[AVN] FW: TETANUS: VACCINE AND DISEASE

[Guest guest]

BatistaJ@... wrote:

>

> <<From 1990 through 1995 there have been an average of 49.6 cases of

> tetanus per year in the United States. Compared to total population,

> that means approximately 1 in 5,198,200 people contract tetnaus....

> -Statistical analysis done by Me [ ston] from WHO, lightning

> research data, and US Census source materials. Raw data is

> available upon request.>>

>

> Please remember that the vast majority of the population is vaccinated so

this is not an accurate number of people who might have gotten tetanus had they

not been. Old argument, I know, but I only think it is potentially valid for

> tetanus.

>

> 's right, there are a lot of different viewpoints on this, so

hopefully we'll be exchanging info and ideas as usual. I don't have much to

e-mail

you > as I got most of my info from books and newsletters.

>

> I do think there is some value in the tetanus vaccine when it's not

overused. I'll explain that part in a minute. Basically, it is 98-99%

effective and

> even if this is only blood titer levels, it's the highest of any vaccine.

> It's not safe, of course, but tetanus *is* fatal and it can be treated

only *if* you know that it's there (or suspect it). Deep puncture wounds,

sure, > clean them out, make them bleed, but tetanus can and does live in

backyard

> soil and can affect a person with a scrape that begins to heal quickly.

I'm not crazy about the aluminum, formaldehyde, etc in the vaccine, but one

form (I forget which right now--absorbed or not?) doesn't have the aluminum.

>

> *If* you decide to get the vaccine for your kids, I have found information

> that suggests that we only need 3 (some sources say 2) doses within 2-4

months > of each other. This should be enough for about ten years and if there

is

a questionable injury after ten years anyone who has had these preliminary

doses just needs one dose within 72 hours of the injury. It is *not* necessary

to get 10-year boosters. This is when most adverse effects occur *and* who

wants more of that crap in your system than is " necessary " ?

>

> There is also some info regarding tetanus immune globulin (TIG). I used

to think that this would be a good bet since tetanus is still relativley

rare. I have progressively been learning more about how this blood product is

> manufactured and it seems to me to be *much, much* riskier than the

vaccine!

> As a blood product in a not-well-regulated market, contamination is the

> biggest issue. Companies only have to rid the blood and plasma of certain

> viruses and other contaminants, but other things are just " recommended " to

be eliminated and usually aren't. Then there is the access issue: if your

child needed the stuff, would it be available at that certain ER? Would it be

un-> expired? A very unscientific survey I have done (!) says that it's a

> extremely hard to know.

>

> That's all I have to say off the top of my head. My first-born received 3

> doses starting at age 16 months, but while the child due in May will get

them eventually, too, s/he won't get them until much later. As far as I know

right now, this is the only vaccine they will ever get while I have anything to

say about it.-J