Shot Box

Yesterday we had a shot box appointment at the pediatrician's office. Which basically means it's just a visit where we see a nurse for shots. We actually were about a week late. Zeland had a bit of a cold so I decided that it was best to hold off until he was better. I just think that giving him all these crazy chemicals was not a good idea when his immune system was suppressed by a cold. The nurse I spoke with said unless he had a fever he was fine to be vaccinated....however my gut told me not to. Since about Wednesday it seemed his cold was gone so we went ahead with the appointment yesterday. Zeland did good. He was pretty pissed afterwards but still managed to flash the nurse a smile mid scream! What a flirt!!

Zeland was given two shots. One was HIB menigitis. This disease is not very common but it used to be before the vaccine was developed in the 1980's with 20,000 reported cases each year in the United States. Now there are only about 25 reported cases each year mostly in children under five. This is said to be one of the safest vaccines in the way of side effects. Although there are two serious side effects that are rare but do happen. Guliiain-Barre syndrome which is when the body's immune system attacks the nervous system causing temporary weakness and some paralysis. (YIKES!) The second is actually getting the HIB infection but not from the vaccine it self this is actually because after the vaccine the baby's immune system (suppressed by the actual vaccine) cannot react to a natural HIB infection for a few days. The chance that Zeland would be exposed to HIB during these few days is actually minuscule....thank goodness.

The second shot Zeland was given was PC which is pneumococcus. Pneumococcus can cause illnesses from a mild cold, ear infections to severe pheumonia, blood stream infections and meningitis. It is transmitted like the common cold. Before the vaccine the Centers for Disease Control estimated that there were 60,000 severe cases each year. About 17,000 were in kids younger than five. Now since 2001 when the vaccine came out there is only a reportedly 2000-3000 severe cases each year. Pneumococcus is dangerous in infants and the elderly so it makes sense to vaccinate. Side effects are the standard vaccine side effects....pain,redness,crying,vomiting,poor appetite...ect. One side effect that is more serious with this vaccine is seizures. Fortunately for us most occurrence of seizures is with babies that have had prior seizures. Also the seizure is normally a one time occurrence.

Since yesterday Zeland has had a runny nose again and seems to have a slight fever on top of being cranky and his leg being sensitive to the touch where he was given the shots. These side effects are all normal and according to the Doctor nothing to worry about. Anyways......here is a picture from yesterday.