognize this point when reviewing this data: </span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2010 Discovery Medicine Journal</span></span></b></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></span></span></b></div>
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<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At this time, </span></span></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">protection against cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2/3 (CIN 2/3) is <u>5 years</u> for Gardasil and 8.4 years for Cervarix.</span></span></b></b><b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">[</span></span></b></b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20670593">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If your daughter receives an HPV vaccine at the recommended age of 11,</span></span></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></b></b><b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">protection will have waned by </span></span></b></b><b><b><u><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">age 16</span></span></u></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">. </span></span></b></b></div>
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<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The data collected from the above agency confirms approximately</span></span></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> <u>0.0% deaths from cervical cancer under age 20</u>.</span></span></b></b><b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cervix.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">What is "one less" then 0%?</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Saving Grace Against Cervical Cancer </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Cervical cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death for women in the </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">United States</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">. However, in the past 40 years the number of cases and deaths of cervical cancer have decreased significantly (as review in the previous section).[<a href="http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/nontraumatic_emergencies/dehydration_and_heat_stroke_85/gynecological_health/cervical_cancer_85,P00549">*</a>]<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD4MG2FWEXPel71wgSwcyAltNgHyak-mif0ewrbavKHLkHOeNLYBhC6E7kgeDSFAfZqBpJrxl9xJKqSKvVjr8ZwVekwcbcls5yNjgRYMYyBcihWpRlUEIgfczm8Tz6xwywaxjviu6YEJv/s1600/pap+info.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPD4MG2FWEXPel71wgSwcyAltNgHyak-mif0ewrbavKHLkHOeNLYBhC6E7kgeDSFAfZqBpJrxl9xJKqSKvVjr8ZwVekwcbcls5yNjgRYMYyBcihWpRlUEIgfczm8Tz6xwywaxjviu6YEJv/s400/pap+info.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">This decline is attributed to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">regular Papanicolaou (Pap) tests</span></b>, which has the ability to identify cervical <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pre</span></b>cancerious cells before it turns into cancer.[<a href="http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/pap-test.cfm">*</a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">According to published data (2010 Discovery Medicine Journal), <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">HPV vaccine efficacy must last at least 15 years to contribute to the prevention of cervical cancers</span></b>. At the current time, protection against is at best 5-8 years.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20670593">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">It is critical that parents and young women are given a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">full explanation</span></b> of the importance of continued cervical screening and the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">real</span></b> efficacy of the vaccine against cancer prior to administration. </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">Protection from Cancer </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Real or Imaginary </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The published data from clinical trials for both Gardasil and Cervarix appears to indicate 100% effectiveness against HPV-16 and HPV-18.[<a href="http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_cervarix.pdf">*</a>][<a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf">*</a>] </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">That</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">s pretty damn amazing. </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">However, you must understand that the conclusions of the HPV trials are based on clinical data extrapolated from a set of <b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">surrogate markers</span></span></b></b>. </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Now, this isn’t anything novel. Since disease progression is slow in the case of cervical cancer (20-40 years), it is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more practical to use certain surrogate endpoints to measure a clinically meaningful outcome </span></b>which will shorten the time required to complete the clinical trial. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">However, these surrogate markers <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">must be carefully assessed</span></b> to maintain that they accurately measure what they are theoretically measuring - this is the essential piece in determining whether or not any meaningful clinical benefits can be expected from the HPV vaccine.[<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf">*</a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The surrogate marker used in the clinical data to measure cervical cancer reduction was a reduction in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cervical dysplasia</span></b> (CIN1-3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The money question:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A reduction in cervical dysplasia<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>=<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HPV vaccine ability to reduce cervical cancer?</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Cervical dysplasia refers is abnormal changes in the cells on the surface of the cervix that are seen underneath a microscope and are understood to hold the potential in progressing into cervical cancer (most often seen in women ages 25 – 35).[<a href="http://www.cancerquest.org/cervical-cancer-staging.html">*</a>][<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001491.htm">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Dysplasia is grouped into three progression categories:[<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001491.htm">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•CIN I -- mild dysplasia</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•CIN II -- moderate to marked dysplasia</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">•CIN III -- severe dysplasia to carcinoma in situ</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmiLgWL_M8pJvGWn58QfcO_SDxTsGN2WojUEixGr9IJST23zCz_3MxukCGDcEhV2eBo_yP0Wxb8kOIJBX7hEfGU6OQv20q1kIeaS4Nq4coDu0BYfr9n2lSR5FrtoiwTr9zr085NnX66Dy/s1600/dysplasia.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqmiLgWL_M8pJvGWn58QfcO_SDxTsGN2WojUEixGr9IJST23zCz_3MxukCGDcEhV2eBo_yP0Wxb8kOIJBX7hEfGU6OQv20q1kIeaS4Nq4coDu0BYfr9n2lSR5FrtoiwTr9zr085NnX66Dy/s400/dysplasia.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">To answer our question, we will have to understand the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">progression and regression of HPV infection and Dyplasia.</span></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">HPV infection is common, occuring in 1 out of 5 women. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">90% of HPV cases will resolve within 1-3 year without any intervention</span></b>, less than 8% of HPV cases will screen positive for cervical dysplasia (CIN I – </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">III)</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">.<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC143547/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Of those women who do test positive for CIN I, a review of literature from 1950-1992 illustrates a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1% progression rate to invasive cancer</span></b> due to the high frequency of natural regression in CIN I and CIN II.<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> [<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC143547/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">It is insurmountably clear that the surrogate markers used in the clinical data are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">insufficient </span></b>in determining the true long term benefit of a prophalytic vaccine against cancer caused by HPV infection <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">due to the benign nature and high frequency of regression</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">of cervical dysplasia. </span></b>[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3057366/">*</a>]<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">In the natural course of cervical cancer, only a<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> very small fraction of CIN I lesions will progress to CIN II</span></b> and, from there, only a small fraction of CIN III will eventually progress to cervical cancer. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The incidence of HPV infection and the incidence of cervical cancer should <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not be considered equal</span></b> since cervical cancer will not develop in most women who are infected even with high-risk HPV infections. <b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The HPV vaccine to-date has not prevented a single case of cervical cancer, let alone cervical cancer death. Nor has the HPV vaccine improved the diagnosis of cervical cancer.<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> [<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">"One less" of what? Clearly, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not</span></b> cervical cancer. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">Safety </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is it Worth the Risk? </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">"Your daughter could be one <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more</span></b>"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">You may find yourself asking if it is even appropriate to risk <u>any </u>adverse effects to a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>preadolescent girl for a vaccine that is (1) only theoretically proven to prevent a disease that (2) she only has a 0.66% risk of developing over her lifetime – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">WHEN THE SAME CAN BE PRE</span></b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">VENT</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ED WITH REGULAR </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PAP</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> SCREENING.</span></span></b><b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> [<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X08007445"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/cervix.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety concern 1 - Exacerbate cervical disease</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">One poignant aspect to address regarding safety is the potential in the HPV vaccine to actually <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">enhance cervical disease</span></b>.[<a href="http://www.gardasil.com/">*</a>]<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">If a young lady is sexually active prior to receiving Gardasil or Ceravix, it is possible that she may already be infected with the HPV. This is alarming due to rate of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">enhancement in cervical disease in the trial data.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Gardasil’s pre-licensure data observed an efficacy of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">-</span></b>33 to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">-</span></b>44.6% in women who were already exposed to HPVs targeted by the vaccine. [<a href="http://www.gardasil.com/">*</a>]<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">An in a recent publication (2012 AJOG), high-risk HPV infection <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">was diagnosed <u>more frequently</u> in vaccinated women than unvaccinated women</span></b> (6.2% versus 2.6%).[<a href="http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0002-9378/PIIS0002937811009409.main-abr.pdf">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRy_Dxt1MhX4op8MwVKAv6DliWxxR8W0hDJjvMz2SewJ6k_R2km-PgNbkYytROJaGk6BjVYTs9b9RUigB2dxWEOuzXkBT7iVV9qZ9WT5gehXycmmuI1EXEJZdYSXkT3kaNmWbgH0_k8ti/s1600/vaers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRy_Dxt1MhX4op8MwVKAv6DliWxxR8W0hDJjvMz2SewJ6k_R2km-PgNbkYytROJaGk6BjVYTs9b9RUigB2dxWEOuzXkBT7iVV9qZ9WT5gehXycmmuI1EXEJZdYSXkT3kaNmWbgH0_k8ti/s400/vaers.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety concern 2 - VAERS</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Another point worth addressing regarding safety is the adverse events reported after vaccination to various governments worldwide. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Wait, now - I fully recognize that a passive vaccine surveillance system does not prove causation between vaccine administration and an adverse reaction – However, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">since <u>2006</u>, nearly 65% of all deaths and life-threatening reactions</span></b> reported to VAERS from Gardasil or Cervarix alone.<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> [<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://vaers.hhs.gov/index"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">A total of 30,020 reports have been received by US VAERS including 2,574 hospitalizations, 9,114 ER visits 93 deaths.[<a href="http://www.medalerts.org/vaersdb/index.php">*</a>]<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">[<a href="http://vaers.hhs.gov/index"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">82% of cases resulting in permanent disability</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> in females under 30 years of age was attributed to HPV vaccines.<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> [<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">According to the FDA, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thromboembolic events (blood clotting) are reported in a higher frequency</span></b> from Gardasil then with other vaccines. Girls who are using oral contraceptives are at an increased risk, as well as those who are overweight and smoke.[<a href="http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/ucm179549.htm">*</a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Other events included in HPV labeling: :<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>local injection site reactions, syncope, dizziness, nausea, headaches, hypersensitivity reactions (such as rashes, hives, & itching), anaphylaxis, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), transverse myelitis, motor neuron disease, pancreatitis, autoimmune disorders, and death. [<a href="http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/ucm179549.htm">*</a>][<a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf">*</a>][<a href="http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_cervarix.pdf">*</a>][<a href="http://www.greatergoodmovie.org/TGG/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Death-after-quadrivalent-human-papillomavirus-vaccination-full-paper.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">In contrast with the HPV vaccine, a pap test which uses a speculum to obtain cells from the cervix does not carry a risk of death, autoimmune complications or neurological dysfunction. And to the best of my knowledge, the procedure (LEEP) used to remove high-grade CIN II and CIN III lesions do not carry these risks either. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety concern 3 - AAHS Placebo Group </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Currently, there are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no regulations governing placebo composition</span></b>, even though data gathered from placebo groups greatly influence trial safety outcomes, conclusions and policy recommendations for public use. [<a href="https://workspace.nottingham.ac.uk/download/attachments/78874495/Golomb+et+al+2010+-+Placebo+and+RCT.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The pre-licensure safety evaluation of Cervarix did not provide a saline solution control group to compare adverse outcomes.</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">[<a href="http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_cervarix.pdf">*</a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">However, promisingly, the pre-licensure safety evaluation of Gardasil gathered data from 2 placebo groups: a saline solution group and an amorphous aluminum hydroxyphospate sulfate (AAHS) group.</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The aluminum-containing placebo group provided data on injection-site adverse reactions which resulted in 2-5 more ADRs then the saline placebo.</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">[<a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf">*</a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">However, in spite of the data gathered from injection-site ADRs, the manufacturer (Merck) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pooled the results from the study participants who received the saline solution and the aluminum containing placebo to present as one ‘control’ group</span></b> for systematic autoimmune disorders and serious reactions.</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The data reported in the package insert resulted in Gardasil having nearly the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">exact same rate of serious reactions</span></b> as the “control” group (data of aluminum + saline combined).</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Clinical data that is inadequately designed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cannot be used in a reliable manner</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">to evaluate the safety</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">of any drug</span></b>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The safety outcomes published for HPV vaccines with the use of an AAHS control group (versus a saline solution) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">produces false negative data</span></b> and any meaningful conclusion becomes absent.<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> [<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The inadequate design of safety data is a reflection of the authority and influence the pharmaceutical industry maintains over the evaluation of its own products and publication its data.<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> [<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">*</span></a>]</span></span></b></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">The Push for School Entry Mandate </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;"></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Manufacturers influence on Policy<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">It may be appealing to consider that governmental policies involving vaccines are protected by the influence of private pharmaceutical manufacturers; however, there is a symbiotic relationship between the two.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">However, this marriage is not inherently corrupt. Pharmaceutical companies provide informational resources and potential policy strategies to legislators and health department officials for many medical products, not just vaccines. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Nevertheless, the role that Merck & Co Inc played in legislation following the FDA 2006 approval of Gardasil <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">seriously lacked appropriateness in vaccine policy</span></b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The vaccine manufacturer <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">aggressively</span></b> engaged in direct lobbying, drafting specific legislation, presenting unrestricted grants - in most states, focusing on school mandates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One specific instance, Merck financially contributed to a national nonprofit group Women in Government (WIG) which <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pioneered a “legislative toolkit” containing model school-entry mandate legislation</span></b>.[<a href="http://www.vaccine-tlc.org/docs/Mello.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The culmination of Merck’s direct lobbying was witnessed in </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Texas</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> after Governor Perry issued an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">executive order mandating HPV vaccination</span></b> for eligible preadolescent girls. The vaccine manufacturer quickly abandon engaging the issue once the public became aware of its role in contributed funds to the governor’s re-election campaign and that his chief-of-staff had worked for years as a lobbyist for Merck.[<a href="http://www.vaccine-tlc.org/docs/Mello.pdf">*</a>] </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">It is best to acknowledge that vaccine manufacturer’s hold a unique place in policymaking. Government employees and legislators must be ever vigilant to identify that information presented may not be the same as a disinterested party – one that holds interest in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">selling a pharmaceutical product and securing a population that requires it</span></b>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">Common Sense and HPV Vaccination </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Conclusion </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Parents making decisions about HPV vaccination on behalf of their young daughters must be fully informed of the<b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"> real benefits against cancer</span></span></b></b> when adding HPV vaccination to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ongoing screening programs</span></b>.[<a href="http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009980/2072344030/name/vacc+hpv+2013+British+Columbia.pdf">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">To date, there is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no data confirming HPV vaccines preventing or treating any cervical cancers</span></b>. The large majority of HPV infection (and a great proportion of </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Cervical dysplasia) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">clear spontaneously without medical intervention</span></b>, what indicates the surrogate markers in pre-licensure trials were an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unreliable indicator</span></b> of the number of cervical cancer cases that have been/will be prevented by the vaccine. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">When reviewing the information on the HPV vaccine, I struggled to understand how parents (and girls old enough to consent themselves) are able to make a fully informed decision on whether to consent to Gardasil/Ceravix if critical information on safety and efficacy is not being presented to them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">I hope the information presented here facilitates a growing curiosity regarding HPV vaccination. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Disclaimer:</span></span></u></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> The information contained on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice. If you have any specific questions about HPV vaccination, HPV disease or cerivical cancers you should consult a professional healthcare provider. The decision regarding whether or not to vaccinate is a personal one. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">Additional </span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">Info</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">rmation </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pap Test Recommendations</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">[<a href="http://www.pregnancy.org/article/pap-smear-test-guidelines-2012-2013">*</a>] <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">New guidelines (released Dec 2012) from The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) state that most women need a Pap test every 3 to 5 years, rather than annually. However, if a woman is sexually active, they still recommend a yearly screening.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Scientists now know how HPV is transmitted, how few infected women develop cancer, and how slowly cancer develops. Because of the improved method of testing and collecting, new research and technology, the researchers are confident that getting regular, but less frequent, Pap tests is a safe option for women.</span></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">New Pap smear guidelines</span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">• Pap smear tests should begin when a woman turns 21 </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">• Women ages 21-29 should get screened every three years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">• Women age 30 and up can be screened every three years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">• After age 65 or 70, most women don</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">t need a Pap smear test.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">(Women who have certain risk factors and health issues, regardless of age, may need more frequent screening. This includes women who have HIV/AIDS, are immunosuppressed, were exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES), or have been treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cervical cancer.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">The value women place in HPV vaccines in conjunction with continued pap smear exams will be viewed differently by different women. Physicians</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> ethical duties are to provide full explanation of the risks and benefits of adding HPV vaccination to the ongoing screening programs, and to support women in their personal choice for cervical cancer prevention.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20670593">*</a>]</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">Key Resources</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="http://www.nvic.org/Vaccines-and-Diseases/HPV.aspx">*</a>]</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM111263.pdf">Gardasil Quadravalent HPV Vaccine</a>, Merck & Co, and <a href="http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm094042.htm">Licensing Information</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/UCM186981.pdf">Cervarix Bivalent HPV Vaccine</a>, GlaxoSmithKline, and <a href="http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm186957.htm">Licensing Information</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/ApprovedProducts/ucm165145.htm">Information Pertaining to Labeling Revision for Gardasil</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/14/investigate-gardasil-vaccine-risks-now/">Sign a Petition to Investigate Gardasil Risks</a></span></span></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">What Is HPV Infection?</span></span></b></b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/infectionfacts.aspx">HPV Infection Facts</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/detailedguide/cervical-cancer-key-statistics">Key Statistics and Facts about Cervical Cancer - The American Cancer Society</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cervicalcancer/detailedguide/cervical-cancer-prevention">Guidelines for Early Detection of Cervical Neoplasia and Cancer - The American Cancer Society</a> </span></span></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">Stories & Photos of Gardasil Vaccine Reactions</span></span></b></b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/christina.aspx">Christina, 21</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/gabrielle.aspx">Gabrielle, 15</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/megan.aspx">Megan, 20</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/ashley.aspx">Ashley, 16</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/cassie.aspx">Cassie, 16</a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/victoria.aspx">Victoria, 17</a></span></span></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">News on Gardasil Vaccine</span></span></b></b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">August 19, 2009</span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;">. CBS News.