Yes, you read that correctly!  Microwave popcorn is one reason your child may not be protected, even if you vaccinated them.

Here’s the lowdown on this wacky idea…that sounds to me much like an excuse trying to validate why vaccinations don’t work for everyone!

In the new study, children who had higher concentrations of compounds, called perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), in their blood had lower immune responses to diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations.  PFC’s can be found in common household items, such as microwave popcorn, furniture, cosmetics, and food packaging.

And, according to the study an insufficient immune response to a vaccination can mean a child is actually vulnerable to catching a disease even though they’ve been vaccinated against it.

To continue reading One Study Claims Microwave Popcorn To Blame For Vaccines Not Working In Some Children!  Are You Serious?!

ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura) is a bleeding disorder that results in the destruction of blood platelets. This may result in a loss of the ability for the blood to clot. This can result in hematomas, which are severe bruises that appear under the skin, as well as bruising and nosebleeds. In a very small number of cases, it may also result in bleeding in the brain. It is believed that the Measles-Mumps-Rubella-vaccine, or MMR as it is commonly referred to, can lead to ITP in a small fraction of children shortly after being given the MMR vaccine. It is not known if other vaccines can also lead to this loss of platelets.

The results of a recent study of five managed care organizations, comprising data from incidents of this platelet disorder, was analyzed. This study comprised results recorded over a nine year time period from 2000 to 2009.

Out of the close to two million children, less than two hundred developed the disorder. Children younger than seven did not show an increased risk for this disorder. Children age seven and above showed an increased risk of ITP after being administered the Hepatitis A vaccination. For children age 11-17, an increased risk was shown after receiving the chickenpox vaccine and the combination vaccine protecting against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough, or pertussis.

Resources:

The Risk of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura After Vaccination in Children and Adolescents

Between 2007 and 2008, 15,000 babies from poor, sometimes illiterate parents, were used by GlaxoSmithKline to test and research a vaccine for pneumococcal bacteria. This illegal practice resulted in 14 infant deaths and a hefty fine for GlaxoSmithKline Argentina Laboratories and two doctors who participated in the study.

Parents Didn’t Understand What They Were Signing

It is thought that the infants’ parents misunderstood what they were agreeing to. They were asked to sign long consent forms, which they may not have understood or been able to read. At times, doctors ignored some inquiries by parents worried about their children’s reactions to the vaccines. Allegedly, parents were required to keep their children in the clinical trials; if the parents withdrew their infants from the testing, they would no longer receive other valuable vaccines.

Fundamental misunderstandings about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine may lead some adolescent girls to mistakenly believe they no longer need to practice safer sexual behaviors, according to a study published in the January 2012 issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.

The study focused on girls aged 13 to 21 years who received the HPV vaccine as well as their mothers and included 339 adolescents and 235 mothers or other female guardians of those adolescents. Less than twenty-five percent of the girls in the study believed that they were less at risk for sexually transmitted diseases other than HPV after receiving the vaccine; however, this represents a potentially significant risk to nearly one-fourth of girls who receive the vaccination. Over half of the girls surveyed in the study were sexually active with one or more partners.

According to the study, the major risk factors for this particular misconception included:

• Little or no understanding of the HPV vaccine and its purpose
• Lack of communication between mother and daughter
• Failure to use condoms during most recent sexual encounter with male partner
• Lack of concern over the potential effects of an HPV infection
• Receiving information on the HPV vaccine from a teacher or physician

Especially in urban environments, the need for safer sexual behaviors in order to protect against sexually transmitted diseases is often downplayed or overlooked. The study was conducted in a clinic located in a low-income urban area and researchers indicated that the results derived from this particular population may not be applicable on a larger scale. Nonetheless, the implications of this study should prompt additional education for young women who are scheduled to receive the HPV vaccine.

HPV infections are widespread with around 20 million sufferers in the U.S. alone. The symptoms of the various HPV infections include genital warts, cervical cancers and other less common cancers. While more than 40 types of HPV have been identified, only two vaccines are currently approved for use in the U.S. While both varieties protect against cervical and other cancers, the Gardasil vaccine also prevents infection with the HPV that causes genital warts, making it a preferred choice for many girls.

The vaccine is recommended for women up to the age of 26, but is most effective in girls who are not yet sexually active and who have not come into contact with the HPV virus. The HPV vaccine cannot cure existing infections and should not be used to treat those infections once they have been diagnosed.

