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Statement by AAP President Louis Cooper, MD on Smallpox, Flu and Tetanus Vaccines for Children
American Academy of Pediatrics ^ | 6-24-01 | Louis Z. Cooper

Posted on 06/24/2002 5:36:24 PM PDT by bonesmccoy

Press Statement on
Smallpox, Flu and Tetanus Vaccines for Children
By Louis Z. Cooper, M.D., President, American Academy of Pediatrics


For Release: June 21, 2002

"Yesterday, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made several vaccine decisions of importance to all parents. The decisions were based on input from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other specialists in immunization and public health.

Smallpox vaccine is not being recommended for the general public, including infants, children and teenagers. The Academy agrees with the ACIP conclusion that exposing our patients to the severe side effects from the vaccine is not warranted when there is no known immediate danger of a smallpox outbreak. Parents should be aware that smallpox vaccine isn't currently available to any physicians and hasn't been tested yet for use in children. Pediatricians will continue to advise parents on the best ways to keep their children safe and healthy. At this point, smallpox vaccine is not part of the picture.

"On the other hand, the Academy and ACIP are encouraging that flu vaccine be given this year to all healthy children aged 6 to 23 months. This age group has a high likelihood of hospitalization if they get the flu. The vaccine will be offered in October during the start of the flu season.

"The Academy is pleased and relieved to note that the shortage of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine is now over. The combination vaccine prevents a neurologic disease known as lockjaw and a life-threatening respiratory illness. Pediatricians will now return to the routine immunization schedule for the Td vaccine, which is a booster dose at 11-12 years, and subsequent booster doses every 10 years. Physicians are being encouraged to call patients whose booster doses were deferred because of the shortage.

"Parents should be assured that the Academy and its pediatrician members will continue to provide vaccine recommendations based on absolutely current, scientific evidence. As yesterday's announcement shows, we will only recommend vaccination when the benefits far outweigh any potential risk."

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 55,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

Editor's Note: For parents wanting more information on smallpox, a handout is available on the AAP Web site, www.aap.org and click on "Children, Bioterrorism and Disasters". For other vaccine information, click on "Important Information about Immunizations".


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Breaking News; Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bioterrorism; biowarfare; liberalism; smallpox; vaccines
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To: Shermy
I know for a fact that the year that I got sp vaccine about 800 kids got it in my small hometown and zero had any serious side effects.
41 posted on 06/24/2002 8:30:04 PM PDT by Righty1
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To: bonesmccoy
I'm not scared because I'm immunized.

How recently? Are you sure that your immunity is still good? My last immunization was with the drops on the sugar cube in 1961. Hopefully, it was free of contamination from SV40. I'm not so smug in my belief that my 1961 vintage immunization would protect me against a smallpox attack tomorrow. Especially of the viral load was so concentrated that my immune system would have no hope of reacting in time to overcome it.

42 posted on 06/24/2002 9:40:34 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin; bonesmccoy
My last immunization was with the drops on the sugar cube in 1961. Hopefully, it was free of contamination from SV40.

That sounds like the Sabin live oral polio vaccine not smallpox.

43 posted on 06/24/2002 9:46:57 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: Paleo Conservative
You're right. Polio. I can't find any classic smallpox immunization scar on either of my arms. Perhaps its time to volunteer down at the local dairy. Surely one of those cows still has cowpox.
44 posted on 06/24/2002 9:56:06 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin
You bring up some interesting points. . . the sugar cubes. I took the cubes around 1965. I have been assuming they were for polio, not smallpox. My parents are no longer alive so no one to ask. Guess I'm going to have to do some research on my immunizations, revisit my tiny town roots.

Also, is there any data on whether the vaccinations are still a safeguard after 40 plus years? How the heck would anyone know?

But most of all, the crux of this thread is my kids. They are at risk. I have this vision of kids getting sick and us older folks staying well. That would be misery.