<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/19/cbsnews_investigates/main5253431.shtml">Gardasil</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><span style="color: blue;"> Researcher Speaks Out:</span></u></span>“Public Should Receive More Complete Warnings.” </span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: small;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/19/cbsnews_investigates/main5253431.shtml"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Feb. 6, 2009: <span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/www\.cbsnews\.com\/video\/watch\/?id=4781857n\0022";"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">CBS Evening News. Gardasil Vaccine Draws Concerns.</span></span></u></span> </span></span></a></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4781857n"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">November 11, 2008: <span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/www\.youtube\.com\/watch?v=mqZNhOclixc\0022";"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">MSNBC-TV News</span></span></u></span> — Mom, Others Question Gardasil's Safety </span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqZNhOclixc"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">November 6, 2007: <span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/www\.katv\.com\/news\/stories\/1108\/567520_video\.html?ref=newsstory\0022";"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">KATV-7 News</span></span></u></span> — Mandating Gardasil for School Aged Girls </span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.katv.com/news/stories/1108/567520_video.html?ref=newsstory"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">October 24, 2008: <span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/www\.businesswire\.com\/portal\/site\/home\/permalink\/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20081024005429&newsLang=en\0022";"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">Businesswire Video</span></span></u></span> — NVIC Says Government Denies Gardasil Risks </span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20081024005429&newsLang=en"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">July 21, 2008: <span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/cbs11tv\.com\/health\/Gardasil\.cervical\.cancer\.2\.776277\.html\0022";"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">CBS-11 TV</span></span></u></span> — Adverse Reactions Reported After Gardasil Shots </span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://cbs11tv.com/health/Gardasil.cervical.cancer.2.776277.html"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">July 7, 2008 <span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/www\.youtube\.com\/watch?v=HV2kIjWZAH4\0022";"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">(WUSA-TV)</span></span></u></span> — Gardasil Vaccine Reaction Reports </span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV2kIjWZAH4"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">May 7, 2008: <span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/cbs4\.com\/iteam\/Gardisil\.Girls\.Vaccine\.2\.718592\.html\0022";"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">CBS-TV 4 (Miami)</span></span></u></span> — HPV Scientist Speaks Out </span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/2kfkb4"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">February 8, 2007: <span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/www\.news8austin\.com\/shared\/video\/video_pop\.asp?destlist=41207\0022";"><u><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;">News 8-TV( Austin)</span></span></u></span> — Controversy Heats Up Over HPV Executive Order </span></span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-12548057179469700232013-07-03T10:36:00.002-04:002013-07-15T10:44:59.109-04:00Vaccine Exemption and Your Constitutional Right<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguixo4ef1DgCNmJnecv2Qb1DppnCw6sT1UJ4NXMM18mI9_Sde-5Y4-8UgAcwRrFwLd-OZR7NgDnINNDKdTEMCso99R3q0wkBKqZQj37LT05Gdsi5dCp3XIwD9cqYlu5Uk4KTXYWd0-1IaR/s400/flag_phixr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" oya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguixo4ef1DgCNmJnecv2Qb1DppnCw6sT1UJ4NXMM18mI9_Sde-5Y4-8UgAcwRrFwLd-OZR7NgDnINNDKdTEMCso99R3q0wkBKqZQj37LT05Gdsi5dCp3XIwD9cqYlu5Uk4KTXYWd0-1IaR/s320/flag_phixr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In the <a href="http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/197/11/case.html"><span style="color: purple;">1905 Supreme Court decision in Jacobson v. Massachusetts</span></a>, a State’s right to require vaccination was first established. At that time, smallpox infection rates were confounding and the risk to public health was evident. Recognizing the imminent risk, the Court authorized that each State had the right, under its police power, to require vaccination against smallpox. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fast forward a century later, now State’s require upwards to 15 injections prior to kindergarten – some of which are diseases that are not even be transferable to others (tetanus), diseases that have been eradicated (polio), diseases that are spread sexually or via drug use (hep B), diseases that cause an increases in other infectious illnesses (chicken pox/shingles, pertussis/parapertussis).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">As an American, you have the constitutional right to refuse to be vaccinated</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">. At least in the majority of states. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Strangely, Americans will come to find out that we have different constitutional rights <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">depending on which State you reside in</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Due to differences in State laws, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it imperative to become familiar with your own State’s requirements</span></b> and wording before writing your exemption (it is not recommend that you provide a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pre</span></b>written exemption because it may not conform with what is required in your state). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Here is a brief summary of the current legal exemptions (some information sourced from <a href="http://www.nvic.org/vaccine-laws.aspx"><span style="color: purple;">NVIC</span></a>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Laws/state-vaccine-requirements.aspx"><span style="color: purple;">Click here to find your state</span></a> and learn more in depth about what is required for vaccine exemption. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Philosophical Exemption<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The following 17 states allow exemption to vaccination based on philosophical, personal or conscientiously held beliefs: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Arizona</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Arkansas</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">California</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Colorado</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Idaho</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Louisiana</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Maine</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Michigan</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Minnesota</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">North Dakota</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Ohio</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> ( </span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-font-family: 'Century Gothic'; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: 'Century Gothic'; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">ß</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> Yippie, that’s me!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Oklahoma</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Texas</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Utah</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Vermont</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Washington</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Wisconsin</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(</span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">New Mexico</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s religious exemption statute as currently written is inclusive of philosophical/personal belief exemption. Though technically </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">New Mexico</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> doesn</span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">t have a personal belief exemption statute, it can reasonably be considered the 18th state allowing for personal belief exemption due to the flexible wording in its religious exemption statute)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In many of these states, individuals must object to all vaccines, not just a particular vaccine in order to use the philosophical or personal belief exemption. Many state legislators are being urged by federal health officials and medical organizations to revoke this exemption to vaccination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">If you are objecting to vaccination based on philosophical or personal conviction, keep an eye on your state legislature as public health officials may seek to amend state laws to eliminate this exemption (see below to sign up to be notified via email).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Religious Exemption<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The religious exemption is granted based on the First Amendment of the Constitution, which is the right to freely exercise your religion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">All states allow a religious exemption to vaccination except </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">California</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">, </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Mississippi</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> and </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">West Virginia</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">California</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">’s philosophical objection encompasses the religious aspect of exemption. However, </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">West Virginia</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> and </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Mississippi</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> flat out do not honor religious exemption in any rate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">West Virginia</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> it is reported that enough votes exists in the state legislature to pass a religious exemption bill, but legislators have repeatedly blocked its passage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Mississippi</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">, religious exemption is a different matter all together. Not anywhere else in the </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">United States of America</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> is religious exemptions deemed unconstitutional, except in the State of </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Mississippi</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is based on a <a href="http://www.vaccinerights.com/legislativeprojects.html">ruling over 30 years ago that the Mississippi State Supreme Court ruled religious exemption law violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment</a>, because it "discriminates against the great majority of children whose parents have no such religious convictions." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In the States that religious exemption is honored, the courts interpret the First Amendment</span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s free exercise of religion as protecting any belief that is "religious in nature" and "sincerely held." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Constitutionally, the language used here does <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not denote that you must be a member of an organized religion</span></b>. In essence, whether you are a member of an organized religion or not, as long as your beliefs are religious in nature and sincerely held as the law defines those terms, you can qualify for a vaccine religious exemption. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">However, some States require an individual who claims a religious exemption to be a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Science) or another bonafide religion whose written tenets include prohibition of invasive medical procedures such as vaccination while others define religious exemptions broadly to include personal religious beliefs. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Some laws require a signed affidavit from the pastor or spiritual advisor of the parent exercising religious exemption that affirms the parents</span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> sincere religious belief about vaccination, while others allow the parent to sign a notarized waiver. Prior to registering your child for school, you must check your state law to verify what proof may be needed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Medical Exemptions<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">All 50 states allow medical exemption to vaccination. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Proof of medical exemption must take the form of a signed statement by a Medical Doctor (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) that the administering of one or more vaccines would be detrimental to the health of an individual. Most doctors follow the AAP and CDC guidelines. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Reasons granted for medical exemption generally include the following situations:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">-The child</span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s immune status is compromised by a permanent or temporary condition. For example, the child might have a congenital condition leading to an impaired immune system. Or, the child might take medications, such as chemotherapy or steroids, that impair the immune system. In either case, vaccination could be harmful to the child</span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s health.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">-The child has a serious allergic reaction to a vaccine component. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">-The child has had a prior serious adverse event related to vaccination.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Some states will accept a private physician</span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s written exemption without question. Other states allow the state health department to review the doctor</span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s exemption and revoke it if health department officials don</span></span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">t think the exemption is justified.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Forcible Vaccination <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Federally, the government will always retain the right to impose vaccines against the will of someone refusing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in a declared emergency</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Exemption is not absolute. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Although, I am not aware of this ever needing to be executed to fulfillment. I find it highly unlikely that a person would be forcibly vaccinated - fined and quarantined, yes – but not physically restrained and injected. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">There is <a href="http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/530805.html?nav=515"><span style="color: purple;">one incident in 2009</span></a> – when a West Virginia high school student was reportedly held down and vaccinated against his will with the swine flu vaccine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Thankfully, this is not the norm. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">If you are interested in receiving a newsletter, tips and alerts via email regarding your vaccination rights – <a href="https://nvicadvocacy.org/members/Home.aspx"><span style="color: purple;">sign up here to become a NVIC Advocacy Team Member</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">More information on vaccination rights:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://vaccinerights.com/"><span style="color: purple;">Vaccine Rights: Exemptions and Waivers</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">K.N.O.W. (Kids need options with vaccines):<a href="http://www.know-vaccines.org/?page_id=243"><span style="color: purple;">Your Rights to Avoid Immunization </span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.greatergoodmovie.org/news-views/civil-rights-and-vaccines-2"><span style="color: purple;">Civil Rights and Vaccines</span></a></span></span><br />
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AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-45437799331119941522013-06-28T15:54:00.000-04:002013-07-15T12:10:07.119-04:00Mandatory Breastfeeding: Yay or Nay? <br />
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<a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/73676143876901352" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/73676143876901352" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/73676143876901352" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/73676143876901391" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVAqv5YI3k-RAHiayKBrtMSCG26UXlMaf2fm3EzAvI8n5dReCN_5UdChvYq9_nbezGxVnN3lFQD6Mso-G2wN7bAyIs68EIgK5SpTo8yWAG9Xr5uMxLS2lzeBqhRRniQiB3g-BBrzyx2S54/s200/breastfeeding2.jpg" width="196" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Some breastfeeding supporters are calling for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">extreme</span></b> measures when it comes to the promotion of breastfeeding and the *<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">choice</span></b>* in infant nutrition. In some cases, many proclaimed supporters feel that mandating breastfeeding would not <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only benefit the health of the child (and mother) but also our nation</span></b> as a whole (particularly in terms of health care costs – a savings of $13 <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">b</span></u></b>illion annually does sounds tempting). <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Some push for formula to be treated as a pharmaceutical-like prescription, warranting a doctor’s prescription. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Women giving birth in </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">New York City</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> may have already begun to experience something similar to this due to recent regulations – while NYC mothers are not denied formula if requested, they will receive a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">mandated discussion from staff</span></b> on why breast is best and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">each bottle will be tracked</span></b>. [<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/bloombergs-breast-feeding-latch-on-nyc-hospitals-hide-baby-formula_n_1718664.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mayor_knows_breast_WqU1iYRQvwbEkDuvn0vb1H?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local">*</a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Some say </span></span><st1:state><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">New York</span></span></st1:place></st1:state><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> is ahead of its time for embracing such measures. Maybe it is…or maybe the focus should be directed elsewhere. [<a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/mayor_knows_breast_WqU1iYRQvwbEkDuvn0vb1H?utm_medium=rss&utm_content=Local">*</a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I, for one, don’t know what to make out of it. Sure, the part of me that wants every baby to be breastfed jumps for joy, but on a certain level, I know <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the answers to issues like these are</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not in regulation</span></b>… <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">High coverage with optimal breastfeeding practices has potentially <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the single largest impact on child survival of <u>all preventive interventions</u></span></b>. [<a href="http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/files/Scientific_rationale_for_benefits_of_breasfteeding.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absolutely, something must be done to get more babies drinking breast milk – but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">just because breastfeeding is natural, does not mean it is easy</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Sadly, the most recent data from the CDC shows <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only 16 percent of mothers exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months</span></b> of their baby’s life (which is the current AAP and WHO recommendations).[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/NIS_data/index.htm"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/AAP-Reaffirms-Breastfeeding-Guidelines.aspx"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/en/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/04/why-most-moms-cant-reach-their-own-breast-feeding-goals/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Even with this dismal statistic - it is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">essential to note that according to research, <u>the large majority of mothers truly desire to breast-feed their babies exclusively for at least three months</u></span></b>. Even though only 1 out of 3 of them will meet this goal, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">these numbers <u>can not be blamed on a mother’s lack of interest or desire.</u></span></b> [<a href="http://healthland.time.com/2012/06/04/why-most-moms-cant-reach-their-own-breast-feeding-goals/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Most mothers really want to breastfeed their baby, however, there are certain factors that may improve or worsen the odds of them their goals - which speaks to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">underlying problem at hand</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">One improvement - mothers of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">infants that don't receive formula in the hospital are</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2.5 times more likely to meet their breast-feeding goals. </span></b>Also,<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></b>those who initiate breastfeeding shortly after delivery improve these odds as well. So it seems that the hospital environment, support and information do play a critical role in developing a breastfeeding relationship (at least early on). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">So the changes requested from ‘Latch on NYC’ regarding revising hospital protocol, marketing and the restrictive use of free formula may be onto something…[<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/bloombergs-breast-feeding-latch-on-nyc-hospitals-hide-baby-formula_n_1718664.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">However</span></span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">, if you've ever breastfed – from experience, you realize it is not the first few days that are the most difficult. It's those following weeks when the pain appears and the support your partner is not only important but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">essential</span></i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Once you overcome the hurdles of hospital and home, then comes another: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the workplace</span></b>. The majority of U.S. mothers return to work and have to manage some type of pumping arrangement with their employer (with the majority of states lacking any regulation of nursing mothers rights). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The few obstacles mentioned above does not begin to scratch the surface of breastfeeding obstacles, consider infection (thrush), growth spurts, nursing strike, premature baby, tongue tie, difficult latch, cracked nipples, separation from baby, difficult birth, multiple births, medications, etc….<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">All of which can face a mother who is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">wholeheartedly willing to breastfeed to 6 months</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Should breastfeeding be optional? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">For me, this is the wrong question to solve the problem of our current breastfeeding rates. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The number of women I know wanting to breastfeed (who happen to come across challenging obstacles in the first few weeks) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">far out weigh</span></b> those few who choose never to breastfeed or who purposefully dry up their milk supply to feed their babies formula instead, by choice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">We should place resources into breastfeeding education and support for women (and their partners). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">We should absolutely be more aware of formula marketing techniques. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">But where I start to get leery is when we start placing those resources toward the small group of women who adamantly do not want to breastfeed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">These women should not be forced via legislative measures. Besides, how the hell can you force someone to breastfeed? Really, what would be the logistics of it? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50PJGAnb_C3bN8KSjW1ulMPce0l_NxFdZfwkZfOy8n-c6X4lo0KqEvMAAabBGI8xUxKlO9eEDfgLBh8bSC_vMOe0rgmYpcbR9mPEDAeqRZsW18o_40QAjRvyn-JB-qpY7Pvub5KzdVjIZ/s570/breastfeeding+painting+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50PJGAnb_C3bN8KSjW1ulMPce0l_NxFdZfwkZfOy8n-c6X4lo0KqEvMAAabBGI8xUxKlO9eEDfgLBh8bSC_vMOe0rgmYpcbR9mPEDAeqRZsW18o_40QAjRvyn-JB-qpY7Pvub5KzdVjIZ/s320/breastfeeding+painting+2.jpg" width="320" xya="true" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/GioiaAlbanoMotherArt"><span style="color: purple;">Gioia Albano Mother Art</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:street><st1:address><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">A Better Way</span></span></st1:address></st1:street><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">So what can we do to help support women meet their goals in feeding their baby while not trampling on personal liberties?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">If you truly want more mothers to breastfeed, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">do something</span></i></b>. Attend a breastfeeding support group for new or expecting mothers. Become active in legislation that protects and supports maternal rights (particularly in the work place-for those pumping moms out there). Encourage pregnant friends/family to meet with a lactation consultant <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">prior to giving birth</span></b>. Learn more about the obstacles and issues at hand and do what you can in your own social network to help. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Media may give the impression that we are losing this war, but that is not the case! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breastfeeding rates in the </span></span></b><st1:country-region><st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">U.S.</span></span></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> continue to increase</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The increase seen from the most recent data represents the largest annual increase witnessed over the previous decade with rates rising from 44.3% to 47.2% in babies breastfed to 6 months.