Health knowledge made personal
|
Safety of Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal Polysaccharide and Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccines in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review Authors: Makris, Marinos C.; Polyzos, Konstantinos A.; Mavros, Michael N.; Athanasiou, Stavros; Rafailidis, Petros I.; Falagas, Matthew E.Source: Drug Safety, Volume 35, Number 1, 1 January 2012 , pp. 1-14(14) Abstract: Immunization during pregnancy has the potential to protect the mother and the newborn from preventable diseases. Current recommendations suggest that inactivated vaccines might be considered during pregnancy when the benefits outweigh the risks. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the safety of hepatitis B (HB) vaccine, pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV) and meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV) administration during pregnancy by systematically reviewing the available evidence in PubMed and Scopus databases, as well as postmarketing surveillance data (including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System [VAERS] database). A total of 18 studies were eligible for inclusion in the review. Six studies provided data on HB vaccine, six on PPSV and three on MPSV; three additional studies compared PPSV with MPSV. Additionally, 91 reports on vaccinations of pregnant women were identified from postmarketing surveillance data (88 on HB vaccine, 2 on PPSV, 1 on MPSV). The most common complaints were local reactions, including tenderness and swelling. Overall, immunization during pregnancy did not seem to be associated with a teratogenic effect on the fetus, preterm labour or spontaneous abortion. However, the lack of randomized, placebo-controlled trials, or even large cohort studies, in addition to the inherent limitations of the reviewed observational studies with small statistical power, precluded safe conclusions. Large, prospective, population-based cohort studies are needed to elucidate this issue. (bold emphasis added -HLD) The bold highlighted text states clearly that, at least for the vaccines listed in the study report title safe conclusions could not be drawn about the safety of those vaccines when given to pregnant women ... because of the lack of randomized, placebo-controlled trials, or even large cohort studies, in addition to the inherent limitations of the reviewed observational studies with small statistical power. |
Write a comment:
|
I believe that the public health authorities have shot themselves, no pun intended, in the foot with their dogmatic assertions that vaccines have "debunked" any vaccine autism connection and with their condescending, and at times pejorative and nasty, dismissal of parental observation, also known as direct, first hand observation, of changes in their children's conditions immediately following vaccinations.