The “cocoon strategy” aims to protect newborn infants from becoming infected with pertussis by administering Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) booster vaccines to mothers and family members of newborn infants. In this way, mothers and family members are protected from getting pertussis and passing it on to their young infants. It has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 2006 but is not routine in healthcare organizations.

But earlier this month, Canadian government researchers suggested that at least for whooping cough, a major infectious disease worldwide, cocooning comes with a hefty price tag.

They estimated that to prevent one infant death from the disease in Quebec or British Columbia, at least one million parents would have to be vaccinated — at a cost of some 20 Canadian dollars per shot.

“This program appears inefficient,” said Dr. Danuta Skowronski, of the British Columbia Center for Disease Control in Vancouver.

“In fact, the criteria for this to be successful are almost impossible,” she told Reuters Health. “We’re not saying that babies are not important — of course they are — but we have to be wise about how we use our finite resources.”

The new American Academy of Pediatrics’ report on cocooning, released in the journal Pediatrics, is not directly recommending that pediatricians start offering parents shots — a practice that has been controversial.

“What it says is, if you choose to do it, this is ok,” said the AAP’s Dr. Herschel R. Lessin, who worked on the report. “They give flu shots in airports and pharmacies. There is really no reason why a licensed doctor can’t give them also.”

Lessin said the main focus is on flu shots and the TDaP vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis).

There is already a national U.S. mandate to give these vaccines to everybody, he added, including pregnant women. But babies have to be at least six weeks old to get the TDaP vaccine and six months old to get a flu shot.  In the meantime, their only protection is through antibodies they get from their mother in the womb and in breast milk if she has been vaccinated or has natural immunity against the infections.

Lessin said that because not all pregnant women get vaccinated, cocooning is still a reasonable strategy to shield infants.  “The goal here is to get everyone immunized,” said Lessin. “As pediatricians, we think immunization is the greatest thing in the history of mankind.”

Because it’s a “hassle” for pediatricians to bill parents’ insurance for the shots, he said the most practical thing is to have people pay out of pocket for the vaccines — in the case of a flu shot, around $30.

Lessin acknowledged that there isn’t much evidence on how effective cocooning really is.  “It’s a relatively new concept,” he said. “I don’t know that anyone has looked at whether it works.”

The National Institutes of Health recommend one injection of TDAP vaccine for 11- to 12-year-old children and for 19- to 64-year-old adults. They also advise a tetanus-diphtheria, or TD, booster every 10 years following those injections. The Centers for Disease Control cautions that both children and adults face a small risk of mild to life-threatening TDAP side effects.

Mild Side Effects

These side effects have no effect on a person’s normal activities. They include:

• Pain, redness or swelling around the vaccination site

• Fatigue

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Rash

• Swollen glands

• Headache

• Joint soreness

• General aches

• Fever between 100.4 and 100.9 degrees

The most common of these side effects is pain at the injection site, affecting about 75 percent of children and 67 percent of adults. Fever occurs in 4 percent of children and 1 percent of adults. Swollen glands, rash, joint soreness and body aches are very rare.

Moderate Side Effects

These TDAP side effects may keep people from their normal activities without meriting medical attention. They include:

• Pain, redness or swelling around the vaccination site

• Fever of at least 102 degrees

• Headache

• Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

People receiving the TDAP vaccine have a very small risk of developing these reactions. Only 6 percent of children and 4 percent of adults have swelling or redness near the injection site. Three percent of children and 1 percent of adults have moderate stomach upset. Even fewer develop headaches or fever.

Severe Side Effects

The CDC reports that two participants in clinical trials testing the TDAP vaccine experienced nervous system problems. These side effects, however, may not have been vaccine-related. They resolved without medical treatment and had no lasting effects.

The rarest and most severe of TDAP side effects is an allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include hives, congestion, wheezing, throat and chest tightness and general respiratory distress. In extreme cases, anaphylactic shock can lead to:

• Dizziness

• Low blood pressure

• Loss of consciousness

• Cardiac failure

• Death

Anaphylactic shock requires immediate medical attention.

Dr. Hugh Sampson of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine reported at the April 2011 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting that seven of his patients experienced anaphylaxis after receiving the vaccine. While all seven had milk allergies, only one batch of the vaccine contained traces of milk protein. The CDC estimates that one of every 1 million TDAP vaccine recipients develops anaphylaxis.