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard2.htm"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The passion among breastfeeding mothers to support fellow moms <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">reaches worldwide</span></b>. There already exists international code requiring access to education to mothers regarding the advantages of breastfeeding, recognition of breastfeeding rights and the restriction of marketing misbehavior. [<a href="http://www.unbossed.com/index.php?itemid=1804">*</a>][<a href="http://www.breastfeeding.com/advocacy/advocacy_boycott.html">*</a>][<a href="http://www.waba.org.my/">*</a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Yes, breast is best – however, if you consider yourself a lactivist I cannot see how supporting a mandatory breastfeeding law helps and supports mothers. The dilemma of our currently bleak breastfeeding statistics goes <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">much deeper then what a compulsory law is capable to handle</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The solution starts with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">our awareness in our own ability</span></u></b> to influence, educate and support new mothers – each and every one of us (the hospital worker, the coworker, the friend, the sister, the neighbor, the stranger). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">With each generation we can observe the support and education growing - this isn’t a time to segregate and impose regulation. Now is the time to connect and do your part! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Lactivist (n.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A word combination from the word ‘lactation’ and ‘activist’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">One who seeks to promote the health benefits of breastfeeding over formula-feeding and to ensure that nursing mothers are not discriminated against</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!-- Image map text links - End - -->AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-31862252558527847252013-06-26T15:07:00.000-04:002014-02-28T11:55:57.272-05:00Can't Do Vegan? Consider a Pescetarian Diet <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTHscEjQgBN6hSc1_D6iKoWdSEk2zhk_3yEDIvJxQqpcydMgODM1m9bIQIR8_mN2d3LwiLOsKU08v44tzHrTDBYi1ybryD6zGUrQmdn56FPoWTVD6ddhfCa1pOa1aTwb16uYQjOSEmNfc/s1600/pescetarian.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTHscEjQgBN6hSc1_D6iKoWdSEk2zhk_3yEDIvJxQqpcydMgODM1m9bIQIR8_mN2d3LwiLOsKU08v44tzHrTDBYi1ybryD6zGUrQmdn56FPoWTVD6ddhfCa1pOa1aTwb16uYQjOSEmNfc/s200/pescetarian.gif" height="163" width="200" xya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Sure, you’ve heard people drone on and on about the benefits in becoming vegetarian or vegan, but maybe the thought of giving up meat (and *<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">gasp</span>* dairy) seems too overwhelming and difficult (especially when cooking for your family). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">In this post, I encourage my readers to consider trying and learning more about the pescetarian diet (also termed ‘sea’gan). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Personally, I chose to eat a pescetarian diet nearly one year ago and it has had a tremendously positive affect on my health. I’ve lost 25 lbs (mostly lost in the first 2 months), have more energy, sleep loads better (‘loads better’ is a scientific measurement used by moms of toddlers in case you were wondering) and (what I’m most proud of) have influenced my family’s overall health (short and long term). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">So, what exactly is pescetarianism and why the heck should you care? Read on - <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Pesce-what? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">As known as pesco-vegetarian, the word itself is a blend from the Italian word ‘pesce’ which means fish and the English word ‘vegetarian’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">People who adhere to pescetarianism eat any combination of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, grains, fish and seafood – however, they do not eat mammals (ex. cows, pigs, deer) or birds (ex. chicken, turkey).</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"> Some pescetarians may eat eggs and/or dairy, whereas others do not (I do not). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">To put plainly, it is someone who chooses to eat seafood but not any other meat (or dairy in some cases). Pescetarianism is closely compared to the Mediterranean Diet and, by some, has been used to transition into vegan/vegetarianism if desired. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Why give up my cheeseburgers for fish? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Consider this – try opting for fish instead of meat for your main entrée. Here are just a few of the benefits you (and your family) will gain: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Raises good cholesterol (while lowering bad)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Once a person starts eating a Pescetarian diet they experience a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">raise in </span></b></span></span><st1:stockticker><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">HDL</span></span></b></st1:stockticker><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";"> (aka ‘good cholesterol’) levels which immediately begins to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease which prevents coronary artery disease and reduces the chance of stroke and heart attacks.[<a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=203693"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.musclemagfitness.com/nutrition/healthy-eating/pescetarian-diet-for-total-health.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Helps manage weight<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Foods that are typical consumed in the pescetarian diet largely help stabilize blood sugar (beans, nuts, vegetables, fish) which combats binge eating. There is a reduction for the risk of obesity, diabetes and hypertension when choosing opting for fish instead of red meat (or even chicken).[<a href="http://www.musclemagfitness.com/nutrition/healthy-eating/pescetarian-diet-for-total-health.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Better mental wellness <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Pescetarisns naturally consume large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids due to the larger consumption of seafood. Diets rich in omega-3s have been shown to reduce depression and improve cognitive assessment.[<a href="http://www.bourre.fr/pdf/Articles_generaux_revues_syntheses/88.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.musclemagfitness.com/nutrition/healthy-eating/pescetarian-diet-for-total-health.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Keeps blood pressure in check<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Adopting a pescetarian diet does wonders for blood pressure. Since the diet typically omits foods high in sodium and saturated fats, it naturally reduces the risk for hypertension which plagues diets that consume red meat and dairy. Also worth noting, the high intake of omega-3 fatty acids with helps lower anxiety (particularly social anxiety disorder) and stress.[<a href="http://www.bourre.fr/pdf/Articles_generaux_revues_syntheses/88.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924977X05001112"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=203693"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Reduces risk of cancer<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">It is no surprise, the more you or your children consume red meat the risk of cancer mortality increases (of various types). On the flip side, diets higher in fiber and that are plant-based (such as pescetarians) reduce cancer risk in a number of the most common cancers.[<a href="http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1134845"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/fiber-health-benefits-11/fiber-cancer"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Improves women’s health<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">For those of us that are pregnant or nursing (or essentially childbearing age) a diet rich in fish and omega-3 fatty acids is superbly beneficial for brain, eyes and central nervous system development in the fetus and nursing infants. The effect of mom isn’t lost either, forgoing meat and substituting for fish will support a better heart, immune system and inflammatory response in mothers-to-be (or all moms in general).[<a href="http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/omega3fishoil.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.thefishsite.com/fishnews/20564/eat-more-than-two-fatty-fish-meals-per-week"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=203693"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.foodhealthinnovation.com/media/5756/fish_final_june_2012.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Better eating habits for children that stick for life<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Science confirms the consumption of fish reduces rates of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">all-cause mortality</span></b>, cardiac and sudden death in adults, yet the research is currently insufficient regarding infants, children and adolescents. What can be said, however, is healthy dietary patterns that include fish are established early in life – of which influence dietary habits and health as an adult.[<a href="http://www.foodhealthinnovation.com/media/5756/fish_final_june_2012.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Power boost of Vitamin D3<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">For the average American, diet accounts for approximately 10% of the total vitamin D intake. The remaining 90% would then be at the mercy of light exposure (or supplementation). A significant portion of the population is deficient in vitamin D. Diets rich in fish (particularly salmon and other fatty fish) significantly increase vitamin D levels which largely impacts immune function, mental health regulation, and lowers the risk of cancer.[<a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161618.php"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.foodhealthinnovation.com/media/5756/fish_final_june_2012.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ethically speaking, you can sleep better at night<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">There is no doubt that a pescetarian diet is kinder to our animal friends and the environment. An omnivorous diet (consuming cows, pigs, chickens, eggs, etc) uses an extrapolate amount of fossil fuels and water (contributing to forest depletion and water pollution) – it also contributes to the current grossly inhumane treatment of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">b</span></u></b>illions of animals a year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">The Power is Yours <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">When it comes to food and dietary choices there are numerous factors on what ultimately is chosen (taste preference, social influences, expert advice, etc). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">The choice is yours – in essence, the choice of what we (our children) decide to consume is the ultimate power over our genetic code (just check out the research of nutritional genomics).[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1123385/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://nutrigenomics.ucdavis.edu/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://genetics.thetech.org/original_news/news106"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">All and all, I hope this information provides some information on a possible alternative to yoru current eating habits that might helps you make better choices for you are your family – I know it has mine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">"The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif";">Thomas Edison</span></span><br />
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AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-2132151029592753782013-06-17T12:49:00.000-04:002013-07-15T10:46:35.895-04:00Research Confirms Risks of Spanking - So Why Are We Still Doing It? <div class="shareaholic-canvas" data-app-id="10769" data-app="share_buttons">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Spanking is perhaps one of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">THE</span></b> most strongly debated parenting issues out there and I can pretty much guarantee that no matter how I approach this subject someone will take offense or feel judged by it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">So, just in case - <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Disclaimer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I am not judging YOU.</span></u></b> In fact, my consideration towards the act of judgment is that it results in a shut down of the free-flowing exchange of information and alternatively opens up the gate to tension, polarization and insensitivity.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> My goal in this post is to offer information that I have gathered – I urge every parent to use this as a catalyst to learn more. </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Discipline is one component of proficient parenting and every family (and each parent) has a unique way of teaching what is/is not acceptable conduct. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In the </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">United States</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">, corporal punishment (CP) is used by parents of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">toddlers </span></b>roughly 50% of the time as a means of communicating what is/is not tolerable. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That number was seen to increase up to 94% when kids reach preschool age</span></b>.[<a href="http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=lcp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.psychpage.com/family/disc.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">cor·po·ral pun·ish·ment<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">a form of physical <b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">punishment</span></span></b></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></b>that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining<b><b style="mso-ansi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></b></span></span></div>
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<b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">**for the research referenced below corporal punishment signifies non-injurious, openhanded hitting with the intention of modifying child behavior</span></span></b></b><b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">These numbers shouldn’t be all that surprising, after all, us parents learn how to parent from our own parents and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">in the </span></b></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">United States</span></span></b></st1:place></st1:country-region><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> corporal punishment has a strong tradition</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">.[<a href="http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=lcp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://gauss.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP27.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fortunately, tradition transforms over time as the understanding and knowledge of a society is advanced and broadened. Unfortunately, societal change typically occurs at a much slower rate then the contribution of data is accumulated.[<a href="http://www.sociologyguide.com/social-change/factors-of-change.php"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The knowledge base of corporal punishment on children has grown over the last several decades <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">building upon hundreds of research studies in several diverse fields</span></b>: psychology, medicine, sociology, social work and education.[<a href="http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=lcp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">What does the large majority of research reveal regarding discipline that incorporates CP? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Putting Kids at Greater Risk<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The vast amount of data that has been accumulated over all disciplines <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">supports that corporal punishment (physical discipline, spanking) is no more effective than other forms of punishment.</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most importantly, not only it is no more effective but this form of correction<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <u>exposes the child to added adverse effects</u></span></b><u>.</u>[<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=lcp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In an unprecedented degree of consistency, </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">94%</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> of the 117 tests reviewed</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> in an 88 study meta-analysis <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">confirmed that CP is associated with an increase in harmful side effects</span></b> (these studies controlled for ‘parental warmth which illustrates that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CP is harmful even when it is performed by loving parents</span></b>): [<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=lcp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.brightfutures.org/mentalhealth/pdf/professionals/ec/spanking.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]</span></span><span style="font-family: StoneSans; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: StoneSans; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: StoneSans;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Increase in:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Aggression<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Scores in educational achievement <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Self-esteem <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I understand not every child who is spanked or slapped for discipline purposes will develop all, or any, of the above negative outcomes listed – however<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, it is abundantly apparent that corporal punishment <u>places a child at risk for both short and long tem negative effects</u>.</span></b>[<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=lcp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">The Immediate Need to Adjust Behavior in Safety Scenarios <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Effective discipline can be analyzed in three time periods: immediate, short-term (hours/days) and long term (months/years).[<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">There remains a consensus that spanking is the most effective means in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">stopping misbehavior in an immediate need</span></b>. In fact, this is one of the main listed benefits in using CP. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">For example, if your child repeatedly grabs pots off the stove or is baiting his/her luck running into traffic - safety is paramount and if spanking works best, then this might trump any future adverse risk(s) that may or may not come to fruition. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">If corporal punishment is effective when other methods fail in this instance, it would debatable to eliminate spanking. However, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">tremendous evidence exist from short-term prospective studies on this particular issue that show this is not the case.</span></b>[<a href="http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=lcp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This may not be all that surprising, but, when it comes to toddlers, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">research shows that <u>every</u> mode of discipline has a high short-tem failure rate. </span></b>This is because it takes a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">great deal of time and many repetitions for standards in behavior to be internalized</span></b>.[<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=lcp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">But when it comes to spanking, at least two other factors interfere with it being the best choice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1 Interference of Cognitive Function <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">For a young child, being struck by a parent is a frightening event. The negative emotions felt be young children (sadness, anger, humiliation, shame, fright, stress, etc.) are able to result in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cognitive deficits which impede learning</span></b> and may be one explanation for the elevated failure rate among spanking in the long-term.[<a href="http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-1284590.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2 Absences of Explanation, Strategy, & Resolution in Conflict Situations<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Parents may offer an explanation along with corporal punishment which may reduce adverse effects however, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">they are not eliminated</span></b>.[<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Consider what a child is denied when a parent resorts to spanking as a form of discipline: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The opportunity for the child to</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">observe and participate</span></b> (age-appropriately) in resolution strategies that are important to learn in future life situations are diminished (such as explanation, creating appropriate alternatives, and compromises).[<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">But Why Do Most Parents Think Spanking is More Effective? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Perception<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Although the high-failure rate of spanking is observable, few perceive it.[<a href="http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-1284590.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Children who were spanked had an increase in misbehavior two years later, whereas children who were not spanked had a decrease in misbehavior.[<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.pedsforparents.com/articles/2906.shtml"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">When a child throws a toy at their brother or sister and the parent explains that the behavior will not be tolerated and places them in time out….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the child does it again a few hours later – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the ineffectiveness of time-out is attributed to the repetition of behavior</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But if the child is spanked and required to be spanked again it is not perceived as being ineffective – instead, it is indicated that the child merely needs spanked again</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">However, the existing literature overwhelming supports the understanding that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">all methods of discipline, including CP, have a high failure rate in young children</span></u></b>.[<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It is the </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">consistency</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> and </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">persistence</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> of the discipline used that makes it effective</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">.[<a href="http://pubpages.unh.edu/%7Emas2/CP67%20Children%20Should%20Never%20be%20Spanked.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Repetition of spanking a child will result in compliance – as will other discipline methods. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The consistency and persistence used by parents that support spanking are precisely right but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unfortunately they are applying a method that has increased risk of harmful side effects. </span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In fact, the majority of studies completed demonstrate that spanking does not have the effects parents intend; rather it has the reverse effect of increasing undesirable behaviors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:personname><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Info</span></span></u></b></st1:personname><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">rmation <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Parents may perceive CP as effective, if not more then other discipline methods because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">they are not informed of the possible long-term effects</span></b>. (see above) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Now – all methods of discipline are likely to carry side effects; in fact<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, the end-goal to discipline is behavior modification</span></b>. However, there are tremendous amounts of evidence illustrating that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the side effects associated with spanking is not something a parent would desire</span></b>. (again, see list above) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This underscores the urgency for professionals that work with parents to advise them of the detrimental consequences coupled with spanking/ hitting a child which is supported by research.[<a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/201/300/cdn_medical_association/cmaj/vol-161/issue-7/pdf/pg821.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The </span></span><st1:place><st1:placename><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">American</span></span></st1:placename><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span><st1:placetype><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Academy</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> of Pediatrics (AAP) does not endorse spanking <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">under any circumstance.</span></b> According to the AAP, it is a form of punishment that becomes less effective with repeated use.[<a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1983895,00.html#ixzz2VvTHy8ad">*</a>][<a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/101/4/723.full"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">If a person is more affluent and better educated, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">they are less likely to support corporal punishment </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">in children (Source: 2003 TGI<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brasil)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Should There Be a Ban on Spanking? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Using the world as a compass<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Beginning with </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Sweden</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> in 1979, over the last 34 years there has been a total of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">33 counties to ban the practice of corporal punishment of children</span></b> by parents, teachers or any other adult.[<a href="http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/pages/progress/prohib_states.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/pages/frame.html?http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/pages/progress/countdown.html">*</a>][<a href="http://snifferdogonline.com/reports/Corporal%20Punishment/Evaluating%20the%20Success%20of%20Sweden%27s%20Corporal%20Punishment%20Ban.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Sweden</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> pioneered the way by using <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">informational campaigns</span></b> and meetings with parents to inform them of spanking there are other options that are as effective.