The article below sounds very good in theory, however I would argue that children are exposed to bacteria and virus all the time, it is those children whose immune system are weak have dificulty fighting off  germs.  

Should goverments be promoting health and backing it up with money instead of vaccination programmes when there is no evidence that they make children healthier?

Richard

Hepatitis A vaccine for toddlers still fairly new in this part of U.S.
Posted Monday, July 09, 2007

The toddler was in for his 18-month-old well-baby exam and was, I'm happy to say, a well baby. After the checkup, I started discussing the plan for the day's vaccinations. I told his mom that in addition to the usual DPT and polio vaccine boosters, I recommended the hepatitis A shot.

I'm always prepared for a vaccine discussion, but mom didn't hesitate. If I was proposing another way to protect her son from infectious disease, she was more than willing to sign the vaccination consent form.

Most parents are now familiar with hepatitis B disease and its three-shot series of immunizations required prior to school entry, but prevention of its cousin, hepatitis A, is a newer concept for this part of the United States.

Both diseases are caused by viral infections of the liver, though hepatitis B, which is transmitted by blood or sexual contact, is considered the more dangerous of the two. Hepatitis A virus, spread from person to person by the fecal-oral route, also plays a significant role in the infectious disease world.

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that before hepatitis A vaccines became available, there were approximately 300,000 hepatitis A cases and 100 hepatitis A-related deaths in the U.S. each year. Recent immunization practices have proven to be very effective at controlling hepatitis A disease, with a 76 percent drop in cases reported between the years 1996 and 2003.

Thanks to "herd immunity," researchers have also found a significant drop in adult hepatitis A incidence since childhood immunization efforts were put into place. If infants, who tend not to be very conscientious about personal hygiene, are immunized, these youngest members of the "herd" will be less likely to share the hepatitis A virus with their playmates, older siblings and parents.

The AAP and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have adopted a step-wise approach to hepatitis A vaccination for children. In 1996, the two groups began targeting certain high-risk populations for hepatitis A prevention. Since 1999, their recommendations have expanded to include children over age 2 living in counties and states that report hepatitis A incidence above the national average.

Two years ago, the hepatitis A shot was approved for administration in infants as young as 1 year old, and in an April 2007 policy statement, the AAP recommended nationwide hepatitis A vaccination for all children 12 months to 23 months of age.

Two hepatitis A vaccines have been licensed for use in children and both are considered very safe and effective. They can be administered along with other childhood immunizations and are given in a two-shot series, with dose two given six months to 18 months after dose one (depending upon the brand of vaccine used). Hepatitis A vaccines are inactivated, not live, viral vaccines and do not include the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal.

Parents, be aware that there are other ways you can come in contact with the hepatitis A virus, even if your little ones are protected. If you enjoy travel, you'll want to know the CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccination prior to arrival at many international vacation destinations. If you plan on traveling, visit the CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov and click on Travelers' Health to map out areas at high risk for hepatitis A disease.

The CDC notes that travelers to Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and developed countries in Europe are at no greater risk for hepatitis A infection than in the United States.

Dr. Helen Minciotti is a mother of five and a pediatrician with a practice in Schaumburg. She formerly chaired the Department of Pediatrics at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.