Children
may get more vaccinations
N.J. weighs flu and pneumonia
shots for those in preschool and child care
Tuesday, July 26, 2005 • By CAROL ANN CAMPBELL •
Star-Ledger Staff
New Jersey health officials are
considering plans to require youngsters in preschool and
child care centers to get vaccinated against both the flu
and pneumonia.
The rules could take effect as early as
next year and would make New Jersey the first state to
require young children to receive the flu vaccine. Six
states already require children in preschool to get the
pneumonia vaccine.
Plans for the possible requirements were
outlined at yesterday's meeting of the Public Health
Council, an independent body of health experts from around
the state. The shots would be for children over six months
of age, and would include the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
(PCV7), and the influenza vaccine.
State epidemiologist Eddy Bresnitz told
the council that the new rules would prevent illness and,
possibly, even death among young children. In addition to
getting sick themselves, unvaccinated children can transmit
influenza to others.
"Children are major transmitters of
influenza," Bresnitz said. "They can transmit the virus to
other unvaccianted people in a family."
Influenza is not a reportable disease in
New Jersey, so officials do not know the statistics here,
but by extrapolating numbers from other states Bresnitz
estimated that about 300 New Jersey children were
hospitalized with influenza last flu season. He said at
least one New Jersey child, who had an underlying illness,
died from the virus.
The state Department of Health and Senior
Services is working on drafting the new regulations. Details
are being worked out and a public hearing is planned. No
date has been set. The health department and governor must
approve.
Some organizations will likely object to
more vaccine mandates. Currently, New Jersey school children
must get more than 10 vaccines, or series of vaccines. The
plans for new rules come amid rising skepticism over
vaccines.
"Many of our parents have concerns,
particularly about the flu shot, which has thimerosal.
Thimerosal is half mercury," said Nancy Massotto, executive
director of Holistic Moms Network, based in
Caldwell.
Thimerosal is a mercury-containing
preservative that in recent years was removed from many
vaccines, including flu vaccine made for children. Some flu
vaccine still contains the controversial
preservative.
"We don't know if thimerosal is linked to
autism, but some parents would not want to take the risk,"
Masssota said. She said some parents had difficulty tracking
down thimerosal-free vaccine.
Bresnitz said parents can get flu vaccine
without the compound, which he nonetheless insisted is not
linked to autism or other serious side effects in any
scientific studies. He said last year 62 percent of children
in New Jersey aged 6-23 months voluntarily received the flu
vaccine. Slightly more young children got the pneumonia
shot.
Since the 1970s, vaccine regulations
needed to be approved by the Public Health Council. Earlier
this month, an order by Acting Gov. Richard Codey stripped
the council of much of its power. It now acts as an advisory
group.
Robert Pallay, chairman of the group,
said Bresnitz told them yesterday that the health department
will continue to seek its advice.
"That didn't make us feel better," Pallay
said. "The can seek our input and then still do what they
want."
Pallay, a family practice doctor in
Hillsborough, does not object to the new vaccine plans,
though. "It's a great idea," he said.
Still before the council is a
controversial plan to fluoridate New Jersey water. Pallay
said the issue did not come up at yesterday's meeting and
will probably not be rushed through before the order
stipping the council of its power takes effect at the end of
August.
Pallay said many members first want to
see the much-awaited study by the National Academy of
Sciences that will examine the nation's enduring fluoride
controversy.
Carol Ann Campbell may be reached at
ccampbell@starledger.com or (973) 392-4148.
© 2005 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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