[<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113745389"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://snifferdogonline.com/reports/Corporal%20Punishment/Evaluating%20the%20Success%20of%20Sweden%27s%20Corporal%20Punishment%20Ban.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] </span></span><span style="font-family: TimesTen-Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: TimesTen-Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesTen-Roman;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The purpose of banning CP is not to put parents in jail. Rather, it is about <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">prevention.</span></b> It is to encourage attitudes and practices to promote nonviolent methods of child rearing. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This hopefully lessens the likelihood of children at greater risk of physical punishment (those who come from a lower socio-economic background, minorities, and those with disabilities).</span></b>[<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113745389"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/pages/pdfs/prevalence/WestCentralAfrica.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/2967267?uid=3739256&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21102404998347"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: TimesTen-Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: TimesTen-Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesTen-Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Corporal punishment in homes and schools remains constitutional in the </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">United States</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">. (You can review the <a href="http://www.endcorporalpunishment.org/pages/progress/reports/usa.html"><span style="color: purple;">State by State comparison here</span></a> on the laws protecting children for physical punishment) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The countries that have banned corporal punishment did so on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the basis of human rights obligations, supported by the very strong research evidence of the potential damage that this type of corrective discipline presents</span></b>.[<a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/201/300/cdn_medical_association/cmaj/vol-161/issue-7/pdf/pg821.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/CorporalPunishment.aspx"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I do find it ironic that the research illustrating the risks of CP is largely gathered and published in the United States, however the data is informing legal and policy changes in other countries around the world <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">before it has any impact here</span></b>.[<a href="http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-1284590.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1565&context=lcp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] </span></span><span style="font-family: TimesTen-Roman; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: TimesTen-Roman; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesTen-Roman;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">every parent</span></b> is doing the best of their ability with the resources available to them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I hope the information presented here facilitates just one parent that uses corporal punishment to consider learning more about other means of discipline that may carry less risk to their child(ren).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">"Violence against children, including corporal punishment, is a violation of the rights of the child. It conflicts with the child</span></span><st1:personname><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></span></st1:personname><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">human dignity</span></b> and the right of the child to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">physical integrity</span></b>. It also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">prevents children from reaching their full potential</span></b>, by putting at risk their right to health, survival and development. The best interests of the child can never be used to justify such practice" [<a href="http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/CorporalPunishment.aspx"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">-UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyung-wha Kang<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Some resources for learning more about effective discipline: <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY107200.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">Effective Discipline Techniques for Parents</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIpwU-fCBnzJaaEECoG-8Glg5EhRBJtr8gyoCaJ-zTbnuxLrYFWmlLxNb5u8qPy9XoodZfhGLUJqSDM8CVL57HNwpHIzCV8crGXEbDBvibOICY3am9TzyTOnbExYqYf9OVhprhM-WH643/s1600/nospank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIpwU-fCBnzJaaEECoG-8Glg5EhRBJtr8gyoCaJ-zTbnuxLrYFWmlLxNb5u8qPy9XoodZfhGLUJqSDM8CVL57HNwpHIzCV8crGXEbDBvibOICY3am9TzyTOnbExYqYf9OVhprhM-WH643/s320/nospank.jpg" width="320" /></a><st1:place><st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">University</span></span></st1:placetype><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> of </span></span><st1:placename><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Florida</span></span></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> IFAS Extension<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Cassandra Deas and Eboni J Baugh <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.cwla.org/positiveparenting/tipsdiscipline.htm"><span style="color: purple;">Positive Discipline Techniques</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">CWLA (Child Welfare League of </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">America</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/101/4/723.full"><span style="color: purple;">American Academy of Pediatrics – Guidance for Effective Discipline</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">1998<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://ww2.odu.edu/ao/instadv/quest/101s.html"><span style="color: purple;">101 Positive Discipline Techniques</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://life.familyeducation.com/parenting/discipline/34413.html"><span style="color: purple;">Discipline & Punishment</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Family Education Network Website <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Pearson Education, Inc.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Elizabeth O Cooper <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-14857691975236925002013-06-10T12:44:00.000-04:002013-07-15T10:51:10.404-04:00Comparison of Natural Disposable Diapers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbDRMTCcamOTySL05-zoUcbatnmSuoQKw8_985rPQECkNy2AuLJaxXVY54kv70cAn1L9I0V9tHd2yz5fw5BFoI6fGYvbGfIvs5khqz6RvMQ9Sh1Ej_GvuQCMtMp61bkLiSQIVRow7nIID/s1600/baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbDRMTCcamOTySL05-zoUcbatnmSuoQKw8_985rPQECkNy2AuLJaxXVY54kv70cAn1L9I0V9tHd2yz5fw5BFoI6fGYvbGfIvs5khqz6RvMQ9Sh1Ej_GvuQCMtMp61bkLiSQIVRow7nIID/s320/baby.jpg" width="266" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">When I began my hunt for a good cloth diaper, I spent months researching which brand I was going to buy. I read reviews, I watch videos, I spoke to other moms about their experience and I embraced diversifying my cloth stash with other great brands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Why should disposables be any different? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">One reason may be because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the amount of money you place in cloth is usually a large sum up-front when compared to disposables which you pay for over a period of time. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Recently, we’ve switched from cloth to disposables. This is due for a few reasons, one being the care center my daughter (2 yrs old) attends does not support cloth diaper use past the age of 18 months. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I started buying Huggies Pure and Natural because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I thought</span></b>, based on the packaging, they were a good, natural choice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">It wasn’t until I did a bit of research and reading that I found out I was very much amiss in my original assessment. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The rankings below are sourced from online reviews and the enormous amount of information <a href="http://www.babygearlab.com/Disposable-Diaper-Reviews"><span style="color: purple;">the good people at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Baby Gear Lab</span></b></span></a> gathered<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- who do a great job at testing all types of baby products (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I was not paid for any of these reviews).</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">There are pros and cons to every diaper choice (cloth or disposable) and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I encourage every parent to make the best diapering decision for their family. </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(SAP is mentioned below in the absorbency category. SAP is sodium polyacrylate and is one reason that disposable diapers are able to be so thin, effective and so absorbent. SAP is understood to be non-toxic (<a href="http://www.hmsmedical.com/images/44-OC%20MSDS.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">click here for the MSDS</span></a>) however, if exposed to baby’s skin it can dry the skin out and cause sensitivity <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">which leads some parents to look for diapers with a lower SAP content</span></b>.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The Bad, the Good and the Best of your natural diaper choices: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Bad<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Broody Chick Eco-Natural Diapers <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Price: $0.55</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8HdHGzGtjtT_B4ZEURKgrdgXN9wf-kUoew8yj_NzY-f1ASmKgZoBEhiRNEX_WmgTOSFE5Qf2wXH9m5VcBidLxxL7UWbnuMpGHp09UjOqItxtE8G_isypKi_IBuixtjkBrNhSuTSmgLUD/s1600/BroodyChick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8HdHGzGtjtT_B4ZEURKgrdgXN9wf-kUoew8yj_NzY-f1ASmKgZoBEhiRNEX_WmgTOSFE5Qf2wXH9m5VcBidLxxL7UWbnuMpGHp09UjOqItxtE8G_isypKi_IBuixtjkBrNhSuTSmgLUD/s320/BroodyChick.jpg" width="320" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Overall Score<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>48 out of 100 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absorbency<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2 (contains SAP w wood pulp fiber)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fit/Leakage<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Comfort<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eco/Health<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Origin<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Canada</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Biodegradable<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>100% (compostable too!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Broody Chick diapers are very eco friendly and boost compostablily too, however these <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">lack performance (and that’s putting it very nicely) in absorption and construction (ex. leg elastic tears easily). <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Bottom Line: I’m not going to waste any more of your time with this option – Broody Chick diapers are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">expensive</span></b> and horrendously terrible. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Seventh Generation Free & Clear<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Price: $0.32<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOInSHAENm3q3xd8Hmw0PnGr0FIpNbaTkDbTGNdyJapT5gjenS_ZyN3458B8GNtFrbrR0MYEo_TXbAp0pDQasGLc2IigNLjVfnJezC1u_C9IbKbPP99M5ph3SLPRjq_gm2Er7Vr5I63gB/s1600/seventh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOInSHAENm3q3xd8Hmw0PnGr0FIpNbaTkDbTGNdyJapT5gjenS_ZyN3458B8GNtFrbrR0MYEo_TXbAp0pDQasGLc2IigNLjVfnJezC1u_C9IbKbPP99M5ph3SLPRjq_gm2Er7Vr5I63gB/s1600/seventh.jpg" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Overall Score<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>55 out of 100<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absorbency<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2 (contains SAP)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fit/Leakage<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Comfort<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eco/Health<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Origin<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">USA</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Biodegradable<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">If you ask a for a natural disposable diaper option, you’ll most likely have someone mention Seventh Generation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">These diapers are no doubt eco/health friendly, boosting chorine free/hypoallergenic/Perfume free/ latex free. The Seventh Generation diaper is slightly brown in color which may give the buyer the impression that it is more natural – unfortunately, the diapers are dyed that tan color during the manufacturing process. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Bottom Line: This brand may be the best known eco-friendly diapers on the market. However, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">absorbency is ranked middle-of-the-road</span></b> compared to its other natural competitors. On top of that, it ranked <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the worst on Baby Gear’s overall performance rankings</span></b> of natural diaper options. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I guess this goes to prove the power of brand marketing (and couponing) on consumer popularity. Lesson learned. Better to choose something else. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Huggies Pure & Natural<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Price: $0.34</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZjA5_MG4Vffm4D_DnQ8NLa1KA35uX2SZqP4DIiIcq1DVlbdyo1mjC8Fp-zmIdhF01XU4RcfvNBBrsOp_oaXrGKwMQXg2Yb6mtcCCV0j2N1lXN0N3Ecbxywj4ExQA20NKu06a91eMc9UE/s1600/huggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZjA5_MG4Vffm4D_DnQ8NLa1KA35uX2SZqP4DIiIcq1DVlbdyo1mjC8Fp-zmIdhF01XU4RcfvNBBrsOp_oaXrGKwMQXg2Yb6mtcCCV0j2N1lXN0N3Ecbxywj4ExQA20NKu06a91eMc9UE/s1600/huggies.jpg" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Overall Score<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>62 out of 100 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absorbency<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6 (contains SAP)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fit/Leakage<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Comfort<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eco/Health<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Origin<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">USA</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Biodegradable<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">These are the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only diaper on the list that is not Chlorine-Free</span></b> and, in all honesty, should not even be on this list. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">If you rely on judging a book by its cover, the name of these diapers is quite deceiving. Huggies Pure & Natural diapers are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not eco/health friendly in the slightest</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I take this personally because I used to buy these diapers before I started this research. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Sure, the product is marketed as seemingly natural with “organic cotton” featured on the packaging materials, but the actual material is not. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Bottom Line: This diaper is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">relatively expensive to similarly performing diapers</span></b> and it is NOT very natural. If you looking for an eco and hypoallergenic diaper <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">there are much better options that offer better performance at a lower cost! </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Good<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Honest Company Diapers<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Price: $0.55 </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DI9XFzF1w6MkbzNEUdnj-FEdDkgytIdFn_nW1RGvdaJVanQReE8qjsWelHTQqdhR2De9xgT-2UTgfpZfpY-WdFeuBFNZqDR56VSYWwYi3Y3Bo7Qkc-SuCq0gz2PPUIYMoZyRmWhukYrx/s1600/honest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DI9XFzF1w6MkbzNEUdnj-FEdDkgytIdFn_nW1RGvdaJVanQReE8qjsWelHTQqdhR2De9xgT-2UTgfpZfpY-WdFeuBFNZqDR56VSYWwYi3Y3Bo7Qkc-SuCq0gz2PPUIYMoZyRmWhukYrx/s1600/honest.jpg" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Overall Score<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>68 out of 100<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absorbency<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6 (wheat/corn blend w SAP)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fit/Leakage<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Comfort<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eco/Health<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Origin<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">USA</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> (Made in </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Mexico</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Biodegradable<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>inner & outer sheet; plant based PLA<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Honest Co Diapers offers <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unique and super cute prints</span></b>, I mean SERIOUSLY cute, however absorbency was ranked a bit lower compared to other natural diapers that aren’t as hard on the pockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">It’s not an accident you haven’t seen these in your local supermarket travels, these diapers are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not available in retail outlets</span></b> and have to be purchased online which could be considered a drawback – and just to mention again, they are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">expensive</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Bottom Line: The Honest Company’s mission is one I share and the diaper does rank pretty high on fit/leakage – not mention the marvelously cute designs available - however, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">absorbency ranks are dismal and that is one of the main pillars of a good diaper</span></b>. If you have money to blow and you value cuteness over utility, I would suggest these. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Price: $0.27 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l2somzOuQNUmnxK0joizMxV42tMU7rdZRMQK-ovlIQTIajZnDpnsIdZ89hBGmxDFISjqtVlzvOewpq4Mj43hYmuTGpvUrlDKoQb9dVhESdG5BKkKSIcP5-gAVheXzgat46iyVRKHsNtK/s1600/nurtured.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l2somzOuQNUmnxK0joizMxV42tMU7rdZRMQK-ovlIQTIajZnDpnsIdZ89hBGmxDFISjqtVlzvOewpq4Mj43hYmuTGpvUrlDKoQb9dVhESdG5BKkKSIcP5-gAVheXzgat46iyVRKHsNtK/s1600/nurtured.jpg" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Overall Score<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>77 out of 100 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absorbency<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8 (contains SAP)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fit/Leakage<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eco/Health<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Origin<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">USA</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Biodegradable<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not specified <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Nurtured by Nature is an okay naturally manufactured diaper. It’s environmentally friendly, chlorine-free and is hypoallergenic. With an average absorbency rating you can get a better diaper for less cost if you choose Earth’s Best (or if you have the money, opt for BAMBO). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Bottom line: Nurtured by Nature is not a good choice; it’s an average option for a natural disposable diaper. There are better and cheaper options though. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nature Babycare<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Price: $0.35 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdzPylfb0NVtRwzepNBLogv_211LIgnOfqWegNGsBx-3P85fdWgh6Bn6Wyfw8AoBoetydmY148uKZ2cGeeMo0EHj1pKIJyEZ-2VFl0pQr43Aql4e4JXGMcre5n11MJ2yCudvSgpjHJko-/s1600/nature+babycare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdzPylfb0NVtRwzepNBLogv_211LIgnOfqWegNGsBx-3P85fdWgh6Bn6Wyfw8AoBoetydmY148uKZ2cGeeMo0EHj1pKIJyEZ-2VFl0pQr43Aql4e4JXGMcre5n11MJ2yCudvSgpjHJko-/s1600/nature+babycare.jpg" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Overall Score<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>77 out of 100 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absorbency<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8 (SAP w natural material PLA) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fit/Leakage<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Comfort<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eco/Health<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Origin<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Sweden</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> (Made in </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Turkey</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Biodegradable<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Partially <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fragrance free, chlorine free, breathable, biodegradable, natural & renewable material, Nature BabyCare is closely comparable to Earth’s Best- yet just <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">slightly more expensive.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This diaper was reviewed as being soft on the inside with a good fit, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">but the</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">outer layer is</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">more stiff</span></b> than comparable diapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Bottom Line: With the absorbency layer incorporating more natural material in combination with SAP, this diaper still has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">high scores in absorbency</span></b>. Nature Babycare is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">constructed well</span></b> and performs pretty good – if you choose this diaper then you’ve made a good choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Best <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Earth’s Best TendeCare Chlorine Free Diapers <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Price: $0.30 </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiaxPRZnBONZiyyAv4nEdGDiuzYFCd4EiCDkSzzUXUeSKMoD-15eITOJB4gKisZvVFzwO8_x1IX5R02a_GnJGd3lMITdROKZBq2cKsz0i_ugVG2Y9w3Kc2Po84JziVRZ60EHHABIX2Tzj/s1600/earths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLiaxPRZnBONZiyyAv4nEdGDiuzYFCd4EiCDkSzzUXUeSKMoD-15eITOJB4gKisZvVFzwO8_x1IX5R02a_GnJGd3lMITdROKZBq2cKsz0i_ugVG2Y9w3Kc2Po84JziVRZ60EHHABIX2Tzj/s320/earths.jpg" width="320" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Overall Score<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>86 out of 100<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absorbency<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>9 (SAP w corn/wheat mixture)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fit/Leakage<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>9<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Comfort<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>9<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eco/Health<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>6<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Origin<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">USA</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Biodegradable<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Earth’s Best diaper was the winner of the BabyGearLab <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Editors’ Choice award.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">True, this diaper is priced slighter higher then conventional name-brands (like Pampers) but it offers the benefits of being a more natural disposable choice – however, it is the<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></b>cheapest among the top 3 natural diaper choices.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Bottom Line: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The absorbance (which is partially made of more natural materials of corn and wheat), fit and price are all there</span></b> in this choice which explains why so many moms recommended this brand to me when I asked for personal feedback. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Attitude<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Price: $0.45 </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgEcklnv0fBOalgcbRBi-iswGufYvU9dsF0tPZYbWr8kW-Y515OvSRsyKH1MGeQX0KbL1_UhyphenhyphenxyzcH8MBsubhcB99aIpm5XSeYJvfFOj4plk3uDmkeD6fUc99sJfjD8d83CgPyWuYOqdW/s1600/attitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgEcklnv0fBOalgcbRBi-iswGufYvU9dsF0tPZYbWr8kW-Y515OvSRsyKH1MGeQX0KbL1_UhyphenhyphenxyzcH8MBsubhcB99aIpm5XSeYJvfFOj4plk3uDmkeD6fUc99sJfjD8d83CgPyWuYOqdW/s320/attitude.jpg" width="320" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Overall Score<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>88 out of 100<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absorbency<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>10<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fit/Leakage<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Comfort<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>9<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eco/Health<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Origin<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Canada</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Biodegradable<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Partially - Inner shell & padding<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Attitude diapers have the same <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">high rank in absorbency</span></b> as the 1# contender, Bambo Diapers. These diapers are made with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">high quality construction</span></b> (with environment and health as top priorities by the company based in </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Montreal</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The fit on this diaper may <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">run a bit big</span></b> – so if you have a bigger baby, then this might be the ideal choice for you (as long as you have deep pockets too!). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Bottom Line: This diaper is an awesome natural choice, if it weren’t for the just slighter higher price tag, it probably would have been ranked number one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BAMBO Nature<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Price: $0.44 ($0.36 each in 168-pack) </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwikyk-dJh6K0VWTdeEwoBdg320m1Pk8HhAonMx1u-TKfZNubqbZOOkrkFb5c2qdpe9Jk6UYLsNPTDzNOu3Y8V3FenrArJyK8Tr3Ss-RKci8H143KsaPHX1tU52WjeRhlnEYNSUz9bBLj/s1600/bambo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwikyk-dJh6K0VWTdeEwoBdg320m1Pk8HhAonMx1u-TKfZNubqbZOOkrkFb5c2qdpe9Jk6UYLsNPTDzNOu3Y8V3FenrArJyK8Tr3Ss-RKci8H143KsaPHX1tU52WjeRhlnEYNSUz9bBLj/s320/bambo.jpg" width="320" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Overall Score<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>91 out of 100<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Absorbency<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>10 (less SAP w added wheat starch) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fit/Leakage<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>9<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Comfort<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>9<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eco/Health<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Origin<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Denmark</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Biodegradable<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>80% Biodegardable<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This diaper won the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Top Pick Award</span></b> for Best Green Diaper at Baby Gear Lab and was also the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">highest scoring diaper overall</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">(out performing popular name-brand diapers like Pampers and Huggies</span></b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Also worth noting, BAMBO Nature <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">scored highest in absorbency testing and claims to use less SAP by adding wheat starch absorber.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Another plus - The wood pulp in the absorptive layer is from sustainable forestry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This diaper does run a bit larger than other brands, but it made of flexible cloth-like materials so it fits well with minimal effort. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Bottom line: Although more expensive than most diapers on the market, it is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">worth the price </span></b>(whether you want natural or not!) and highly recommended. Also speaking loudly for the brand, Bambo is a partner <a href="http://www.healthychild.org/"><span style="color: purple;">of Healthy Child, Healthy World</span></a> which is one of the world’s leading advocates of educating and helping families learn about living a non-toxic lifestyle! </span></span><br />
