Tag Archives: Immunizations

NATIONAL INFANT IMMUNIZATION WEEK: Buy your favorite nurse a shot!

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NURSE WEDNESDAYS:

NATIONAL INFANT IMMUNIZATION WEEK

It’s that time again. How time flies when you’re having fun giving immunizations to millions of screaming babies while pacifying the sobbing new moms!  As a nurse, it’s a challenging task giving pediatric immunizations; especially when they are either, holding their breath, kicking you in the crotch, or screaming so loud you know damage is occurring to your eardrums.  And sometimes the kids will do all this stuff too!

“BUT IT IS SOOOO NECESSARY TO IMMUNIZE YOUR CHILD!” ~Nurse Mommy

“This year marks the first time that National Infant Immunization Week, April 21-28, is joined by World Immunization Week,” reports the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)**  This shows you how more organizations are backing this urgent movement.

Check with your child’s provider to see if he or she is up-to-date and here is the current requirement list for go-getter parents:

http://www2.aap.org/immunization/IZSchedule.html

AAP is one of many partners with ONE campaign and The Million Moms Challenge. For additional information, check out these fabulous sites:

(Source:  AAP, April 23, 2012)

**The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org.

Meningitis Facts: Save the Brain Membrane

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KC Parent magazine (March 2011 issue)

3/1/2011 12:00:00 AM

Why can one type of meningitis be treated with antibiotics and not the other? And why are there so many organisms which can cause this one disease? Meningitis facts can strain the brain, but the plain answer is: meningitis is any inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes.

Bacterial vs. viral meningitis Dr. Jennifer Andrews, a pediatrician at Shawnee Mission Pediatrics, says the big difference is, “Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics and viral meningitis cannot.” She warns, “Both forms of meningitis can be serious.”

Who’s most at risk? “The two most common causes of bacterial meningitis in children are Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneumococcal) and Neisseria meningitidis (Meningococcal),” says Dr. Andrews. Haemophilus influenza (Hib) used to be widespread, but now with the current immunization schedule, the numbers have dropped dramatically. “Pneumococcal meningitis,” reports Dr. Andrews, “is most common in infants, young children and individuals with immune deficiency. Meningococcal is most common in adolescents and young adults.”

Common symptoms The American Academy of Pediatrics says meningitis quickly progresses, so notify a pediatrician promptly if warning signs are present:

Under 2 years:

  • Fever
  • Decreased appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Listlessness
  • Extreme crankiness
  • Rash

2 to 5 years old: above symptoms, plus

  • Complaint of headache
  • Pain in back
  • Stiff neck
  • Aversion to bright lights

Treatment for bacterial meningitis
Diagnosis is made by doing a procedure called a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), according to Dr. Andrews. Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial meningitis, and they are typically given through an IV in the beginning of treatment. Those who receive immediate treatment recover well.

Viral meningitis is less serious but can remain undiagnosed because it is often misdiagnosed as influenza.

Prevention is Key “The most important thing parents can do to prevent meningitis is to take their children in for their immunizations,” Dr. Andrews says. “There has been a substantial decrease of bacterial meningitis with the current immunization schedule.”

Dr. Laurie Hornberger, a Kansas City, MO, pediatrician specializing in adolescent health, says, “High school and college-aged kids are at the highest risk for meningococcal disease.” Since they live in close quarters, share food, drinks and utensils, the disease can be passed on easily.

Teens should definitely get vaccinated before entering college, but “the current recommendation for the meningococcal vaccine is 11 years,” says Dr. Hornberger. “There are, however, new studies that say a booster may be needed at 16 to cover them throughout college years.”

Stacey Hatton is a pediatric registered nurse and advocate for childhood immunizations.

Elvis Better be at End of Flu Line

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The Kansas City Star news
Elvis better be at end of flu line
By Stacey Hatton
Saturday,December 12, 2009
Edition: METROPOLITAN, Section: JOHNSON COUNTY, Page 2

What’s worse than a three-hour car ride to Omaha with carsick toddlers, or your legs after running a three-hour marathon? What’s more painful than a three-hour root canal?

If you spent Halloween morning winding down the sidewalks outside the Johnson County Health Department, you know the answer: waiting in line for three hours to get your young children vaccinated for the H1N1.

Now, I am not bad-mouthing the department’s work. I truly believe the health department did a magnificent job. They didn’t have a Black Friday disaster. No one trampled anyone, which is a plus. It was a well executed event for approximately 1,900 of my now closest friends.

My only advice for any future events is maybe put up a movie screen and project Sesame Street episodes back to back. If you really want to win ‘em over, have Mr. Stinky Feet and Funky Mama singing in shifts in the parking lot. (Snacks and diaper stations would be fabulous also, but who would expect children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years would need to “use the facilities” while waiting in 46 degree weather for three hours?)

But really, I’m not complaining.

The morning started off with a bang. First crazy rumors started flying that a handful of perky mommies had started the line before 6 a.m. when doors weren’t to open until 7:45. I have no idea if this was true. I couldn’t even see the beginning of the line from my coveted place. At 6 a.m., I was trying to haul myself out of bed to pack my U-Haul wagon full of activities with the anticipation I would be waiting an hour. Major under estimation!

I did see others faring worse than I was, however. Several parents just pulled their infant up out of the car seat — maybe with a blanket, if they were thinking — with no stroller or diaper bag Can you imagine? Being stuck in line, holding your child in your arms, thinking it was going to be a quick affair and no diapers, snacks, bottles or line stand-ins?

After only a fraction of an hour, officials from a race said we had to clear the sidewalk for the runners to get through. Didn’t they know who we were? I’m pretty sure H1N1 groupies trump runners for sidewalk space. And, Mr. Race Man, have you looked at this line? No one has stood in a line like this since the Great Depression! I hope Elvis is behind those doors!

Then to make things even more interesting, nearby businesses started towing cars off their property. It wasn’t even 8:15 yet. Thankfully, police came around announcing on the bull horn we needed to move cars in various lots. I heard people saying they would rather have their car towed than risk the chance of not getting the H1N1 shot. I could see their point.

This brings me to the overall fear which slowly crept up on all of us. The question was, “What if I get to the front of the line, and the Seinfeld sitcom’s Soup Nazi was there dealing out the shots! “No flu for you!” How disappointing would that be?

Fortunately, we got immunized.

Later that evening when my friend and I were trick-or-treating with our kids, she disclosed to me she took her little one up to the same clinic 15 minutes before it closed that afternoon. She just walked through the doors, and within several minutes her kid was immunized.

“What?!” I nearly pulled a Black Friday on her, but lucky for her, she’s a good friend.

Stacey Hatton is a freelance writer who lives in Overland Park.

©2010, Hatton. All rights reserved.