Organization releases new vaccine recommendations
Each year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, an arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, makes its updates to the immunization schedule for children and adults.
Recently, a change was made to the recommendations involving the meningococcal serotype B (MenB) and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.
The biggest change is that ACIP is recommending more children and adolescents become vaccinated against MenB.
This particular disease is caused by bacteria and can lead to meningitis, an infection of the lining of the spinal cord and brain, and can be very debilitating or lead to death.
“Even when it is treated, meningococcal disease kills 10 to 15 infected people out of 100. And those who survive, about 10 to 20 out of every 100, will suffer disabilities, such as hearing loss, brain damage, amputations, nervous system problems or severe scars from skin grafts,” stated the CDC’s website.
The current recommendation is for young adults between the ages of 16 and 23 who would be exposed to the disease, such as those going to college, to have the vaccine.
Those who are at risk of developing a serious form of the disease, including those who have been diagnosed with sickle cell, diseases that damage the spleen or immune problems, can receive the vaccine as early as age 10.
HPV, considered to be the most common sexually transmitted infection according to the CDC, can cause a variety of health issues, some more serious than others.
“[With] HPV there are many strains, and these many strains can cause different things. Some strains cause genital warts and some strains cause cervical cancer,” said Dr. Jeffery James, an infectious disease doctor at Uniontown Hospital. “Not everyone who gets HPV will develop cancer. Only about 10 percent will develop chronic problems and that is where cancer develops.”
According to information gathered by the CDC, “In 2014, a national survey found that 60 percent of girls aged 13-17 years had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, and 40 percent had received all three doses in the series. HPV vaccine uptake is lower among boys; 42 percent aged 13-17 years received at least one dose, but only 22 percent received all three doses.”
It is currently recommended that girls between 11 and 12 receive the vaccine.
If a child has been a victim of a sexual assault, it is recommended she receive the vaccine at 9 or 10 because she has a higher risk of developing the disease.
While some people think the HPV vaccine is mostly for young women, it is recommended that young men also get vaccinated.
“There is a recommendation that it be given to boys as well, the same age. They make a recommendation for the females, and for the males it is more of a permissive recommendation,” said James. “HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. If you vaccinate the females and if you vaccinate the males, there is extra protection.”
While some people may be concerned about a reaction from the vaccine, James says the concerns are minimal.
“The typical reaction is to the administration site, and they have been studied to be pretty safe,” he said.
However, anyone who is experiencing an allergic reaction, such as hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness or weakness, should seek medical attention immediately.