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AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-75926024688543434022013-06-05T14:08:00.000-04:002013-06-05T14:42:25.068-04:00United Front on Vaccine Safety: Advocate for HR 1757<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR9HLJtlfdLci5dMgFhrNVFuQBTbNWhcyGgTuDC4obtn2v_Z6IDd7HpxWezNaHjnQ4aWsOCFRzrHYTQV_Jj0SzMwhA9LDCth-3XIRk0DXnl12LuQHz4ega3WgDIzngGwEgItWUUSxTeSO/s1600/strong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMR9HLJtlfdLci5dMgFhrNVFuQBTbNWhcyGgTuDC4obtn2v_Z6IDd7HpxWezNaHjnQ4aWsOCFRzrHYTQV_Jj0SzMwhA9LDCth-3XIRk0DXnl12LuQHz4ega3WgDIzngGwEgItWUUSxTeSO/s320/strong.jpg" width="269" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Some are followers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Others happen to be supporters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">A few rally and become <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Advocates</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Are you one of them? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">United Front on Vaccine Safety </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Anyone that is encouraged to use a vaccine in a prophylactic means to maintain health should give attention to the current ongoing research assessing safety, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">particularly in children</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Whether you vaccinate, choose an alternative schedule, are selective, delay, or decline – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we have the opportunity to rally now, together, in support of vaccine safety</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The opportunity to advocate for every child who relies on you to make decisions for their health with the best data available. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Please consider contacting your State Representative to let him or her know that you support this effort. (see below for an easy “click and send” letter with your Rep’s info already listed) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">A Brief about H.R. 1757<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">H.R. 1757 (The Vaccine Safety Study Act) is a new bill that has been introduced by <a href="http://posey.house.gov/"><span style="color: purple;">Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL)</span></a> and co-sponsored by <a href="http://maloney.house.gov/"><span style="color: purple;">Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)</span></a> that calls for research to be conducted comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated populations within the US with total health outcomes (including<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>chronic conditions, neurological conditions and ASD). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I encourage you to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">read the bill prior to sending</b> which can be reviewed here: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr1757/text"><span style="color: purple;">The Vaccine Safety Study Act</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Become an advocate now for your child and all American children. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="http://capwiz.com/a-champ/issues/alert/?alertid=62635801&queueid=%5bcapwiz:queue_id%5d"><span style="color: purple;">Take Action Now</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">click this link to contact your State Representative</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Thank you for the <a href="http://www.autismactionnetwork.org/">Autism Action Network</a> for setting up this quick link. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Margaret Mead<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-27256554077698765052013-06-04T16:02:00.000-04:002013-06-07T08:01:20.643-04:0087 Published Works on Vaccines and Adverse Health Concerns<st1:placename><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Although safety is not my sole reason for declining vaccines, it is one. I want to take this opportunity to provide a resource - an offer of research that<strong><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"> examines the safety and health risks associated when a vaccine is utilized in the determent of a specific disease</span></strong>. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Below is published research that proposes concern in the safety of vaccines to the health of the individual. <strong><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">I encourage you to click on the title to review the </span></strong><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">published</b><strong><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">work for yourself</span></strong> – however, I included a brief synopsis directly from the published work. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Also – I am including some valuable links that I have referenced over the years (and still do) at the bottom of this post. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(*Please note: Although the DTP vaccine is still administered in other parts of the world it is not currently included on the United State’s CDC schedule, because of this, I did NOT include any research regarding the safety of this vaccine – although the published research out there is abundant. One exception: the Allergy/Asthma section contain a few references of the DTP vaccine because the association was not due to the specific DTP injection but rather to the diphtheria and tetanus toxiod. )<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(*Another important note: research cited does not establish causation by vaccine but rather it expresses that the concerns parents have over safety of vaccines are valid and justify further research to assess the long-term impact of vaccination)<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: Neurologic & Immune Dysfunction/Development <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(07)00185-0/abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Primary Immunization of Premature Infants with Gestational Age <35 Weeks: Cardiorespiratory Complications and C-Reactive Protein Responses Associated with Administration of Single and Multiple Separate Vaccines Simultaneously</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The Journal of Pediatrics 2007</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">CRP (cardio-respiratory complications) level is expected to be elevated in the 48 hours following immunization. In a minority of infants immunized, cardiorespiratory events were associated with presumed need for intervention. Underlying medical conditions and possibly multiple injections are associated with cardiorespiratory events. Precautionary monitoring following immunizations is warranted.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15764492"><span style="color: purple;">Neurodevelopmental disorders following thimerosal-containing childhood immunizations: a follow-up analysis</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">International Journal of Toxicology<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2004 </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The present study provides additional epidemiological evidence supporting previous epidemiological, clinical and experimental evidence that administration of thimerosal-containing vaccines in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">United States</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> resulted in a significant number of children developing NDs (neuro-developmental disorders)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(thimerosal is in the following vaccines Tripedia (DTaP),Afluria (Influenza), Fluvirin (Influenza), Flulaval (Influenza), Fluzone (Influenza),Decavac (Td), Mass Biologics (Td))<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c2994"><span style="color: purple;">Child influenza vaccination: Ramifications of adverse events in children in Australia</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">British Medical Journal (BMJ) 2010 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Many serious adverse reactions to this year’s seasonal influenza vaccine have occurred across Australia, and its use remains suspended in children aged 5 years and under.<span class="xref-bibr1">1</span> <span class="xref-bibr1">2</span> <span class="xref-bibr1">3</span> Data released on 1 June 2010 show that 1 in every 110 young children vaccinated with the CSL vaccine had a febrile seizure.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ane.pl/pdf/7020.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">Influence of pediatric vaccines on amygdala growth and opioid ligand binding in rhesus macaque infants: A pilot study</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis 2010 </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This longitudinal, case-control pilot study examined amygdala growth in rhesus macaque infants receiving the complete </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">US</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> childhood vaccine schedule (1994-1999). …results suggest that maturational changes in amygdala volume and the binding capacity of [C]DPN in the amygdala was significantly altered in infant macaques receiving the vaccine schedule/ The macaque infant is a relevant animal model in which to investigate specific environmental exposures and structural/functional neuroimaging during neurodevelopment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21350943"><span style="color: purple;">Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Biomedical Science 2002<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The MMR antibody in autistic sera detected measles HA protein, which is unique to the measles subunit of the vaccine. Furthermore, over 90% of MMR antibody-positive autistic sera were also positive for MBP autoantibodies, suggesting a strong association between MMR and CNS autoimmunity in autism. Stemming from this evidence, we suggest that an inappropriate antibody response to MMR, specifically the measles component thereof, might be related to pathogenesis of autism.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306987711004117"><span style="color: purple;">Conjugate vaccines may predispose children to autism spectrum disorders</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Medical Hypotheses 2011 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Conjugate vaccines fundamentally change the manner in which the immune systems of infants and young children function by deviating their immune responses to the targeted carbohydrate antigens from a state of hypo-responsiveness to a robust B2 B cell mediated response. This period of hypo-responsiveness to carbohydrate antigens coincides with the intense myelination process in infants and young children, and conjugate vaccines may have disrupted evolutionary forces that favored early brain development over the need to protect infants and young children from capsular bacteria.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21350943"><span style="color: purple;">Integrating experimental (in vitro and in vivo) neurotoxicity studies of low-dose thimerosal relevant to vaccines</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Neurochemical Research 2011 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">There is a need to interpret neurotoxic studies to help deal with uncertainties surrounding pregnant mothers, newborns and young children who must receive repeated doses of Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs). Thimerosal at concentrations relevant for infants</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> exposure (in vaccines) is toxic to cultured human-brain cells and to laboratory animals. The persisting use of TCV (in developing countries) is counterintuitive to global efforts to lower Hg exposure and to ban Hg in medical products; its continued use in TCV requires evaluation of a sufficiently nontoxic level of ethylmercury compatible with repeated exposure (co-occurring with adjuvant-Al) during early life.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: Aluminum Adjuvants<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Aluminum is an experimentally demonstrated neurotoxin and the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant. Despite almost 90 years of widespread use of aluminum adjuvants, medical science</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s understanding about their mechanisms of action is still remarkably poor. There is also a concerning scarcity of data on toxicology and pharmacokinetics of these compounds. In spite of this, the notion that aluminum in vaccines is safe appears to be widely accepted. Experimental research, however, clearly shows that aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://lup.sagepub.com/content/21/2/223.short"><span style="color: purple;">Mechanisms of aluminum adjuvant toxicity and autoimmunity in pediatric populations</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Immune challenges during early development, including those vaccine-induced, can lead to permanent detrimental alterations of the brain and immune function. Experimental evidence also shows that simultaneous administration of as little as two to three immune adjuvants can overcome genetic resistance to autoimmunity. In summary, research evidence shows that increasing concerns about current vaccination practices may indeed be warranted. Because children may be most at risk of vaccine-induced complications, a rigorous evaluation of the vaccine-related adverse health impacts in the pediatric population is urgently needed</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2819810/"><span style="color: purple;">Aluminum hydroxide injections lead to motor deficits and motor neuron degeneration</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2009</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The demonstrated neurotoxicity of aluminum hydroxide and its relative ubiquity as an adjuvant suggest that greater scrutiny by the scientific community is warranted.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162013409001895"><span style="color: purple;">Long-term Persistence of Vaccine-Derived Aluminum Hydroxide is Associated with Chronic Cognitive Dysfunction</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2009 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is an emerging condition, characterized by specific muscle lesions assessing long-term persistence of aluminum hydroxide within macrophages at the site of previous immunization. Long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminum hydroxide within the body assessed by MMF is associated with cognitive dysfunction, not solely due to chronic pain, fatigue and depression.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0162013411002194"><span style="color: purple;">Long-term follow-up of cognitive dysfunction in patients with aluminum hydroxide-induced macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF).</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2011 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF) is characterized by specific muscle lesions assessing long-term persistence of aluminum hydroxide within macrophages at the site of previous immunization. Affected patients are middle-aged adults, mainly presenting with diffuse arthromyalgias, chronic fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22099159"><span style="color: purple;">Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2011</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The application of the Hill</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s criteria to these data indicates that the correlation between Al in vaccines and ASD may be causal. Because children represent a fraction of the population most at risk for complications following exposure to Al, a more rigorous evaluation of Al adjuvant safety seems warranted.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471490609002488"><span style="color: purple;">The immunobiology of aluminium adjuvants: how do they really work?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Trends in Immunology 2010<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Aluminium adjuvants potentiate the immune response, thereby ensuring the potency and efficacy of typically sparingly available antigen. Their concomitant critical importance in mass vaccination programmes may have prompted recent intense interest in understanding how they work and their safety. Progress in these areas is stymied, however, by a lack of accessible knowledge pertaining to the bioinorganic chemistry of aluminium adjuvants, and, consequently, the inappropriate application and interpretation of experimental models of their mode of action</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14753387"><span style="color: purple;">Aluminum inclusion macrophagic myofasciitis: a recently identified condition</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America 2003<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The authors conclude that the persistence of aluminum hydroxide at the site of intramuscular injection is a novel finding which has an exact significance that remains to be established fully. It seems mandatory to evaluate possible long-term adverse effects induced by this compound, because this issue has not been addressed (in the past, aluminum hydroxide was believed to be cleared quickly from the body). If safety concerns about the long-term effects of aluminum hydroxide are confirmed, novel and alternative vaccine adjuvants to rescue vaccine-based strategies should be proposed to ensure the enormous benefit for public health that these vaccines provide worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/124/9/1821.full.pdf+html"><span style="color: purple;">Macrophagic myofasciitis lesions assess long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminum hydroxide in muscle</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Brain 2001<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In the present study, intracytoplasmic inclusions were constantly detected in macrophages of the MMF lesion, and were shown to contain aluminium by three different methods. Hisotry revealed that all MMF patients has been immunized 3 months to 8 years before muscle biopsy by aluminiun-containing vaccines. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877(08)00493-3/abstract"><span style="color: purple;">A role for the body burden of aluminium in vaccine-associated macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Medical Hypotheses 2008<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Macrophagic myofasciitis and chronic fatigue syndrome are severely disabling conditions which may be caused by adverse reactions to aluminium-containing adjuvants in vaccines. While a little is known of disease aetiology both conditions are characterised by an aberrant immune response, have a number of prominent symptoms in common and are coincident in many individuals.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://lup.sagepub.com/content/21/2/231.abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Aluminum as an adjuvant in Crohn’s disease induction</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Lupus 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">The inflammasome plays a central role in Al mode of action and in CD pathophysiology. It is suggested that Al adjuvant activity can fit between the aberrations of innate and adaptive immune responses occurring in CD. The CD mucosa is confronted with numerous inappropriate bacterial components adsorbed on the Al compound surface, constituting a pro-inflammatory supra-adjuvant. Al fits the diagnostic criteria of the newly described autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants. If a cause and effect relationship can be established, the consequences will greatly impact public health and CD prevention and management. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: Brain Inflammation Post Vaccination <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.neurology.org/content/68/16_suppl_2/S23.abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Neurology 2007<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the CNS characterized by a widespread demyelination that predominantly involves the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. The condition is usually precipitated by a viral infection or vaccination.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17454560"><span style="color: purple;">A Case Series of Children with Apparent Mercury Toxic Encephalopathies Manifesting with Clinical Symptoms of Regressive Autistic Disorders</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health 2007 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Eight of nine patients (one patient was found to have an ASD due to Rett</span><st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></st1:personname><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s syndrome) (a) had regressive ASDs; (b) had elevated levels of androgens; (c) excreted significant amounts of mercury post chelation challenge; (d) had biochemical evidence of decreased function in their glutathione pathways; (e) had no known significant mercury exposure except from Thimerosal-containing vaccines/Rho(D)-immune globulin preparations; and (f) had alternate causes for their regressive ASDs ruled out.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Based upon differential diagnoses, 8 of 9 patients examined were exposed to significant mercury from Thimerosal-containing biologic/vaccine preparations during their fetal/infant developmental periods, and subsequently, between 12 and 24 mo of age, these previously normally developing children suffered mercury toxic encephalopathies that manifested with clinical symptoms consistent with regressive ASDs.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(The Rho(D)-immune globulin injection was mentioned throughout this paper – if you would like to learn more about administering the Rhogam shot during pregnancy please check out <a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2012/04/critical-look-at-rhogam-and-rhesus.html"><span style="color: purple;">A </span><span style="color: purple; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Critical Look at Rhogam and Rhesus Disease</span></a></span><span style="color: #565656; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">)<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://pmj.bmj.com/content/79/927/11.full"><span style="color: purple;">Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Postgraduate Medical Journal 2003<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is an acute demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, and is characterised by multifocal white matter involvement. Diffuse neurological signs along with multifocal lesions in brain and spinal cord characterise the disease. Possibly, a T cell mediated autoimmune response to myelin basic protein, triggered by an infection or vaccination, underlies its pathogenesis. Recent literature suggests that a significant proportion of patients with ADEM will later develop multiple sclerosis; however, follow up experience from developing countries does not support this view. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12170398"><span style="color: purple;">The smallpox vaccine and postvaccinal encephalitis</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Seminars In Neurobiology 2002</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Smallpox is one of the deadliest infectious diseases in history. The discovery by Edward Jenner that inoculation with a droplet of pus from a cow with cowpox protected a person from smallpox resulted in the successful vaccination of millions of people. There were, however, complications associated with smallpox vaccination; the most serious complication was postvaccinal encephalitis, which was reported to occur with an incidence of 1 in 110,000 vaccinations and a case-fatality rate of 50%. Before we become complacent with the idea that we will respond to a bioterrorism attack with a mass immunization program for smallpox, it is important to be reminded of the risk and clinical manifestations of postvaccinal encephalitis and the efficacy of antivaccinia gamma-globulin in preventing this complication. The first case of postvaccinal encephalitis as a complication of the Jennerian cowpox inoculation was observed in 1905. A century later, there is no effective therapy.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2047920/"><span style="color: purple;">Encephalo-Myelitis following Vaccination</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Experimental Pathology 1926<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In view of the close resemblance between the clinical manifestations, the uniformity of the histological changes and the absence of similar cases independent of vaccination there can be no doubt that vaccination was a definite causal factor. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The only virus demonstrated experimentally in the tissue of the brain and cord was a vaccinial virus. Experiement did not prove this virus to have neurotroptic properties of exceptional intensity. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: Autoimmune Disease <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20708902"><span style="color: purple;">‘ASIA’ – Autoimmune/Inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Autoimmunity 2011<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The role of various environmental factors in the pathogenesis of immune mediated diseases is well established. Of which, factors entailing an immune adjuvant activity such as infectious agents, silicone, aluminium salts and others were associated with defined and non-defined immune mediated diseases both in animal models and in humans. In recent years, four conditions: siliconosis, the Gulf war syndrome (GWS), the macrophagic myofasciitis syndrome (MMF) and post-vaccination phenomena were linked with previous exposure to an adjuvant. Furthermore, these four diseases share a similar complex of signs and symptoms which further support a common denominator.Thus, we review herein the current data regarding the role of adjuvants in the pathogenesis of immune mediated diseases.