ANOTHER ANTI-VAX DEATH
How many kids will we allow to be sacrificed on the altar of pseudo-science?
(CNN) — A childhood illness that has mostly been curbed through vaccinations has killed one child and sickened four others in Minnesota, health officials said Friday.
The five children were infected with a bacterial infection known as Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b.
Three of the affected children had not received any vaccinations, including the 7-month-old who died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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One in 20 children infected with Hib dies, according to the CDC. And survivors of the disease can become deaf; 10 to 30 percent have permanent brain damage.
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Before vaccines became widely used, about 20,000 Hib cases were reported each year in the country. After children began receiving the vaccinations in the early 1990s, CDC officials said, there was a 99 percent drop in cases.
3 Responses to “ANOTHER ANTI-VAX DEATH”
 Comment by NJRoadie January 26th, 2009 at 8:41 am |
But Daryl, I have to say, we just had 12 confirmed cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in my home county and ALL of those kids had been vaccinated. If the doctors were at least more honest about the vaccines, I would feel better. I vaccinate selectively – for example my young daughter is not getting Gardisil anytime soon, nor did she get a Chx Pox booster, but she is getting her Tdap. It isn’t as clear cut as “junk science” in my opinion. |
 Comment by elizabethinNC January 30th, 2009 at 11:16 am |
The rate of other Hi strains (A, F, etc.) has increased. There have been outbreaks of Hia in Alaska among highly vaxed (against Hib, for example) populations. We may reduce the incidence of one, but the other strains of Hi seem to pick up, from what I can tell. Look at what is happening w/ Prevnar…now we the have antibiotic resistant 19A strain circulating. Fortunately, so far that one is just causing drug resistant ear infections, but what else will crop up to fill the void? None of the above is pseudo science. Love your blog otherwise 🙂 |
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Comment by elizabethinNC January 30th, 2009 at 12:12 pm |
back with one other note…Hib wasn’t even a reportable illness until right around when the Hib vax was introduced. I wonder how accurate their “pre-Hib vax” numbers really are. Just sayin’ 😉 |