To vaccinate or not
Evidence aside, parents face tough choices
By: Raheem Hosseini
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The kids are finally back at school this week, but not without meeting the state's growing list of immunization requirements. But as the list grows, so does anecdotal concern over just how much medicine is too much.
"The problem is some of the fear out there is based on ... real dated information," said Cathy Dunbar, El Dorado County's immunization coordinator.
The reasons for parents' abstention varies, but one significant concern is borne from the much debated link between these vaccines and the spike in childhood autism cases.
Between 1987 and 2002, the number of individuals with full syndrome autism receiving services in California jumped 634 percent. That includes a staggering 97 percent increase between 1999 and 2002, when the state's autistic population went from 10,360 to 20,377, and doesn't include autism related disorders like Asperger's.
So far, no direct correlation has been established between vaccines and childhood autism, nor have the factors responsible for autism been scientifically documented. But there has been much speculation.
Mary Ann Delleney, manager of health programs for the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, says the district has a number of children with full syndrome autism as well as autistic spectrum disorders like Asperger's.
There are caveats in the law to allow parents worried about potential side effects to get waivers from getting some or all of the required vaccinations. These waivers are also available to children whose health issues prevent them from getting certain vaccinations, such as those suffering from Leukemia.
"It's very flexible in terms of allowing for parental beliefs or medical beliefs," said Delleney. But every child has to be accounted for as being vaccinated or having a waiver, she explains. "It's a big paperwork issue."
If an outbreak occurs, children without the proper vaccination are exempted from school, she adds.
There are nine diseases currently on the state's list for required vaccines, resulting in at least 15 doses before a child enters kindergarten.
Dunbar says it's to protect children from diseases such as polio and pertussis when their immune systems are at their most vulnerable. But can receiving this many vaccinations in such a short period of time potentially overload children's developing immune systems?
"We still don't know. We really don't know," said Delleney. "We do know they will prevent devastating diseases in children. We do know that. And I certainly believe in them."
Dunbar concurred: "Diseases like mumps and pertussis have been more prevalent over the last few years, so children need to be protected."
In 2002, four children died of menangitis in the Folsom Cordova district. The district now recommends the Meningococcal MCV4 vaccine for adolescents and high school age children. A new Hepatitis-A vaccine is slowly working its way through the state Legislature, notes Delleney, but it could be some time before it becomes law. That hasn't stopped the district from recommending it to incoming students as well.
"We kind of keep up with what's happening on the national scene," said Delleney.
Even for those parents who want their children vaccinated, it's not always so easy.
"Vaccines in our country are very expensive," said Dunbar. "Wherein in other countries, they don't really cost that much."
Single dosages of DTaP, MMR and Varicella (chickenpox) can cost approximately $22, $38 and $62 respectively. Factoring in 15 dosages for each child and that price tag gets a little hefty.
Both Sacramento and El Dorado Counties offer options for parents unable to foot the bill, including outreach clinics, vaccination vans and other programs. Ideally, all school children in both counties should have had their immunization forms updated to start school this Monday, but Delleney said she will be spending this week tracking down the stragglers.
"The bottom line is we want children to be safe. And the best way to do that is to make sure they get vaccinated," she said. "We just have to keep perfecting the process."