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://lup.sagepub.com/content/21/2/118.full.pdf+html"><span style="color: purple;">The spectrum of ASIA: ‘Autoimmune (Auto-inflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants’</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Lupus 2012 </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">During the past year a new syndrome was introduced and termed </span><st1:stockticker><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">ASIA</span></st1:place></st1:stockticker><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">, ‘Autoimmune (Auto-inflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants. This syndrome assembles a spectrum of immune-mediated diseases triggered by an adjuvant stimulus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Taken together, this global view of </span><st1:place><st1:stockticker><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">ASIA</span></st1:stockticker></st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> probably represents only the tip of the iceberg. Encouraging physicians and patients to report adjuvant-related conditions will enable a better estimation of the true prevalence as well as the width of </span><st1:stockticker><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">ASIA</span></st1:place></st1:stockticker><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> spectrum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.the-rheumatologist.org/details/article/1081203/ASIA_A_New_Way_to_Put_the_Puzzle_Together.html"><span style="color: purple;">ASIA: A New Way to Put the Puzzle Together: Autoimmune (autoinflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvants provides a diagnostic framework for enigmatic conditions</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The Rheumatologist 2011<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Despite their ability to boost immune responses, in the past, adjuvants were generally considered to be inert materials that posed little or no independent threat to the host. Alas, animal studies as well as reports of human diseases have clearly demonstrated the ability of adjuvants to inflict diseases by themselves.10<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Aluminum is a widely used adjuvant that may produce immune activation and induce autoimmunity.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">From these observations, it appears that the activation of the immune system by natural adjuvants (e.g., infectious agents) or pharmaceutical ones (e.g., vaccines containing alum or silicone), while usually followed by a desired activation of the immune system, could, in certain situations, trigger manifestations of autoimmunity or even autoimmune diseases itself.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22054760"><span style="color: purple;">The common immunogenic etiology of chronic fatigue syndrome: from infections to vaccines via adjuvants to the ASIA syndrome</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Infectious Disease Clinics of North America 2011</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by unexplained fatigue that lasts for at least 6 months with a constellation of other symptoms. Recently, the AISA (autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants) syndrome was recognized, indicating the possible contribution of adjuvants and vaccines to the development of autoimmunity.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21483283"><span style="color: purple;">Shoenfeld’s Syndrome After Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 Vaccination</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Acta Reumatologica Portuguesa 2011</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Recently, reports have suggested grouping different autoimmune conditions that are triggered by external stimuli as a single syndrome called autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (</span><st1:stockticker><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">ASIA</span></st1:place></st1:stockticker><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">). This syndrome is characterized by the appearance of myalgia, myositis, muscle weakness, arthralgia, arthritis, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment and memory loss, and the possible emergence of a demyelinating autoimmune disease caused by systemic exposure after vaccines and adjuvants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://lup.sagepub.com/content/21/2/190.abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Gulf War Syndrome as a part of the autoimmune (autoinflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvant (ASIA)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Lupus 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Shoenfeld et al. suggested that four conditions – siliconosis, macrophagic myofaciitis (MMF), GWS and post-vaccination phenomena – that share clinical and pathogenic resemblances, may be incorporated into common syndrome called ‘Autoimmune (Autoinflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants’ (ASIA). Symptoms and signs of the four conditions described by Shoenfeld et al. show that at least eight out of ten main symptoms are in correlation in all four conditions. Namely, myalgia, arthralgias, chronic fatigue, neurological cognitive impairment, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms, skin manifestations and appearance of autoantibodies. Regardless of the aetiology of GWS, be it exposure to environmental factors or chemical drugs, vaccinations or the adjuvants in them, GWS fits well with the definition of ASIA and is included as part of ‘Shoenfeld’s syndrome’.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://lup.sagepub.com/content/21/2/146.abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Autoimmunity Following Hepatitis B Vaccine as Part of the Spectrum of ‘Autoimmune (Auto-inflammatory) Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants’ (ASIA): analysis of 93 cases</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Lupus 2012 </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In this study we analyzed the clinical and demographic manifestations among patients diagnosed with immune/autoimmune-mediated diseases post-hepatitis B vaccination. We aimed to find common denominators for all patients, regardless of different diagnosed diseases, as well as the correlation to the criteria of Autoimmune (Auto-inflammatory) Syndrome induced by Adjuvants (ASIA). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The ASIAcriteria were found to be very useful among adults with post-vaccination events. The application of the </span><st1:place><st1:stockticker><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">ASIA</span></st1:stockticker></st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> criteria to pediatric populations requires further study. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/124/9/1821.full.pdf+html"><span style="color: purple;">Macrophagic myofasciitis lesions assess long-term persistence of vaccine-derived aluminum hydroxide in muscle</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Brain 2001<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">We conclude that the MMF lesion is secondary to a intramuscular injection of aluminum hydroxide-containing vaccines, shows both long-term persistence of aluminum hydroxide and an ongoing local immune reaction, and is detected in patients with systemic symptoms which appeared subsequently to vaccination. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://lup.sagepub.com/content/21/2/184.abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Macrophagic myofasciitis: characterization and pathophysiology</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Lupus 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Aluminium oxyhydroxide (alum), a nanocrystalline compound forming agglomerates, has been used in vaccines for its immunological adjuvant effect since 1927. Alum is the most commonly used adjuvant in human and veterinary vaccines, but the mechanisms by which it stimulates immune responses remain incompletely understood. Although generally well tolerated, alum may occasionally cause disabling health problems in presumably susceptible individuals. A small proportion of vaccinated people present with delayed onset of diffuse myalgia, chronic fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, and exhibit very long-term persistence of alum-loaded macrophages at the site of previous intramuscular (i.m.) immunization, forming a granulomatous lesion called macrophagic myofasciitis (MMF).<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Animal experiments indicate that biopersistent nanomaterials taken up by monocyte-lineage cells in tissues, such as fluorescent alum surrogates, can first translocate to draining lymph nodes, and thereafter circulate in blood within phagocytes and reach the spleen, and, eventually, slowly accumulate in the brain.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12660567"><span style="color: purple;">Lessons From Macrophagic Myofasciitis: Towards Definition of a Vaccine Adjuvant-Related Syndrome</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Revue Neurologique 2003<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Electron microscopy, microanalytical studies, experimental procedures, and an epidemiological study recently demonstrated that the lesion is due to persistence for years at site of injection of an aluminum adjuvant used in vaccines.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Therefore, the WHO recommended an epidemiological survey, currently conducted by the French agency AFSSAPS, aimed at substantiating the possible link between the focal macrophagic myofasciitis lesion (or previous immunization with aluminum-containing vaccines) and systemic symptoms. Interestingly, special emphasis has been put on Th-2 biased immune responses as a possible explanation of chronic fatigue and associated manifestations known as the Gulf war syndrome.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Moreover, the war vaccine against anthrax, which is administered in a 6-shot regimen and seems to be crucially involved, is adjuvanted by aluminum hydroxide and, possibly, squalene, another Th-2 adjuvant. If safety concerns about long-term effects of aluminum hydroxide are confirmed it will become mandatory to propose novel and alternative vaccine adjuvants to rescue vaccine-based strategies and the enormous benefit for public health they provide worldwide.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15365133"><span style="color: purple;">Recombinant Hepatitis B Vaccine and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis: a Prospective Study</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Neurology 2004 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">A potential link between the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been evaluated in several studies, but some of them have substantial methodologic limitations.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://msj.sagepub.com/content/15/1/116.short"><span style="color: purple;">CNS Demyelination and Quadrivalent HPV Vaccination</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Multiple Sclerosis 2009<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Vaccination is generally considered safe in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We report five patients who presented with multifocal or atypical demyelinating syndromes within 21 days of immunization with the quadrivalent human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil. Although the target population for vaccination, young females, has an inherently high risk for MS, the temporal association with demyelinating events in these cases may be explained by the potent immuno-stimulatory properties of HPV virus-like particles which comprise the vaccine. A prospective case–control study of patients with MS or clinically isolated demyelinating syndromes receiving the Gardasil<sup>®</sup> vaccine may provide relevant safety data in this population. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Concern: Asthma and Allergy <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9345669"><span style="color: purple;">Is infant immunization a risk factor for childhood asthma or allergy?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Epidemiology 1997 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Christchurch Health and Development Study comprises 1,265 children born in 1977. The 23 children who received no diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) and polio immunizations had no recorded asthma episodes or consultations for asthma or other allergic illness before age 10 years; in the immunized children, 23.1% had asthma episodes, 22.5% asthma consultations, and 30.0% consultations for other allergic illness. Similar differences were observed at ages 5 and 16 years. These findings do not appear to be due to differential use of health services (although this possibility cannot be excluded) or con-founding by ethnicity, socioeconomic status, parental atopy, or parental smoking.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11513549"><span style="color: purple;">Infection of Human B Lymphocytes with MMR Vaccine Induces IgE Class Switching</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Clinical Immunology 2001<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Circulating immunoglobulin E (IgE) is one of the characteristics of human allergic diseases including allergic asthma. We recently showed that infection of human B cells with rhinovirus or measles virus could lead to the initial steps of IgE class switching. Since many viral vaccines are live viruses, we speculated that live virus vaccines may also induce IgE class switching in human B cells.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Our data suggest that a potential side effect of vaccination with live attenuated viruses may be an increase in the expression of IgE.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(07)02379-2/fulltext"><span style="color: purple;">Delay in diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of childhood asthma</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2008<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Early childhood immunizations have been viewed as promoters of asthma development by stimulating a TH2-type immune response or decreasing microbial pressure, which shifts the balance between TH1 and TH2 immunity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Among 11,531 children who received at least 4 doses of DPT, the risk of asthma was reduced to ½ in children whose first dose of DPT was delayed by more than 2 months. The likelihood of asthma in children with delays in all 3 doses was 0.39 (95% CI, 0.18-0.86).<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">We found a negative association between delay in administration of the first dose of whole-cell DPT immunization in childhood and the development of asthma; the association was greater with delays in all of the first 3 doses. The mechanism for this phenomenon requires further research.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10714532"><span style="color: purple;">Effects of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or tetanus vaccination on allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms among children and adolescents in the United States</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Manipulative Physiologic Therapeutics 2000 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Findings from animal and human studies confirm that diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTP) and tetanus vaccinations induce allergic responses; associations between childhood vaccinations and subsequent allergies have been reported recently.<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The odds of having a history of asthma was twice as great among vaccinated subjects than among unvaccinated subjects. The odds of having had any allergy-related respiratory symptom in the past 12 months was 63% greater among vaccinated subjects than unvaccinated subjects. The associations between vaccination and subsequent allergies and symptoms were greatest among children aged 5 through 10 years.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091674905000266">The relationship between vaccine refusal and self-report of atopic disease in children</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2004<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">In the last 3 decades, there has been an unexplained increase in the prevalence of asthma and hay fever.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">The data included 515 never vaccinated, 423 partially vaccinated, and 239 completely vaccinated children. In multiple regression analyses there were significant (<i>P</i> < .0005) and dose-dependent negative relationships between vaccination refusal and self-reported asthma or hay fever only in children with no family history of the condition and, for asthma, in children with no exposure to antibiotics during infancy. Vaccination refusal was also significantly (<i>P</i> < .005) and negatively associated with self-reported eczema and current wheeze. A sensitivity analysis indicated that substantial biases would be required to overturn the observed associations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Parents who refuse vaccinations reported less asthma and allergies in their unvaccinated children. Although this relationship was independent of measured confounders, it could be due to differences in other unmeasured lifestyle factors or systematic bias. Further research is needed to verify these results and investigate which exposures are driving the associations between vaccination refusal and allergic disease.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: General Autoimmunity Issues <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://shoemakerassociates.com/documents/girard-autoimmiunehazardsofhepbvaccine.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">Autoimmune hazards of hepatitis B vaccine</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Autoimmunity Reviews 2005 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">According to Hippocratic tradition, the safety level of a preventive medicine must be very high, as it is aimed at protecting people against diseases that they may not contract. This paper points out that information on the safety of hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) is biased as compared to classical requirements of evidence-based medicine (EBM), as exemplified by a documented selectivity in the presentation or even publication of available clinical or epidemiological data.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">As compared to other drugs, especially if their benefit is prevention only, a striking point of HBV (Hep B Vaccine) hazards emerges from the following triptyque: (1) the frequency of its adverse effects; (2) their severity; (3) their variety. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In HBV documented hazards, two main categories emerge: (1) central demyelinating disorders (2)disorders reproducing the non-hepatic manifestation of natural hepatitis B, which leads to question the rationality of injection viral antigens added with adjuvants in order to protect against an infection where the causative agent is not always cytotoxic by itself. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The aim of this paper was to stimulate research on the unusual toxicity of HBV vaccine and to induce international pressure on health authorities in order to obtain the release of the whole of cumulated clinical and epidemiological evidence in the normal circulation of scientific information and peer-reviewed research. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.nature.com/nrrheum/journal/v5/n11/abs/nrrheum.2009.196.html"><span style="color: purple;">Vaccines and autoimmunity</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Nature Reviews Rheumatology 2009 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">T</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">he latency period between vaccination and autoimmunity ranges from days to years. In this article, on the basis of published evidence and our own experience, we discuss the various aspects of the causal and temporal interactions between vaccines and autoimmune phenomena, as well as the possible mechanisms by which different components of vaccines might induce autoimmunity.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/9115571"><span style="color: purple;">Vaccine-induced Autoimmunity</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Autoimmunity 1996<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The current review summarizes case reports attributing autoimmune diseases and phenomena to various vaccines and suggests potential mechanisms. The subject is complicated by the fact that one vaccine may cause more than one autoimmune phenomenon, and a particular immune process may be caused by more than one vaccine. The subject of the vaccine-autoimmunity relationship is still obscure.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Laborious clinical and laboratory studies should be initiated in order to evaluate the new emerging subject of vaccine-induced autoimmunity.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://lup.sagepub.com/content/21/2/223.short"><span style="color: purple;">Mechanisms of aluminum adjuvant toxicity and autoimmunity in pediatric populations</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Lupus 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Immune challenges during early development, including those vaccine-induced, can lead to permanent detrimental alterations of the brain and immune function. Experimental evidence also shows that simultaneous administration of as little as two to three immune adjuvants can overcome genetic resistance to autoimmunity. In some developed countries, by the time children are 4 to 6 years old, they will have received a total of 126 antigenic compounds along with high amounts of aluminum (Al) adjuvants through routine vaccinations.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">In summary, research evidence shows that increasing concerns about current vaccination practices may indeed be warranted. Because children may be most at risk of vaccine-induced complications, a rigorous evaluation of the vaccine-related adverse health impacts in the pediatric population is urgently needed. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Repeated immunization with antigen causes systemic autoimmunity in mice otherwise not prone to spontaneous autoimmune diseases. Systemic autoimmunity appears to be the inevitable consequence of over-stimulating the host</span><st1:personname><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></st1:personname><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s immune ‘system’ by repeated immunization with antigen, to the levels that surpass system</span><st1:personname><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">'</span></st1:personname><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">s self-organized criticality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: Chronic Illness <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/2/307.short"><span style="color: purple;">Chronic Arthritis after Rubella Vaccination</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Clinical Infectious Diseases 1992<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">The committee spent 20 months reviewing a wide range of information sources including case series and individual case reports published in peer-reviewed journals and reported by vaccine manufacturers; unpublished case reports from physicians, parents, and other concerned persons; epidemiological studies; and laboratory studies. There were no animal studies available. The committee found that the evidence is consistent with a causal relation between the RA 27/3 rubella vaccine strain and chronic arthritis in adult women.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://lup.sagepub.com/content/21/2/153.abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica after influenza vaccination: report of 10 cases and review of the literature</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Lupus 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are inflammatory rheumatic diseases common in people over the age of 50 years. Herein, we report 10 cases of previously healthy subjects who developed GCA/PMR within 3 months of influenza vaccination (Inf-V). A Medline search uncovered additional 11 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>isolated cases of GCA/PMR occurring after Inf-V. We discuss the role of individual susceptibility, the potential function of immune adjuvants as triggers of autoimmunity post-vaccination, and the correlation of our observation with the ‘ASIA’ syndrome,<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02772240701806501"><span style="color: purple;">Hepatitis B triple series vaccine and developmental disability in US children aged 1-9 years</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This study investigated the association between vaccination with the Hepatitis B triple series vaccine prior to 2000 and developmental disability in children aged 1–9 years (<i>n</i> = 1824), proxied by parental report that their child receives early intervention or special education services (EIS). The odds of receiving EIS were approximately nine times as great for vaccinated boys (<i>n</i> = 46) as for unvaccinated boys (<i>n</i> = 7), after adjustment for confounders. This study found statistically significant evidence to suggest that boys in United States who were vaccinated with the triple series Hepatitis B vaccine</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0033723">Increased Incidence and Clinical Picture of Childhood Narcolepsy following the 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Vaccination Campaign in Finland</a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">PLOS ONE 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #303030; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Narcolepsy is a rare neurological sleep disorder especially in children who are younger than 10 years. In the beginning of 2010, an exceptionally large number of Finnish children suffered from an abrupt onset of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and cataplexy. Therefore, we carried out a systematic analysis of the incidence of narcolepsy in Finland between the years 2002–2010.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #303030; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A sudden increase in the incidence of abrupt childhood narcolepsy was observed in Finland in 2010. We consider it likely that Pandemrix vaccination contributed, perhaps together with other environmental factors, to this increase in genetically susceptible children.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)69891-7/fulltext">Safety and immunogenicity of H5N1 vaccine<o:p></o:p></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The Lancet 2010 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">We have some concerns about the long-term safety of this adjuvant-containing formulation. The manufacturer chose aluminum hydroxide, a long-used adjuvant known to potentate immune response through strong Th2 immunostimulatory effects.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12793601"><span style="color: purple;">Clustering of cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus occurring 2-4 years after vaccination is consistent with clustering after infections and progression to type 1 diabetes mellitus in autoantibody positive individuals</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism 2003<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">We previously analyzed data from a hemophilus vaccine trial and identified clusters of extra cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) caused by the vaccine that occurred between 36 and 48 months after immunization.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The identification of clusters of cases of T1DM occurring in consistent temporal time periods allowed a link between the hemophilus vaccine and T1DM to be established. The current findings indicate the there are also clusters of cases of T1DM occurring 2-4 years post-immunization with the pertussis, MMR, and BCG vaccine. The data are consistent with the occurrence of clusters following mumps infection and the progression to T1DM in patients with antipancreatic autoantibodies.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12482192"><span style="color: purple;">Clustering of cases of insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM) occurring three years after hemophilus influenza B (HiB) immunization support causal relationship between immunization and IDDM</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Autoimmunity 2002<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The hemophilus vaccine has been linked to the development of autoimmune type 1 diabetes, insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM) in ecological studies. We attempted to determine if the Hemophilus influenza B (HiB) vaccine was associated with an increased risk of IDDM by looking for clusters of cases of IDDM using data from a large clinical trial. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Exposure to HiB immunization is associated with an increased risk of IDDM.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.medical-hypotheses.com/article/S0306-9877(01)91352-0/abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Vaccines and the risk of insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM): potential mechanism of action</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Medical Hypotheses 2001<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Immunization with a number of different vaccines, including live and killed vaccines, has been linked to the development of insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes in humans and animals. Multiple different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the association between vaccines and diabetes. The current paper reviews multiple different mechanisms by which vaccines are known to manipulate the immune system and can induce an autoimmune disease such as type 1 diabetes.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC452549/"><span style="color: purple;">Emergent Human Pathogen Simian Virus 40 and Its Role in Cancer</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Clinical Microbiology Reviews 2004<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The polyomavirus simian virus 40 (SV40) is a known oncogenic DNA virus which induces primary brain and bone cancers, malignant mesothelioma, and lymphomas in laboratory animals. Persuasive evidence now indicates that SV40 is causing infections in humans today and represents an emerging pathogen. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The discovery of the polyomavirus SV40, as well as its introduction as a pathogen into the human population, was tied to the development and worldwide distribution of early forms of the polio vaccine. It is noteworthy that SV40 has been detected in malignancies from children and young adults not exposed to contaminated polio vaccines, as well as in older adults.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">However, the epidemiological data available are recognized to be inconclusive and the Institute of Medicine found that the epidemiological data for cancer rates in people potentially exposed to SV40-contaminated vaccines are inadequate to evaluate a causal relationship. This conclusion is based on the lack of data on which individuals actually received contaminated vaccines, the unknown dosage of infectious SV40 present in particular lots of vaccine, the failure to know who among the exposed were successfully infected with SV40, the inability to know if the vaccine “unexposed” cohorts may have been exposed to SV40 from other sources, and the difficulty of monitoring a large population for cancer development for years after virus exposure.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Institute of Medicine recently concluded that “the biological evidence is of moderate strength that SV40 exposure could lead to cancer in humans under natural conditions.” This review analyzes the accumulating data that indicate that SV40 is a pathogen which has a possible etiologic role in human malignancies.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: Disease Transmission <o:p></o:p></span></u><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/content/337/6091/188.abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Attenuated vaccines can recombine to form virulent field viruses</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Science 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Recombination between herpesviruses has been seen in vitro and in vivo under experimental conditions. This has raised safety concerns about using attenuated herpesvirus vaccines in humans…and adds to other known concerns associated with their use, including reversion to virulence and disease arising from recurrent reactivation of lifelong chronic infection.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2010/01/25/peds.2009-1901.full.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">Sibling Transmission of Vaccine-Derived Rotavirus (RotaTeq) Associated With Rotavirus Gastroenteritis</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<st1:place><st1:placename><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><st1:place><st1:placename>American</st1:placename></st1:place></span></st1:placename><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></st1:place> </div>
