(Image source: Top News)
BY CHRISTY LEWIS
We’ve probably all been told it’s best to plan ahead -- but when does prevention become a problem? This question is at the center of a federal government discussion this week over the anthrax vaccine. A doctor on WTVT explains.
“If we ever had an attack, we have never tested the vaccine on children. So if we have an attack if something goes wrong, what are we going to do? We could mass vaccinate our adults, but how would we mass vaccinate our children when it’s never been used in kids?”
As another doctor tells MSNBC...it’s hard to make a choice without a firm foundation.
“What is the risk of an anthrax attack? And what would be the benefit? And that has not been established. So for children.. to start immunizing children with something that may not ever be a problem..”
According to a writer for Science Magazine, some vaccines like tetanus, the same dose is given to a baby as is an adult. But for other vaccines like the flu, dosage is different for kids.
“In adults, studies have suggested that the anthrax vaccine is quite safe...Generally... studies in children must meet a higher standard than adult trials in protecting children from risk, particularly if the treatment has little chance of providing benefit. And that's where some worry that the proposed anthrax trial fails to meet ethical standards.”
Another big part of the issue--parents would volunteer their children for vaccine tests. Side effects include muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, and site-soreness. One top of that, a writer for ABC News points out .. mom and dad may consider the country’s political past in their decision-making.
“In the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, our government intelligence agencies invented a biological weapons threat … Trust dissipated ... And when the government launched a public health program to give smallpox vaccine to first responders and military personnel, most of them rejected it. The program floundered.”
Without any kind of decision made over the vaccine, medical personnel would be acting on the fly in the event of an anthrax attack. Yet another doctor assured FOX News, the nation’s neonates would be okay.
DOCTOR: “If it did come, you could give them antibiotics. If you treat the people right away with antibiotics, they will get better.”
ANCHOR: “Is that Cipra?”
DOCTOR: “Cipra or tetracycline. You have two types of antibiotics. What we should be working on is how do we get it to the people fast enough should there be an attack.”
Friday the National Biodefense Science Board announced they are putting off any decision-making until the Department of Health and Human Services develops a plan for a study of the vaccine. There is no deadline for the decision.