To prevent these outcomes, children are commonly vaccinated against tetanus as part a 3 part vaccine with pertussis and diphtheria. As the vaccination only lasts for 10 years, it is recommended that adults get tetanus vaccine booster shots. Common tetanus shot side effects include pain, redness and swelling, mild fever, headaches and tiredness.

However, there are very rare but far more serious tetanus shot side effects. There is evidence that a tetanus shot can cause brachial neuritis (BN). Brachial neuritis causes severe shoulder pain, followed by an inability to flex or use the shoulder muscles. The more acute symptoms typically heal, but there can be some symptoms remaining even after two years, and some weakness and numbness may never completely go away. Guillain-Barre syndrome is another possible rare tetanus shot side effect. Like Brachial neuritis, this disease also attacks the nervous system. Weakness, loss of reflexes, paralysis, low blood pressure, and blurred vision are all symptoms of GBS. There is no cure for GBS, but there are treatments that can ease symptoms and bring some relief to the patient. Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is another rare but serious possible tetanus shot side effect. Symptoms of ADEM include headache, lethargy, vomiting, weight loss, delirium, seizures and coma. While GBS and BN are more common in adults, ADEM is more common in children. Between 50 and 70% of people who are diagnosed with ADEM make a full recovery. Many people recover somewhat, but still have lingering disabilities as a result of ADEM. About 5% of people with this disease die in spite of treatment.

While the more common side effects are fleeting, these uncommon tetanus shot side effects deserve serious evaluation and consideration. Any sickness, numbness or tingling that occurs after a vaccine should be evaluated immediately. The above serious tetanus side effects all have better outcomes when treated early.

Flu vaccine Guillain Barre syndrome is one of the most common reported reaction to flu vaccine. GBS is a condition where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. Most commonly flu vaccine Guillain Barre begins in the legs and feet with tingling, weakness and loss of control– but can quickly progress up the body effecting the muscles that control breathing which makes the condition a serious medical emergency. Many patients who develop flu vaccine Guillain Barre must be placed on a respirator to help them breathe until the condition begins to resolve. For some who have had flu vaccine Guillain Barre, permanent weakness will never go away and could require assistive devices for walking and daily tasks.

Lower Your Chance For A Reaction To Flu Vaccine

• People with a history of asthma or other reactive airway diseases should not be given live.
• People with chronic underlying medical conditions that may predispose them to severe influenza infections should also not be given LAIV. For these people, TIV is indicated.
• LAIV should not be given to people with a history of Flu vaccine Guillain Barre syndrome.

This Year’s Flu Vaccine Is The Same As Last Year’s

This year’s vaccine contains three strains of influenza virus that are identical to last year’s vaccine strains. Experts say that you should not skip the vaccine, even though they are identical.

So you might be thinking, “I had a flu shot last year. If the vaccine is going to be the same , why do I need to get another?” The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that it’s best to have an annual vaccine even if it’s the same formulation you received last year in order to get “optimal protection,” specifying that a decline in protection from the previous year’s immunization “has the potential to leave some people more vulnerable to infection, illness and possibly serious complications from the same influenza viruses a year after being vaccinated.” WIth the new vaccination you run the risk of reaction to Flu vaccine.

The approved Flu vaccines are designed to protect against 3 virus strains that scientists think will be the most prevalent in the upcoming flu season. It also includes the vaccine for the 2010-2011virus strains. The 2011-2012 strains vaccine will be for: A/California/7/09 (H1N1)-like virus (pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus, A/Perth /16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus, and B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

For children who are six months to age eight years of age, and who have never been vaccinated, the recommendation continues to be that they should receive two doses of vaccine which are given at least four weeks apart.

What Are The Risks? Reaction To Flu Vaccine

1. Flu vaccine Guillain Barre
2. CIDP
3. Brachial Neuritis

Flu vaccine Guillain Barre is a rare condition that usually starts as tingling in the legs and feet. The condition will progress to weakness in the legs. Flu vaccine Guillain Barre is one of the most talked about potential Flu shot reactions.

CIPD is basically a longer acting version of Flu vaccine Guillain Barre. CIDP is a reaction to Flu vaccine that is pretty rare. However it is a very serious condition. The final reaction to Flu vaccine is called brachial neuritis.

The network of nerves that conducts signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand is called the brachial plexus. An inflammation of this network of nerves is a reaction to Flu vaccine called brachial neuritis.