<st1:placetype><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><st1:placetype>Academy</st1:placetype></span></st1:placetype><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"></span> of Pediatrics 2012 <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Although rotavirus vaccines are known to be shed in stools, transmission of vaccine-derived virus to unvaccinated contacts resulting in symptomatic rotavirus gastroenteritis has not been reported to our knowledge. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">We document here the occurrence of vaccine-derived rotavirus (RotaTeq) transmission from a vaccinated infant to an older, unvaccinated sibling, resulting in symptomatic rotavirus gastroenteritis that required emergency department care. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Results of our investigation suggest that reassortment between vaccine component strains of genotypes [] …raising the possibility that this reassortment may have increased the virulence of the vaccine-derived virus. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://jvi.asm.org/content/76/13/6791.full"><span style="color: purple;">Long-Term Circulation of Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus That Causes Paralytic Disease</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Virology 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Long-term (several years) persistence of vaccine derivatives in immunocompromised persons and the ability of the evolved variants to cause paralytic disease are well-established phenomena. Recent outbreaks of poliomyelitis in Egypt , the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and the Philippines, caused by evolved derivatives of vaccine viruses of types 1 and 2, support the notion that there is a significant risk of prolonged circulation of the vaccine viruses in populations with a low immunity level, as well as their conversion into epidemic strains. Highly evolved Sabin vaccine derivatives have also been isolated from sewage even in the absence of apparent cases of paralytic poliomyelitis.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://jcm.asm.org/content/38/10/3729.full"><span style="color: purple;">Molecular and Antigenic Characterization of a Highly Evolved Derivative of the Type 2 Oral Poliovaccine Strain Isolated from Sewage in Israel</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2000<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">An unusual, highly diverged derivative of the Sabin type 2 oral poliovaccine (OPV) strain was recovered from environmental samples during routine screening for wild polioviruses.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">The presence in the environment of a highly evolved, neurovirulent OPV-derived poliovirus in the absence of polio cases has important implications for strategies for the cessation of immunization with OPV following global polio eradication. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://jgv.sgmjournals.org/content/83/5/1107.full"><span style="color: purple;">Prevalence of vaccine-derived polioviruses in the environment</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of General Virology 2002<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">A survey of poliovirus in river and sewage water was conducted from October 1993 to September 1995 in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. In this study, 25 isolates differentiated as type 2 vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) were characterized.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">The prevalence of virulent-type VDPVs in river and sewage water suggested that the oral poliovaccine itself had led to wide environmental pollution in nature. To terminate the cycle of virus transmission in nature, the ecology of VDPVs should be studied further<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21983359"><span style="color: purple;">Transmission of mumps virus from mumps-vaccinated individuals to close contact</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">During a recent mumps epidemic in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><st1:country-region><st1:place>Netherlands</st1:place></st1:country-region></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
caused by a genotype D mumps virus strain, we investigated the potential of vaccinated people to spread mumps disease to close contacts.<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">We also investigated the occurrence of mumps infection among the household contacts of vaccinated mumps patients. We found that viral titers are higher for unvaccinated patients than for vaccinated patients during the 1st 3 days after onset of disease. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">We conclude that, in this particular outbreak, the risk of a close contact becoming infected by vaccinated patients was small, but present.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: Efficacy Issues/Failure <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/129/5/968.extract"><span style="color: purple;">Why Do Pertussis Vaccines Fail?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Pediatrics 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">During the 2010 pertussis epidemic in California, there was considerable concern in the press and in public health communications about the possible contribution of vaccine failures to the problem.<span class="xref-bibr2"><sup>1</sup></span><sup>,<span class="xref-bibr2">2</span></sup> In this commentary, I examine why pertussis vaccines fail.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #403838; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">The first reason, and perhaps the most important one, is that our estimates of vaccine efficacy have been inflated because of case definition<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/54/12/1730.abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Unexpectedly limited durability of immunity following acellular pertussis vaccination in preadolescents in a North American outbreak</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Clinical Infectious Diseases 2012 <b><span style="background: #ffcc99;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Despite widespread childhood vaccination against </span><em><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Bordetella pertussis</span></em><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">, disease remains prevalent. It has been suggested that acellular vaccine may be less effective than previously believed. During a large outbreak, we examined the incidence of pertussis and effectiveness of vaccination in a well-vaccinated, well-defined community.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Our data suggests that the current schedule of acellular pertussis vaccine doses is insufficient to prevent outbreaks of pertussis. We noted a markedly increased rate of disease from ages 8–12 years, proportionate to the interval since the last scheduled vaccine.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20200027"><span style="color: purple;">Acellular pertussis vaccination facilitates Bordetella parapertussis infection in a rodent model of bordetellosis.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Proceedings Biological Science 2010 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Despite over 50 years of population-wide vaccination, whooping cough incidence is on the rise. Although Bordetella pertussis is considered the main causative agent of whooping cough in humans, Bordetella parapertussis infections are not uncommon. The widely used acellular whooping cough vaccines (aP) are comprised solely of B. pertussis antigens that hold little or no efficacy against B. parapertussis. Here, we ask how aP vaccination affects competitive interactions between Bordetella species.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Thus, we conclude that aP vaccination interferes with the optimal clearance of B. parapertussis and enhances the performance of this pathogen. Our data raise the possibility that widespread aP vaccination can create hosts more susceptible to B. parapertussis infection.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X12006299"><span style="color: purple;">Mumps outbreak among vaccinated university students associated with a large party, the Netherlands, 2010</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Vaccine 2012</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">We investigated a mumps outbreak within a highly vaccinated university student population in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Netherlands</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> by conducting a retrospective cohort study among members of university societies in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Delft</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">, </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Leiden</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> and </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Utrecht</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">High coverage of MMR vaccination in childhood did not prevent an outbreak of mumps in this student population.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1200850"><span style="color: purple;">Waning Protection after Fifth Dose of Acellular Pertussis Vaccine in Children</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">United States</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">, children receive five doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine before 7 years of age. The duration of protection after five doses of DTaP is unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Conclusions: Protection against pertussis waned during the 5 years after the fifth dose of DTaP. (Funded by Kaiser Permanente).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X12007761"><span style="color: purple;">Review of the United States universal varicella vaccination program: Herpes zoster incidence rates, cost-effectiveness, and vaccine efficacy based primarily on the Antelope Valley Varicella Active Surveillance Project data</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Vaccine 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The basic assumptions inherent to the varicella cost–benefit analysis ignored the significance of exogenous boosting caused by those shedding wild-type VZV. Also ignored was the morbidity associated with even rare serious events following varicella vaccination as well as the morbidity from increasing cases of HZ among adults. Vaccine efficacy declined below 80% in 2001. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">By 2006, because 20% of vaccinees were experiencing breakthrough varicella and vaccine-induced protection was waning, the CDC recommended a booster dose for children and, in 2007, a shingles vaccination was approved for adults aged 60 years and older. In the prelicensure era, 95% of adults experienced natural chickenpox (usually as children)—these cases were usually benign and resulted in long-term immunity. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Varicella vaccination is less effective than the natural immunity that existed in prevaccine communities. Universal varicella vaccination has not proven to be cost-effective as increased HZ morbidity has disproportionately offset cost savings associated with reductions in varicella disease. Universal varicella vaccination has failed to provide long-term protection from VZV disease.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.vaccine-tlc.org/docs/Mumps.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">Mumps Orchitis in the Post-Vaccine Era (1967Y2009)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Medicine 2010 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Since the introduction of the mumps vaccine, the age of appearance of mumps infection has shifted from children to adolescents and young adults, groups with a higher incidence of disease complications. Serious complications have appeared as a consequence because of the higher rate of sequelae among the older age-group. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Although the mumps virus is one of the most frequent viral causes of accurate lymphocytic meningitis (and this is the primary justification for routine childhood immunization), there are conflicting opinions regarding the frequency of central nervous system involvement in mumps. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10424&page=R1"><span style="color: purple;">Considerations for Viral Disease Eradication: Lessons Learned and Future Strategies</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">National Academic Press 2002<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Important and often overlooked, mass vaccinations itself can also exert tremendous selective pressures and lead to the evolution of new infectious agents.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(03)13171-6/fulltext"><span style="color: purple;">Risk of vaccine failure after Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) combination vaccines with acellular pertussis</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The Lancet 2003</span><br />
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<span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">An increase in invasive Hib disease incidence in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><st1:country-region><st1:place>UK</st1:place></st1:country-region></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
has coincided with the distribution of combination vaccines that contain acellular pertussis (DTaP-Hib). These vaccines have been associated with reduced immunogenicity of the Hib component<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: Questionable Placebos / Policy <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20956710"><span style="color: purple;">What’s in Placebos: Who Knows? Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Annals of Internal Medicine 2010<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">No regulations govern placebo composition. The composition of placebos can influence trial outcomes and merits reporting.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831649/?tool=pubmed"></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831649/?tool=pubmed"><span style="color: purple;">Testing vaccines in pediatric research subjects</span></a></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vaccine 2009</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The FDA encourages the use of placebos and provides a conceptual basis for the practice. The FDA however does not specifically address placebos in children or other vulnerable subjects.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For intramuscular and subcutaneous vaccinations, injections of sterile normal saline may serve as placebos, but researchers frequently choose other comparative agents. A review of the most recently published trials involving vaccines for children found a variety of comparators that took the place of placebos in children. For example, a recent study of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine with nine serotypes (PCV-9) used as its comparator an active vaccine. Specifically, the PCV-9 was reconstituted with the DTP-Hib vaccine. The comparator was vaccine-diluent mixed with the same DTP-Hib vaccine. In another study, a novel, bivalent, heat-killed, whole-cell oral cholera vaccine is compared to a similarly manufactured, heat-killed <em><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Escherichia coli</span></em> K12 vaccine-a vaccine of no therapeutic benefit. In a third, recent study of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine with seven stereotypes paired serially with a 23-valent, pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, the investigators used as the comparator hepatitis A or B vaccines. In a fourth study, the study vaccine consisted of a <em><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</span></em> flagellar protein combined with aluminum hydroxide and thimerosal. The comparator consisted of just aluminum hydroxide combined with thimerosal.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/12/01/cid.cir836.abstract?sid=446ff7dc-43cb-4f25-9696-a8dea1459a01"><span style="color: purple;">The Number Needed to Vaccinate to Prevent Infant Pertussis Hospitalization and Death Through Parent Cocoon Immunization</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Clinical Infectious Diseases 2011<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';">Parental immunization has been recommended as a “cocoon” strategy to prevent serious pertussis outcomes in early infancy. The NNV for parental immunization was at least 1 million to prevent 1 infant death. In the context of low pertussis incidence, the parental cocoon program is inefficient and resource intensive for the prevention of serious outcomes in early infancy.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Safety Concern: Unexplained Infant Death <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3170075/"><span style="color: purple;">Infant mortality rates regressed against number of vaccine doses routinely given: is there a biochemical or synergistic toxicity?</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Human Exp Toxicology 2011<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The infant mortality rate (IMR) is one of the most important indicators of the socio-economic well-being and public health conditions of a country. The US childhood immunization schedule specifies 26 vaccine doses for infants aged less than 1 year—the most in the world—yet 33 nations have lower IMRs. Using linear regression, the immunization schedules of these 34 nations were examined and a correlation coefficient of </span><em><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">r</span></em><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> = 0.70 (</span><em><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; mso-ansi-language: EN;">p</span></em><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> < 0.0001) was found between IMRs and the number of vaccine doses routinely given to infants.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Using the Tukey-Kramer test, statistically significant differences in mean IMRs were found between nations giving 12–14 vaccine doses and those giving 21–23, and 24–26 doses. A closer inspection of correlations between vaccine doses, biochemical or synergistic toxicity, and IMRs is essential.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(07)00185-0/abstract"><span style="color: purple;">Primary Immunization of Premature Infants with Gestational Age <35 Weeks: cardiorespiratory Complications and C-Reactive Protein Responses Associated with Administration of Single and Multiple Separate Vaccines Simultaneously</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Pediatrics 2007<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">To determine the incidence of cardiorespiratory events and abnormal C-reactive protein (CRP) level associated with administration of a single vaccine or multiple separate vaccines simultaneously.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Abnormal elevation of CRP level occurred in 85% of infants administered multiple vaccines and up to 70% of those given a single vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">CRP level is expected to be elevated in the 48 hours following immunization. In a minority of infants immunized, cardiorespiratory events were associated with presumed need for intervention. Underlying medical conditions and possibly multiple injections are associated with cardiorespiratory events. Precautionary monitoring following immunizations is warranted.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?requester=gs&collection=ENV&recid=6737412&q=&uid=791707977&setcookie=yes"><span style="color: purple;">Unexplained cases of sudden infant death shortly after hexavalent vaccination</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Virchows Archives 2006<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Experts from panels of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medical Products have investigated whether there might be a link between hexavalent vaccines and some cases of deaths that occurred. Participants included pathologists with experience in the field of vaccines and sudden infant death syndrome who conducted autopsies. However, to the best of our knowledge, little, if any, attention was paid to examination of the brainstem and the cardiac conduction systems on serial sections, nor was the possibility of a triggering role of the vaccine in these deaths considered. Herein we report the case of a 3-month-old female infant dying suddenly and unexpectedly shortly after being given a hexavalent vaccination. Examination of the brainstem on serial sections revealed bilateral hypoplasia of the arcuate nucleus. The cardiac conduction system presented persistent fetal dispersion and resorptive degeneration. This case offers a unique insight into the possible role of hexavalent vaccine in triggering a lethal outcome in a vulnerable baby. Any case of sudden unexpected death occurring perinatally and in infancy, especially soon after a vaccination, should always undergo a full necropsy study according to our guidelines.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17654772"><span style="color: purple;">Simultaneous sudden infant death syndrome</span></a><o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Journal of Forensic Legal Medicine 2007 <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The simultaneous sudden deaths of twins rarely occur and therefore it has received limited attention in the medical literature. When the deaths of the twins meet the defined criteria for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) independently and take place within the same 24 h range it can be called as simultaneous SIDS (SSIDS). The case(s): Twin girls (3.5-month-old) were found dead by their mother in their crib, both in supine position.<o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Both infants were healthy and did not have any serious medical history. Two days prior to the incident, the twins had received the second dose of oral polio, DPT and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccines and they had fever on the first day of the vaccination and been given teaspoonful of acetaminophen. The Board decided that the available data was consistent with SIDS. These SIDS case(s) are presented because twin SIDS are rare.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">More Resources <o:p></o:p></span></u><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Vaccine Excipient & Media Summary (Ingredient Listing of Vaccines in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/b/excipient-table-2.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/b/excipient-table-2.pdf</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Search Clinical Trials <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search"><span style="color: purple;">http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">More Research <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.greatergoodmovie.org/learn-more/research/"><span style="color: purple;">http://www.greatergoodmovie.org/learn-more/research/</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<em><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Microsoft Sans Serif'; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">This post reflects the research and concern that I have about vaccination. It doesn’t represent my opinion of people who choose to vaccinate or not. Please know that, while my family has made this decision, we respect the right of all parents to choose to vaccinate if they feel this is best for their child. I don’t have all the answers. Most of us don’t. We’re all in the same boat in that we need to make the best decision we can with the information we have. </span></em><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-83411425719357801132013-05-30T11:14:00.000-04:002013-05-30T11:14:20.933-04:00Water Fluoridation: A Problem in Ethics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO19YPv_EaPapFFUz6wpkoxqCPKkIbMVFxawNCVgfhsQ3K3OKZToq-isqYJpzJKpqUHA9zuto3_WHw51RCxpCPHIIEAQFg5n5WI2O-c0rcKc60jnVD9dW6ocozdXmnr4OTDpTJ5DmF-h5r/s1600/water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO19YPv_EaPapFFUz6wpkoxqCPKkIbMVFxawNCVgfhsQ3K3OKZToq-isqYJpzJKpqUHA9zuto3_WHw51RCxpCPHIIEAQFg5n5WI2O-c0rcKc60jnVD9dW6ocozdXmnr4OTDpTJ5DmF-h5r/s320/water.jpg" width="320" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Sixty-eight years ago, the beautiful city of </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Grand Rapids</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">, MI, added fluoride to its municipal water system - and hence, </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">America</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> introduced the world to community water fluoridation.