45 posted on 06/24/2002 9:59:16 PM PDT by enough
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To: bonesmccoy
the AAP is the same group that stated unequivocally that it was perfectly fine for children to be raised by homosexuals, and that guns should be removed from any house with children.
46 posted on 06/24/2002 10:00:28 PM PDT by goodieD
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To: bonesmccoy
Bones (Orthopod, I presume?)...I agree with you. Having problems just getting DT to patients with minor scratches and bites. Tetanus in short supply and literally rationed in many health care systems. BTW, that scar of yours may not be so comforting...As far as I know, nobody has CHECKED antibody levels to smallpox in a large sample of previously immunized adults...Those immunized may not have sufficient antibodies from those vaccinations in the the early days. Of course obtaining this SCIENTIFIC information would would be something USEFUL the CDC could do! I am just ill about their glib, speculative pronouncements about national smallpox readiness. My only comfort is that some of the current antivirals (cidofovir, tenofovir etc.) just might be effective in shortening the viral replication and shedding phases and we can use supportive care to stabilize patients. But again...Are we prepared with sufficient antivirals to help large numbers of patients. This is very frustrating!
47 posted on 06/24/2002 10:44:53 PM PDT by lainde
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To: Myrddin
Sorry to tell you, but that immunization on the sugar cube was NOT smallpox. Smallpox immunization was with a "Bifurcated" needle poked about 15 times into the skin. That sugar cube you remember was the old polio vaccine.

Orimune was discontinued in the USA several years ago when the committee realized that more paralytic polio in the United States was due to the vaccine than wild virus.

The lame excuse ACIP is giving us regarding smallpox (that the risks are too large) is particularly lame when compared to the relative risk of side effects with existing vaccines.

Some side effects may occur as often as 1 out of 3 uses of vaccine. Yet, they deem these other pathogens as more important than smallpox!

48 posted on 06/24/2002 10:46:56 PM PDT by bonesmccoy
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To: lainde
Bones (Orthopod, I presume?)...I agree with you.

Not an orthopedic surgeon...but I know a few good ones.

Having problems just getting DT to patients with minor scratches and bites. Tetanus in short supply and literally rationed in many health care systems.

You got that right. I'm seeing shortages of nearly every vaccine. The vaccine companies are permitted to cost shift inventory to the physician offices. They're attempting to make physician offices buy in large bulk quantities. This improves the profit margin of the pharmaceutical company while killing the cash flow in the physicians office!

BTW, that scar of yours may not be so comforting...As far as I know, nobody has CHECKED antibody levels to smallpox in a large sample of previously immunized adults...Those immunized may not have sufficient antibodies from those vaccinations in the the early days.

Actually, there was a study I located on the 10 year IgG levels drawn after single dose and multiple doses of the small pox vaccine. The study suggested that multiple doses of vaccine 10 years apart conferred lifetime immunity to the disease. Therefore, any guy born in the 1950-1960 range who served in Vietnam is probably immune. The Nam vets got a first dose as a child and then got immunized prior to deployment in SE Asia. So, ironically, the heroes of Nam who are serving as first responders are probably the best candidates to serve our nation again! (Sorry to volunteer you guys...but the dumb public health bureaucrats are blocking my opportunity for a second dose!). Unfortunately, although the Nam vets might survive a biowarfare attack on our citizens, their families are unlikely to be similarly immunized. Unless they got a dose fast enough, they would probably get ill.

Of course obtaining this SCIENTIFIC information would would be something USEFUL the CDC could do! I am just ill about their glib, speculative pronouncements about national smallpox readiness.

Yes, I am also fed up with the ACIP's modus operandi. The HHS Secretary needs to stop being a politician and to start thinking like a CEO heading a huge corporation. If the ACIP can't make reasonable recommendations, scrap ACIP and go with a new system!

Are we prepared with sufficient antivirals to help large numbers of patients. This is very frustrating!

I agree. This is a bigger problem than the initial HIV epidemic was in 1981-1985. This threat is more significant because smallpox is being used as a weapon in international affairs. HIV was not.

49 posted on 06/24/2002 10:57:16 PM PDT by bonesmccoy
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To: lainde
But again...Are we prepared with sufficient antivirals to help large numbers of patients. This is very frustrating

I would rather take my chances with the vaccine and use antiviral drugs to alleviate vaccine side effects than need to use antivirals against variola.

50 posted on 06/24/2002 10:57:29 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
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To: captain11
You are most welcome sir. I appreciate the opportunity to present my opinion here in public. Thanks.
51 posted on 06/24/2002 10:59:48 PM PDT by bonesmccoy
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To: Hila
You are incorrect regarding the vaccine. While it is true that significant side effects exist to the vaccine, there is already a visible and identifiable effect of the threat of small pox attack. The risks of a small side effect appears to be about 1 in 100,000.
52 posted on 06/24/2002 11:17:03 PM PDT by bonesmccoy
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To: enough
1. The sugar cubes were the sabin oral polio vaccine.

