Comments on: Kids back to school: germs back to home http://www.balancedimmunehealth.com/2008/08/kids-back-to-school-germs-back-to-home/ Confronting pain, strain, crud and bugs. Naturally. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:46:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Craig Maltby, Editor http://www.balancedimmunehealth.com/2008/08/kids-back-to-school-germs-back-to-home/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Craig Maltby, Editor Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:56:31 +0000 http://www.getbalanced.info/?p=41#comment-12 Sara: Thanks for the comment. I checked with Larry Robinson, a senior scientist at Embria Health. He said that getting a flu shot is no panacea for flu prevention, especially since the key to real vaccine-based prevention is the ability for health officials to forecast what type and strain of influenza will be prominent in the U.S. in the coming flu season, and producing -- a year ahead of time -- flu shot inventory to contain that particular type and strain of the weakened virus. However, some theorize if the flu shot doesn't match the strain going around, there still may be some cross-reactive efficacy anyway. And, if there is a 5% or 10% chance that a flu shot may help prevent catching the flu this year, why not endure a few bucks and a needle prick to get that extra percentage upside. If kids are really young (or adults very old) and naturally possess a weakened or underdeveloped immune system, a flu shot is considered very important. People with compromised immune defense can die from influenza. Keep in mind these thoughts are my own interpretation. While Larry is a highly experienced Ph.D. microbiologist/biochemist, I am not. And, no one affiliated with this blog is an M.D. (not yet anyway), so this is not a physician consultation. Just some general thoughts. As always, discuss further with your doctor. Sara:

Thanks for the comment. I checked with Larry Robinson, a senior scientist at Embria Health. He said that getting a flu shot is no panacea for flu prevention, especially since the key to real vaccine-based prevention is the ability for health officials to forecast what type and strain of influenza will be prominent in the U.S. in the coming flu season, and producing — a year ahead of time — flu shot inventory to contain that particular type and strain of the weakened virus. However, some theorize if the flu shot doesn’t match the strain going around, there still may be some cross-reactive efficacy anyway.

And, if there is a 5% or 10% chance that a flu shot may help prevent catching the flu this year, why not endure a few bucks and a needle prick to get that extra percentage upside. If kids are really young (or adults very old) and naturally possess a weakened or underdeveloped immune system, a flu shot is considered very important. People with compromised immune defense can die from influenza.

Keep in mind these thoughts are my own interpretation. While Larry is a highly experienced Ph.D. microbiologist/biochemist, I am not. And, no one affiliated with this blog is an M.D. (not yet anyway), so this is not a physician consultation. Just some general thoughts. As always, discuss further with your doctor.

]]> By: Sara http://www.balancedimmunehealth.com/2008/08/kids-back-to-school-germs-back-to-home/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Sara Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:11:13 +0000 http://www.getbalanced.info/?p=41#comment-11 What are your thoughts on flu shots for kids? My guess is no way. Our pediatrician lays the guilt trip on me every annual visit for our 9-year-old son's physical saying w/ his health history (some upper respiratory issues when he was a baby-age 6, but nothing uncommon or requiring more than a nebulizer), he is a candidate for a flu shot, hands down. I override her recommendation w/ a bit of guilt and a roll of the dice. So far, we've had only a mild case of the flu each year, no extra shots and no unnecessary medications in his body. What are your thoughts on flu shots for kids? My guess is no way. Our pediatrician lays the guilt trip on me every annual visit for our 9-year-old son’s physical saying w/ his health history (some upper respiratory issues when he was a baby-age 6, but nothing uncommon or requiring more than a nebulizer), he is a candidate for a flu shot, hands down. I override her recommendation w/ a bit of guilt and a roll of the dice. So far, we’ve had only a mild case of the flu each year, no extra shots and no unnecessary medications in his body.

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