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/65_years.htm"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/MWF/Index.asp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">However, in a fascinating twist, individuals and communities all over the world continue an active effort in removing/rejecting the fluoridation of their local water supply.[<a href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/content/communities/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The most recent efforts here in the </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">US</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> were among voters in </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Portland</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> who emphasized that adding fluoride would violate an individual’s right to consent to ‘medication.’[<a href="http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/05/23/portland-rejects-water-fluoridation-the-world-is-waking-up/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This rejection of the proposal continues to maintain </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Portland</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> as the largest </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">U.S.</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"> city without fluoride in their water.[<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/22/portland-fluoride-water/2350329/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">Quicky - History of Rejection <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Between 1950 and 1967 there were over 1,000 fluoridation referendums (according to the CDC). Of those, 41 % fluoride proposals were adopted with 59 % rejected.[<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/21/a-brief-history-of-americas-fluoride-wars/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">From 1980 to 1988, there were fewer fluoridation votes, 150 in total, with a 36 % success rate.[<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/21/a-brief-history-of-americas-fluoride-wars/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In spite of this, fluoridation rates have steadily increased in recent years. Americans living in areas with fluoridated water has increased from 62 % (1992) to 72.5% (2013).[<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/21/a-brief-history-of-americas-fluoride-wars/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">The Elephant in the Room – An Ethics Lesson <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fluoridation is the only water treatment process that does not treat the water itself, but the person consuming it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fluoridation is the practice of adding chemicals (fluorosilicic acid, sodium fluorosilicate) to drinking water to raise the naturally occurring level of the fluoride ion to approximately 1 mg/L in the belief that this can reduce the frequency of dental caries.[<a href="http://kcindustries.com/fluorosilicic-acid/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://kcindustries.com/sodium-fluorosilicate/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Currently, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency recommended that cities maintain 0.7 milligrams per litter of fluoride in the water supply. (This was recently lowered in 2011 from the original recommendation of 1.2 milligrams.)[<a href="http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/20110107a.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Nearly 75% of municipalities follow this recommendation (with many reaching levels beyond the 0.7 ml/L<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>recommendation…personally, my own municipal water supply is included in this elevated bunch). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Given this, there are several ethical issues that fluoridation neglects:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Unlicensed medicinal substance<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">medicinal substance</span></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(noun): any chemical compound used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease or other abnormal condition.[<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/medicinal+drug"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">To put it plainly, fluoride, when used in the diagnosis, cure or prevention of disease in man (or animal), is a drug that is subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation.[<a href="http://urity.org/VOC/cross_carton_ethics_of_madatory_medication.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Originally, fluoridation involved the sole use of sodium fluoride, however this process is now accomplished mainly (90%) by the use of silicofluorides obtained from the manufacturing process (effluent scrubbers) of the phosphate fertilizer.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/fact_sheets/engineering/wfadditives.htm"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://slweb.org/APHA-silicofluorides.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://kcindustries.com/fluorosilicic-acid/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://kcindustries.com/sodium-fluorosilicate/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">While most commercially available formulations of toothpaste that contain fluoride are formally registered as ingestible drugs, neither sodium fluoride or silicofluorides has been licensed as such in the United States.[<a href="http://urity.org/VOC/cross_carton_ethics_of_madatory_medication.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This is in strak contrast to pharmaceutical products that require strict formal licensing, quality control (in the manufacturing process), and safety testing. Yet, these particular chemicals (silicofluorides) are given to adults and children as unlicensed medicines - without any such safety testing, pharmaceutical-level quality control in manufacture,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">or medical monitoring in administration.[<a href="http://urity.org/VOC/cross_carton_ethics_of_madatory_medication.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM070290.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In my opinion, fluoridation should be reclassified as medical research. At least in this classification, there are strict ethical procedures and sanctions intended for protection the public.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Voluntary and informed consent <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The ethical issues raised by fluoridation can ultimately be referenced in the Nuremberg Code. [<a href="http://urity.org/VOC/cross_carton_ethics_of_madatory_medication.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/archive/nurcode.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Research, medical experimentation or even routine medical procedures, must be completed with the voluntary cooperation of the individual, who must be fully informed of the risks and benefits of the medical procedures in which they are involved.[<a href="http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/code-medical-ethics.page"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaguVY9MV0XbT-hM09Rj5MinMMFJJwFlpG8DlPDdzzNCuShIpM8cEUc2xe_K4J6yi0qSJEEpw1-rTw4_eDG9-Pf4owHTnJVlQJhkF5NyPMgHg4O41fqtaGhL5F91LFbeHKD916dRt_pZ0j/s1600/informed_consent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaguVY9MV0XbT-hM09Rj5MinMMFJJwFlpG8DlPDdzzNCuShIpM8cEUc2xe_K4J6yi0qSJEEpw1-rTw4_eDG9-Pf4owHTnJVlQJhkF5NyPMgHg4O41fqtaGhL5F91LFbeHKD916dRt_pZ0j/s320/informed_consent.jpg" width="320" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In the case of fluoridation there is no such actions taken (or are planned) at attaining informed consent of the public at hand. The State has taken the power upon itself to assume the rights of the individual. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Obviously, a State’s interest may legitimately override an individual’s consent in the event of a potentially life-threatening and/or contagious disease. However, unless there is a valid public health concern, the request of the individual must take precedence over actions imposed by the state. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In the data and research I’ve completed, tooth decay does not qualify as such a disease requiring the State to assume individual rights. Clearly, because tooth decay is not a life-threatening or contagious disease, the use of fluoridation as a prophylactic medical intervention (without the fully informed consent of the public) violates civil liberties. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Safety <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There are many health concerns that are debated currently with fluoride ingestion, fluoridation and toxicity – however, I am not going to go into detail here in this post. Rather – this post is dedicated to the ethical issue at hand so I will only address this briefly. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">At the heart of any medical ethics debate is the nature of the substance being administered: fluoride chemical compounds added to drinking water. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) standard requires that the chemicals added to drinking water be supported by toxicological evaluation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">However, no randomized, controlled human trials (RCTs) have been completed on the products (hydrofluosilicic acid and sodium fluorosilicate) used in water fluoridation – which makes this section of the post rather short.[<a href="http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/Clinch_2011_Safety_Studies_Fluorosilicates.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2001/mar01/flouride.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Nonetheless, there are particular risks when these chemicals are being purchased and added by your municipality that I do want to address. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The more I began to read about how fluoride is added to our drinking supply, it made me wonder - who the hell is responsible to maintain the safety (particularly the processes) of public water fluoridation? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(Unfortunately, I was unable to find the exact answer to this – however, <a href="https://www.hans.org/magazine/883/Three-Lawsuits-about-Fluoridation"><span style="color: purple;">here are three recent lawsuits in the US</span></a> pertaining to water fluoridation which may add to the confusion of who is wholly responsible.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">To the best of my understanding the State is responsible for monitoring the safety of water fluoridation (please correct me if I’m incorrect). However, not one state’s public health department requires monitoring results of any water system’s fluoridation program; this information is purely on a voluntary basis from each water municipality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">How exactly is safety (principally the level of fluoride) being monitored if it is not required to declare/report it? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">75% of drinking water in this nation is being treated with chemicals by corporate workers and engineers with no medical qualification or clinical experience. The training recommendation (mind you -not required, just recommended) by the CDC is that managers working in fluoridated public water systems should have 6 hours of fluoridation training – that is the end of it.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00039178.htm"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This is disheartening to say the least, you see, when a community fluoridates its drinking water, a potential exists for a fluoride overfeed (<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00039178.htm"><span style="color: purple;">this is per the CDC</span></a>). The CDC also <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>confirms that some fluoride levels in fluoridated municipalities can be high enough to cause immediate health problems. Of course, it is instructed that all overfeeds should be corrected immediately because some “have the potential to cause serious long-term health effects”.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00039178.htm"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">And what if they do? Who is responsible – and what about the case that the public are NOT required to be notified of fluoride overfeeds occurring – ?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One size-fits all approach <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In pharmacology, it is understood that individuals respond differently (sometimes very differently) to the same dose of a given drug/medication.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Consequently, the dose of a medication that is considered safe for one person may be harmful for someone else – in some cases dangerous. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The data and understanding on this particular issue is still developing, nearly 70 years after the initiation of fluoridation. However, the premise that fluoridation is safe at the same dose for everyone (irrespective of age, health, and nutritional status) is not well held by scientific evidence – in fact, data point to the contrary. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Some examples: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Not only do infants receive a larger dose then their adult counterparts, they have an impaired ability to excrete fluoride through their kidneys.[<a href="http://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/260753"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Current studies have discuss the possibility that infants in this age group (0-12 months) may be consuming more fluoride than necessary. In March 2006, the National Research Council (NRC) cautioned that infants can fluoride-overdose via reconstituted baby formula.[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11571"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Individuals with poor kidney function (particularly dialysis patients)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">A 2006 National Research Council report indicates people with kidney disease are more susceptible to fluoride’s bone and teeth damaging effects. Particularly, dialysis machines cannot use fluoridated water because it is understood to be potentially dangerous to patients. An NKF statement indicates some people receiving dialysis treatments died or were poisoned from fluoride after it leeched through machine filters.[<a href="http://www.wnd.com/2008/06/67360/#FiZAQ03SE71pstEu.99">*</a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Individuals with iodine deficiency<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Research has shown that fluoride exposure worsens the impact of an already occurring iodine deficiency. When iodine intake is inadequate during early childhood, the brain can suffer permanent damage. An iodine deficiency coupled with fluoride exposure produces a significantly more damaging effect on neurological development than iodine deficiency alone.[<a href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/uploads/ren-1989.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/uploads/lin-1991.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/uploads/xu-1994.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/uploads/hong-2001.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-ZGYC200506000.htm"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/uploads/guan-1988.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.fluoridealert.org/uploads/gaskov-2005.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Children with Polydipsia<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Children with medical conditions that induce polydipsia (excessive thirst) are at particular risk of developing severe fluorosis (marked by brown and black staining of the teeth, often with extensive pitting, chipping, and crumbling of the enamel). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Diabetes insipidus is one such medical condition that produces polydipsa and has been confirm by research to be adversely affected by fluoridation.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8015954"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0030422075904417"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://182.18.156.68/may1998/463.pdf"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/54/3/320.short"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Fluorosilicic acid and sodium fluorosilicate is delivered to everyone regardless of age, health or nutritional status – this is done without individual oversight by a medical professional and without control of dose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The underlying point here is that there are members of the population that are more susceptible to adverse reaction when fluoride is added to their water source. Water fluoridation does not allow medical personnel to monitor reactions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In general, any professional that participates in a medical act (even preventative) are subject to legal and ethical imperatives – with careful attention to the needs of each patient. This is simply not done with regards to water fluoridation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list water fluoridation as one of the top 10 public-health achievements of the 20th century.[<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056796.htm"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Whether adding fluorine compounds to municipality water sources carries benefits or risks – the underlying issue is one of ethical allowance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">To put it plainly, silicofluorides are widely used in public water fluoridation are unlicensed medicinal substances administered without informed consent by an unqualified medical practitioner. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine</span></b>:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">No one may in principle be forced to undergo an intervention without his or her consent. Human beings must therefore be able freely to give or refuse their consent to any intervention involving their person.[<a href="http://www.unav.es/cdb/coeconvencioner.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">There are circumstances in which it could be considered acceptable for the State to impose measures on a population as a whole in the interest of public health – however, fluoridation raises an ethical issue because it is an infringement on personal liberty – unless you purchase a whole house RO filter, you are drinking , cooking, bathing and washing your clothes in water that has been enhanced with hydrofluosilicic acid and sodium fluorosilicate for the sole purpose of reducing dental caries.[<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1126914/"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">When I first set out in writing this post I was originally researching the endocrine-disrupting properties of fluoridation and the effect of early on-set puberty, however, I could not completely focus on that topic until I addressed the underlying issue: water fluoridation, in my opinion, is unethical. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-13455538607633883052013-05-21T14:58:00.000-04:002014-01-17T22:07:19.339-05:00The Anti-Vaccine Label<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Be cautious of anyone quick to use the term ‘<em>anti-vaccine’</em>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo credit: gttorres.deviantart.com</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I’ve found, quite often, that there are 3 possibilities to explain why a person will use this label to pigeonhole parents that show concern regarding the current schedule of vaccines used on children in the </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">US</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(1) they mistakenly assume anyone who questions a product’s safety is consequentially against it in <strong>absolute terms</strong>; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(2) they tend to <strong>consider that vaccines are already being used as responsibly as they can be </strong><a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/01/vaccine-schedule-touted-as-safe.html"><span style="color: purple;">and the current schedule has been stringently tested for safety and efficacy;</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">(3) lastly, in a last ditch effort, they select a baited label, in this case ‘anti-vaccine’, to <strong>manipulate a person</strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">And, of course, anyone who disagrees with them is an idiot, which is then most likely to be followed by an insult and/or personal attack. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">They may also <strong>generalize or over-simplify</strong> the topic that is being evaluated at that point in time in hopes to advert attention away from what is being addressed. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This could be because <strong>they simply do not have any valid information to bring to the table</strong>. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">When using generic labels, it makes it easier to ignore that the underlying motivation a parent has when deciding to vaccinate (either on schedule, delayed or declined completely) can be <strong>diverse</strong>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">After concerns are addressed, a family may come to a unique schedule with their healthcare provider <strong>and that should be respected.</strong> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In most cases, it is. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">In others, it is not. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Someone who uses the label ‘anti-vaccine’ liberally may imagine themselves to be the <strong>gatekeepers of science</strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Yet, the days of limited access to information are gone. (Some helpful, science-based sources can be found: <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/index.html"><span style="color: purple;">CDC Pinkbook</span></a>, <a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/search"><span style="color: purple;">Clinical Trial Search Engine</span></a>, <a href="http://www.doaj.org/"><span style="color: purple;">DOAJ-Directory of Open Access Journals</span></a>, <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/"><span style="color: purple;">Science Direct</span></a>, <a href="http://www.immunize.org/packageinserts/"><span style="color: purple;">Vaccine Package Insert PDFs</span></a>.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Scientific information is publicly published and is readily available to whoever would like to review it. While this unquestionably this does <u>not</u> qualify anyone who reads it as being a specialist, it does mean that <strong>parents have the opportunity to become a critical influence and an active participant in the healthcare choices for their children and themselves. <o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Whether you decline (or become selective of) vaccination or if you decide to administer them all according to the current recommended schedule, I sincerely hope that we can all agree that there should be some <strong>development of responsibility and education on the side of the parent in the participation of their child(ren)’s health.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">That should be the underlying principle pressed on parents – <em>NOT </em>slanderous pigeonholing, restrictive labels, and juvenile squabbling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I like to believe all parents are doing the best they can (am I in the minority?) – choose what works best for your family while doing your best in <a href="http://blindedbythelightt.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-war-on-unvaccinated-america_12.html"><span style="color: purple;">honoring the rights of others</span></a> to make that same choice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This post reflects the research and concern that I have about vaccination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not a medical professional. It does not represent my opinion of people who choose to vaccinate or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please know that, while my family has made the decision to choose an alternative schedule, we respect the rights of all parents to choose to vaccinate if they feel this is best for their child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not have all the answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re all in this together and we need to make the best decision we can with the information we have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8648597699799551889.post-3734714698919391272013-05-20T11:35:00.000-04:002013-05-20T11:35:28.367-04:00The Virgin Mary's Birth: A Metaphor for the Conscious Mother<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Mary’s virgin birth of Jesus Christ can be regarded as an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">incredibly meaningful and powerful metaphor</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">And although 83% of Americans state that they do, in deed, believe that Mary was in fact an actual virgin during the birth of her first son - I am not here to confirm or deny the merit to this claim.[<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/15/opinion/believe-it-or-not.html"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>] <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Although scientists have observed virgin conceptions (known as parthenogenesis) occurring in nature, it has never been observed as occurring in humans, except in unique births as mentioned in various religious (not just Christian) documents.[<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/parthenogenesis.aspx"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 16pt;">A Metaphor <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Jesus, himself, preferred to teach his message using a form of metaphor called parables and the virgin birth may be on of the most powerful and universal metaphors to exist.[<a href="http://www.lifeofchrist.com/teachings/parables/default.asp"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>][<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parables_of_Jesus"><span style="color: purple;">*</span></a>]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Many current and past scholars have regarded the Virgin Birth is a metaphor for <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a woman’s process (Mary’s in this case) into motherhood and a spiritual life.</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The events that occur within the soul of a woman cause a shift during birth - A birth of compassion; when you begin to live out of compassion rather than from selfish motivation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">“The emotional labor pains of becoming a mother are far greater than the physicals pangs of birth; these are the growing surges of your heart as it pushes out selfishness and fear and makes room for sacrifice and love. It is a private and silent birth of the soul, but it is no less holy then the event of childbirth, perhaps it is even more sacred.” – <a href="http://thejoyofthis.com/birth-services/doula-services/"><span style="color: purple;">Joy Kusek LCCE</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Although I can not speak for any other person other than myself, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">motherhood has transformed all that I am</span></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">Motherhood is an extraordinarily profound gift which I think our society tends to forget and, in some cases, undermine. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">The Virgin birth does not refer to the biological condition of Mary, but to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">events that occur within the soul that every mother holds the potential in experiencing</span></b>. With this insight, we must do our best to honor every mother. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">This renewal of the self which occurs in a woman during the passage from woman to mother is enshrouded in obscurity and wonder. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A woman is born again with discernment existing in the soul that experiences the Divine in a unique way – through her child, through her heart and as an instrument of Love and compassion. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 11pt;">I encourage every mother to do their best never to lose sight of what a magnificent influence they have. </span></span></div>
</span></span>AmandaRuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17057331670582864051noreply@blogger.com1