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My son is allergic to the DTaP shot. He is twelve and going into the 7th grade. They are now requiring an adult dose of the DTaP shot before entering 7th grade. As a toddler he got a high fever and had a seizure after having the shot. They decided when he needed the shot before entering kindergarten that they would take out the Pertussis (whooping cough) portion of the vaccine as that would probably be what would cause the allergic reaction. His little arm swelled up HUGE (we jokingly called him "buff man"!) and he got the fever again! I was more aware that there could be a reaction, so I was able to lower the fever before it got too bad, and his doctor ended up putting him on Prednisone to calm down the reaction.
I called his doctor a few days ago to ask his opinion on what I shoud do about the upcoming DTaP shot and was not really given an opinion in either direction. His words were "I would not blame you if you didn't want to do this" and "It is really a hard call". There is no way of knowing what type of reaction he may have, it could be nothing - it could be major.
I plan to do more research on this before making a decision. At this point I think I am leaning towards not giving the vaccine. If I knew he would just get a fever that I could control, it probably would not be that big of a deal, but the fact that no one is really confirming that it is no big deal has me a little scared! I am sure they are in a bad spot, because they don't want to recommend getting the vaccine and have something bad happen to him, but they don't want to say not to get it either. I just wanted to see if anyone out there had any input or opinions on this......................
My twins had seizures after birth and have never received the pertussis portion of the vaccine. They are now 14and since there is a medical reason for not having that part of the shot I have no issues with the schools over that. It is a difficult decision but these types of cases is WHY they stress for everyone that can get vaccinated so those that CAN'T aren't exposed.
Check with the school and find out what the procedure is for medical exceptions for vaccines. I'd be surprised if they didn't have one.
This is going back many years but I never got the smallpox vaccine due to my own childhood health issues and medically supported evidence at the time. It wasn't a problem for my parents or me.
Well since its a repeat of vaccines he has already had, you should take him to the doctor and ask that a titer test be done for the vaccines that he supposedly needs. It will show whether or not he is already sufficiently immune to those things.
My twins had seizures after birth and have never received the pertussis portion of the vaccine. They are now 14and since there is a medical reason for not having that part of the shot I have no issues with the schools over that. It is a difficult decision but these types of cases is WHY they stress for everyone that can get vaccinated so those that CAN'T aren't exposed.
Thanks for your input! The whole seizure thing is pretty scary isn't it! What you said makes alot of sense. I would also think that if the doctor felt that is was extremely important for him to have it, he would have pushed for it more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ceece
Check with the school and find out what the procedure is for medical exceptions for vaccines. I'd be surprised if they didn't have one.
This is going back many years but I never got the smallpox vaccine due to my own childhood health issues and medically supported evidence at the time. It wasn't a problem for my parents or me.
Thanks!! I am sure the school has a medical release form, or something of the sort. Like I said in the comment to golfgal's post, I would think that the doctor would have pushed it if he felt the benefits outweighed the possible risk in this situation. I think I will check with the school on the form, and at least not give the vaccine at this time.
Call your local school district and talk to them. I am sure that with a doctor's note stating the reactions your child has had and the potential that it could happen again, they will have some way of getting around it. If I were you I wouldn't vaccinate again.
This should not be a problem due to medical documentation. You should just have to sign a form that states if anyone in the school is reported to have the illness, you will not send your son to school until their is no longer any evidence of the illness.
My oldest daughter (now 26) had an exception to the Measles vaccine due to allergies, her youngest brother has an exception due to a reaction to the same vaccine the OP is talking about. There are exceptions allowed due to medical reasons.
Thank you everyone for your replies! I will definitely check with the school and opt out of having him get the vaccine. It is nice to get other opinions when you just aren't sure about something!!
Thank you everyone for your replies! I will definitely check with the school and opt out of having him get the vaccine. It is nice to get other opinions when you just aren't sure about something!!
My son had a similar issue but with the whooping cough portion. My doc gave him a medical exemption letter and I never had any issues with it.
For the record, given your son's previous reactions, I would not even consider giving him another Dt vaccination.
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