Yesterday we learned with anguish the news that the heart and lungs of the diphtheria sick child, and admitted to the hospital, they worked 'thanks' to the machines. I imagine what his family must be going through, and I can only show my support and my wishes for him to recover. In all this matter, it is the little one who has been harmed because of a decision made based on inadequate information, the parents themselves said not long ago that they had felt cheated by the 'anti-vaccine collectives'. I think that at this time for all of us the guilt they feel should be enough, and the fact that they have agreed to vaccinate their other children, and themselves; the fact that they feel more or less media pressure, or that everyone has an opinion, is not decisive in the evolution of their child.
As you will already know since 1987 that in our country a new case of this disease was not detected, of which yesterday you spoke Maria Jose: endemic in African and Asian countries, it could be considered almost eradicated in the western world. In fact, the antitoxin was obtained in Moscow, after several international efforts without result. The patient had not been vaccinated since birth, the False controversy about vaccines remains despite the evidence that point to your safety, and to the fact that maintaining the current system can prevent us from serious public health problems. In reality, the position of not vaccinating is a minority, but it may be enough to generate a fissure where infectious diseases that we only knew from books or movies, come to light.
Probably many of you are already sufficiently informed, there will even be someone tired by the huge amount of news on the subject. We have preferred to let time pass a little, and in fact I think that regardless of immediate action (and focused on the child), this situation deserves a collective reflection
Vaccinations, should they be mandatory?
This is the positioning of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) through the Vaccine Advisory Committee, and its Bioethics Committee (I copy the text literally):
'Vaccines are very beneficial individually and collectively. They should be a fundamental right of all children. However, the official introduction of a legal obligation to vaccinate could provoke negative feelings towards vaccines in society. Therefore, the AEP, at the present time, given the incidence of infectious diseases and the current vaccination coverage, does not appear in favor of vaccines being mandatory by law '.
- Parents, after receiving accurate and truthful information about the benefits and risks of vaccination from a trained healthcare professional, they must decide, in a responsible way, about the acceptance of their child's vaccination. In case of deciding not to vaccinate, they should sign a document of non-acceptance of the vaccination, acknowledging their responsibility for the possible medical, ethical and legal, individual and social consequences of their decision.
- Pediatricians have an essential role in the decision of parents and we must report rigorously and clearly. It is necessary to explore the values of the parents and their concerns. Respect for autonomy does not exempt children from arguing and trying to achieve healthy attitudes and decisions for children.
- Every possible effort should be optimized to get the most wide and better information to society about vaccines and the infectious diseases that are prevented with them, with an easy and accessible language for all ages and different socio-cultural and language levels. Misinformation can be more dangerous than the infections themselves.
- Our commitment as pediatricians, from the promotion of responsibility, is essential to achieve high levels of vaccination that protect children's health. The AEP, since the beginning of 2015, has already started a campaign on child prevention, which includes information material adapted for children and their caregivers, on the preventive power of vaccines. Awareness of the benefits of these, from early childhood, should be one of the pillars of a sustained and responsible trust towards vaccines in our country.
- The call for responsibility towards citizens must be complemented with the utmost demand and effort of the authorities and professionals in the goal of developing better and safer vaccines, rigor and transparency in the procedure, and to make vaccines reach all children regardless of their social conditioning.
As part of this statement, and the desire to promote responsibility, it is suggested that this model of Responsibility Statement in case the parents decide not to vaccinate, or delay vaccination beyond the recommended age.
Official Vaccination Calendar in Spain
The following table contains the relationship of all vaccines in relation to the age of the babies / children, it is updated for this year, and the evidence on effectiveness and efficiency has been taken into account. A single vaccination calendar is also requested for the entire Spanish territory.
Vaccines and urban legends
I confess that I myself have had doubts on occasion, but nothing better than going to the child's pediatrician and having a good conversation with him, normally doctors appreciate that parents ask for information beyond visits due to check-ups or illness; specifically our pediatrician gave me to read many well-documented medical articles. The previous vignette is sufficiently explanatory so that it is understood that those who know about health are health professionals.
In the case of the boy from Olot, a carrier infected him, because people relate to each other, and today there are many movements that allow social and cultural exchange, the point is that health protection must come first, and more when dealing with children. If a child is not immunized, he runs a risk, and one of his rights is violated. Vaccines are successful and safe.
As José Ramón Alonso points out in this magnificent article, it is about resorting to the information that is contrasted to obtain data that is reliable. It gives the impression that the anti-vaccine movement, or at least part of it, is moved by fear, also by ignorance, or by the uncertainty of whether (for example) the child could have an adverse reaction (immediate or later) after administration of the vaccine. After reading a lot of information, one conclusion I draw is that In the risk / benefit balance, the administration of vaccines turns out to be the most sensible option, and more taking into account the (reliable) investigations that have been carried out, many of them over several years. Of course, in the face of baseless opinions, I opted for science, the same science that has eradicated diseases that made children suffer and killed, and continue to do so in countries with low or no accessibility to these solutions, where - in addition - malnutrition does not help to heal.
From the text by José Ramón, I highlight the following, clarifying the role of homeopathy as a vaccine:
In themselves they are not harmful due to the absence of effective substances, but they are dangerous if they replace vaccines that really work. Using a homeopathic vaccine is similar to not getting vaccinated, the only difference is that homeopathic medication costs money
One of the aspects that has been motivating the reaction of parents against vaccines was the presence of Thimerosal (a salt that contains ethylmercury) as a preservative. Currently, the amounts contained in any vaccine are insignificant; Furthermore, anyone can receive more heavy metals just by breathing air polluted by circulation.
Diphtheria ... again
Medical and pharmaceutical research has brought us many good things, having a better quality of life is important. If we talk about vaccines, the percentage of severe damage or deaths in case of contracting diseases such as those prevented by the DTPa vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), is higher than if we talk about how many children vaccinated may have a serious complication after the administration of the vaccine.
Imagine for a moment that the children with whom the hospitalized child was related and who are now carriers, had not been vaccinated, imagine that there would have been more. Diphtheria is not a cold, flu or gastroenteritis, we are talking about something that we would not want any of our children to suffer from.
I finish by clarifying that when we look for information, it must be verified, and based on reliable sources; and that doctors are the ones who know the most about diseases and their solutions, turn to your children's if you still have doubts.
Images - prep4md, cool to know, Spanish Association of Pediatrics, PAHO / WHO
More information - AEP