2. The use of antivirals in small pox is unproven.

See: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/324/7333/336?view=full&pmid=11834562 There is no practical antiviral treatment and over 30% of patients die, depending on the population and the infecting strain. Vaccination before exposure is effective, but the vaccine has measurable side effects and immunity fades after 10-20 years or earlier in some people. Vaccination after exposure is moderately effective if it is given within four days. The infection is highly contagious. Modelling has confirmed the potentially disastrous effects on the general population if smallpox were to be released. 27 28 International stocks of vaccine are acknowledged to be inadequate, and the WHO has urged countries to consider means of increasing these stocks.

53 posted on 06/24/2002 11:25:24 PM PDT by bonesmccoy
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To: goodieD
Yep...they're a regular bunch of Rosie loving liberals... oh yeah... i forgot... our sources tell us that the leadership has invited Rosie to talk to the country's physicians about children's healthcare at their fall meeting!
54 posted on 06/24/2002 11:29:49 PM PDT by bonesmccoy
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To: bonesmccoy; Jim Noble
That case is an example of just how hard it is to diagnose smallpox from its initial symptoms. By the time it's diagnosed, it could have spread wide and far and more quickly than most people would like to believe. Me? I prefer not to keep my head in the sand and dammit, I want my kids immunized NOW. And also, as another thought, I would suspect any one denying the feasibility of a wide-spread immunization program, esp. in light of the probability of this being used as a WMD, of being some sort of a shill.
55 posted on 06/24/2002 11:38:41 PM PDT by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
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To: bonesmccoy
I would happily line up all in my household for another go at smallpox vaccine. The consequences of not being immunized is not worth death or lifelong disability from an actual case of the disease.

My undergrad degree is in Molecular Biology from UCSD. I pursued a master's in pathogenic microbiology, but decided that computer science and electrical engineering was a better paying career path. No regrets at the change in direction, but I still retain an interest in pathogens and means of dealing with them.

I do recall my mom taking me to the Navy dispensary for a smallpox immunization. They were too busy and couldn't spare anyone to come over to the room where the immunizations were performed. I suspect that I never did get immunized against smallpox as a child. I hope I'm wrong, but there is no physical evidence (scar) to suggest it ever happened.

56 posted on 06/24/2002 11:48:55 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: bonesmccoy
"...the AAP pays lip service to the defense of our nation."

You're surprised that an organization that openly advocates boundary violation to its member physicians, would also be soft on terrorism?

57 posted on 06/25/2002 12:42:52 AM PDT by Bonaparte
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To: bonesmccoy
I am very glad to see you posted this thread and have been beating the drum over the CDC's stupidity. This past Sunday Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, on Fox News, said he found the CDCs recommendation disturbing and that he couldn't agree with it. I hope more physicians come forward and yell loudly.

As I recall, ring vaccination and containment was used in the Third World where mobility is limited. There are not many international airports or interstate highways in the Sahara, Altiplano or Hindu Kush. Folks there pretty much stay put.

The United States policy of mass vaccination existed for a reason; we are a highly mobile society and bioweapons are real. After reading and understanding those two statements, for the sensible person nothing more in reasoning is required.

Someone on another thread nailed it with the following statement "...what a relief to know that the doctor who may sign my death certificate is vaccinated and safe...". I for one certainly want to have voluntary vaccination even though I am probably immune, having been vaccinated in 1962 and again in 1980 (I was in the Navy for that last one and the medics even hit me with a yellow fever innoculation.)

58 posted on 06/25/2002 12:57:00 AM PDT by goody2shooz
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To: bonesmccoy
BUMP for the truth !

Thanks for your expertise.

59 posted on 06/25/2002 4:16:24 AM PDT by happygrl
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To: Silent Lion
I am a parent, in my judgement, my government made the right call here.

I acknowledge your right to make that determination, but only for yourself and your children.

I, too, have the right to decide what my medical prophylactics should include.

60 posted on 06/25/2002 4:20:18 AM PDT by happygrl
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