Conference moira::parenting_v3

    Apparently the pedi said id was for the AIDS related virus.

    There is an immunization given at either 15 or 18 mos (depnds on the
    dr.) called an HiB vaccination. This stand sfor Hemophilus B, which is
    a highly contagious viral infection, flu-like in symptoms, which is
    particularly prevalent in children under 5, especially those in
    day-care. It has been known to cause fatalities. There is virtually no
    reaction to the shot (as opposed to a DTP, or MMR), in the vast
    majority of children. Could this be what her pedi. was talking about?
    --dave--

    I seem to remember an HI*B* shot around that time, but can't for the
    life of me remember what the acronym translated to.  You'd have a real
    hard time convincing me that it's HIV!
    
    Leslie

    
    My daughter had the HIB vaccine at age 18 mos because she was in
    daycare (this is 3 1/2 yrs ago). That was the only time when she got
    the shot (ie. no booster since).
    
    
    Eva.

    I bet you're right. I got the info second/third hand. That must
    be it. Thanks!
    
    Dot

I think that it's Hemo-Influenza type-B, not hemophilus.

	-Neil

    Quoting (without permission) from a suggested vaccination schedule 
    published by Metropolitan Life and dated 8/89:
    
    About the Hib Vaccine
    Ask your doctor about the Hib vaccine to protect against a bacterium
    that can lead to serious infections, including some types of meningitis
    in infants and children.  The bacterium is Hemophilus influenza type B,
    more easily remembered as Hib.  This one-shot immunization may be given
    at 18 months to high-risk children, including those attending day care,
    but may also be given through the child's fifth birthday.  The American
    Academy of Pediatrics currently reccomends that the Hib vaccine be
    given to ALL children at 18 months of age. 
    
    
    Hope that this helps,
    Penny

Good timing... Alex went for his 18 month appt yesterday and got the HiB.

As the previous note said, my pedi explained it's mainly for the prevention
of meningitis.  He said since they've started this shot he hasn't seen any
cases.  Five years ago, though, they saw one or two a year.  Apparently
meningitis can cause brain damage, deafness or other unwanted stuff.  Since
there's absolutely no side effects (other than a screaming kid when the
shot is given), he recommends HiB for all kids at 18 months.  We got it.


Marty

    My son got the shot at 15 months.  Apparently that's the earliest
    recommended age.  According to my pediatrician, the age was just
    lowered.   He also said that he wishes they could give it even younger
    since MENINGITIS (sp???) is so serious.
    
    He stressed that this was for meningitis and shouldn't be confused
    with the 'influenza/flu' shots that are around.
    
    FWIW, my son isn't in daycare - that question wasn't even asked.
    Pediatrician is Dr. Murphy at Harvard (MA) Pediatrics.

	Katie just had her 15 mo. Checkup last week.  She also had the 
meningitis (HIB) shot then.  Our doctor also mentioned that that age for this 
shot had just been lowered.

Tracey

Wouldn't it be a good idea if the title of this note was changed to reflect
what we are really talking about and not the so-called AIDS Virus?!

Something like say  "Hemophilus Influenza type B  (HIB)"

A) People looking for info on HiB will find it

B) People looking at the note wont get confused

Stuart

    I changed it to a title that reflects the question in the base
    note as well as the related topics we've covered in the
    discussion.
    
    --bonnie, parenting co-mod

	I found this in the Greenville news a week or so ago, just now getting 
around to typing it in.

Tracey

********************************************************************************

                       H-flu vaccines tested on infants

	Infants as young as 2 months could soon be protected against Hemophilus
influenza, a frequent cause of meningitis.
	
	Three experimental vaccines are showing promise in clinical trials 
involving babies in the United States and in Europe, according to research 
presented recently before the Food and Drug Administration's Center for
Biologics Evaluation and Research.

	Hemophilus Influenza or H flu, cause s serious illness in infants and 
toddlers and can lead to hearing loss, braindamage and death.  Currently, three
vaccines are approved for use in children as young as 15 months.  The disease,
however, often strikes much younger children.

	Three pharmaceutical companies -- Praxis, Merck, and Connaught 
Laboratories, Inc. -- are testing vaccines in infants.

	If approved by the FDA, the new vaccines could be given along with
immunizations against other childhood diseases -- diptheria, tetanus, and 
pertussis -- at two months of age.

    I realize this note is almost a year old, but since my son is now 
    6 1/2 months old, I thought I would put in an update of the
    vaccinations he has received.  The following is what he has received to
    date:
    
    	2 months - HIB, DTP and oral polio
    	4 months - HIB, DTP and oral polio
    	6 months - HIB, DTP 
    
    It's amazing to see that just a year ago, doctors waited to give the
    HIB vaccine until 15 - 18 months.  My pedi explained that he was happy
    that it is now being given at an earlier age because meningitis can be
    such a deadly disease.
    
    Julie