Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site aecom.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!cmcl2!philabs!aecom!werner From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) Newsgroups: net.kids,net.med Subject: Re: Meningitis Vaccine (Hemophilus influenza) Message-ID: <1989@aecom.UUCP> Date: Tue, 29-Oct-85 00:10:28 EST Article-I.D.: aecom.1989 Posted: Tue Oct 29 00:10:28 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 30-Oct-85 07:45:36 EST References: <1216@vax135.UUCP> <345@tove.UUCP> Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY Lines: 26 Xref: watmath net.kids:2185 net.med:2653 > In article <1216@vax135.UUCP> crg@vax135.UUCP (Catherine Grimes) writes: > >Is anyone familiar with a vaccine for meningitis(spelling ?) vaccine? > >My son attends a daycare center and our pediatrician has recommended that > >be vaccinated. I'm concerned because I know that it is relatively new. The new vaccine is not for the meningococcus. It is rather for the bacteria Hemophilus influenza, which despite its name, has nothing to do with influenza, but is instead the #1 cause of childhood meningitis. It is a polysaccharide vaccine, which may mean nothing to a lot of you, but which is the safest type of vaccine possible. It's only drawback is that it is no good for children under 12-18 months, who really need it most. However, it is highly protective in the 2-7 yr range. It just became available, but has undergone significant testing. I would recommend it to all parents. (Just some meaningless bacteriology. The so-called meningococcus is really called Neiseria meningititis. It is a close cousin (step-brother?) of Neiseria gonorrheae, alias "the clap". N.meningititis is actually found in most people's throats and causes Respiratory infections in children far more often than meningitis. Incidentally N.gonorheae can cause meningitis too.) -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner "Why is it that half the calories is twice the price?"