Up-To-Date Vaccinations Will Help Your Child Stay In School

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 27 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to make sure your child has his or her most recent immunization, especially vaccinations that can help prevent meningitis and middle ear infections (otitis media).

Childhood vaccination can stem millions of illnesses and prevent thousands of deaths. While eight out of every ten children in the United States are fully vaccinated, checking your child's health records is the perfect preparation for the back-to-school time period.

Your child's academic success is linked to their ability to stay healthy and in school. Nearly 100 percent of American children will suffer from otitis media by the age of five, accounting for over 25 million visits to the doctor's office each year.

This year, ask your otolaryngologist about what vaccines are appropriate for your child. Depending on your child's health history, this may include:

The conjugated pneumococcal vaccine

--This shot-administered vaccine prevents diseases caused by seven of the most common types of pneumococcal bacteria. It is safe and effective; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the vaccine for infants and toddlers under the age of five. It protects against serious forms of the disease up to 97 percent of the time, depending on the person. The vaccine's side effects, which are usually minor and temporary, include some redness, swelling or tenderness from the injection, and a mild fever. Serious side effects, including allergic reactions, are quite rare.

Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and Moraxella catarrhalis vaccine

--These protect against two other common bacteria that cause ear and sinus infections, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and Moraxella catarrhalis. Recently, the National Institutes of Health has issued a license for the first clinical trials for a nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) vaccine. Vaccines to prevent viral infections like the flu that can eventually lead to ear infections should be considered for children with recurring ear infections. These vaccines are usually administered in the fall.

For more information on vaccines and other health issues affecting their children, parents can head to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's Kids ENT website at http://www.entnet.org/kidsent/.

About the AAO-HNS

The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents more than 12,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The organization's mission: "Working for the Best Ear, Nose, and Throat Care."

American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

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