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Dr. Bernadette Gendernalik and nurse Kate Guzman answered questions about childhood immunizations virtually Thursday morning.
The program was hosted by Michigan State University Extension, as part of its “Extension Extras Family FAQs Lunch and Learn” offerings. The MSU Extension serves many counties, including Monroe. Monroe County has an MSU Extension Office on Raisinville Rd. Virtual programs are offered monthly, and the public is welcome.
Dr. Gendernalik of Macomb County is a board-certified family physician. For more than 30 years she’s been on the staff of McLaren Macomb and is an assistant professor of family and community medicine at MSU. Her children age ages 35 and 32.
Guzman is a public health administrator in Oakland County. She has two children, ages 9 and 11.
For an hour, attendees asked several questions.
Will the COVID vaccine impact fertility?
Dr. Gendernalik: All of the evidence-based information from the U.S. and Europe does not show any reduction in fertility at any age.
Wasn’t the COVID vaccine approved too quickly to really test the safety?
Guzman: None of the steps were rushed. We had the benefit of a lot of research that focused on these vaccines. The timelines were met faster because of research and other projects were put on hold.
The clinical trials include thousands of volunteers of all ages and all races. They tracked them through eight weeks to get emergency-use status. Reactions are almost always seen in the first eight weeks. The process was as robust as usual.
Dr. Gendernalik: Research had been going on before this particular COVID virus. All the RNA vaccines go through all the same steps and all the rigorous evaluation. The committees that reviewed it were not all government intuitions. Some are concerned it was all government regulated. The reviews are independent and evidence-based.
My child already had COVID, why does she need a vaccine?
Dr. Gendernalik: The virus changes. There are mutations. There are stimulations of the immune system from the virus, but they don’t last as long as the vaccine. It also doesn’t protect from the wide variety of COVID mutations. You have a better immune response at protecting yourself against other mutations of the virus with a vaccinate than if you only get the wild infection.
Should we have COVID parties, like chicken pox parties of the past?
Guzman: Every disease is different. Comparing COVID to chicken pox is like comparing apples to oranges. They are not similar at all. You can’t make that jump. Maybe that was acceptable 30 years ago, but we know better now, we need to do better.
Should I get a COVID vaccine to protect my children who are too young for one?
Dr. Gendernalik: The more who get vaccinated, it protects the individuals who can’t get vaccinated. The more people who get vaccines, the less of a chance the virus can get in you and mutate. Had more been vaccinated in advance of October, we would not have seen the incredible surge we’ve seen in the last four to six weeks.
Guzman: Young children have trouble keeping masks on. They also have their fingers in their mouths, noses and eyes. Respiratory viruses like the flu and COVID are easy to transmit. People also want to get close to little children. They are a lot more vulnerable.
Can we get the COVID and flu vaccine at the same time?
Dr. Gendernalik: In July the CDC decided you don’t need to get them at separate times.
Guzman: We are desperately waiting for a mixture (a shot with both vaccines).
Why is a COVID booster needed?
Dr. Gendernalik: At the onset of these vaccines, a group has been monitored to see what happens to the immune system and immunity. When does the immune level fall low enough where your risk of getting the infection goes up? They are monitoring and we are learning moment by moment. We learned, for example, MMR had outbreaks in 3- to 7-year-olds, so a second booster started back in the 1970s.
Should I get a COVID vaccine while pregnant or nursing?
Dr. Gendernalik: I encourage if for everyone, even pregnant and nursing. It’s not a live vaccine. You cannot get the disease form the vaccine. Get your vaccines, especially COVID, for transfer immunity for the baby.
Should my child get a flu shot?
Guzman: Some parents think it’s not worth it because the efficacy is not very high. It could be 55 or 60 percent some years, sometimes 40 percent. Protecting them with a 50 percent chance of not getting the flu and potentially dying, that’s worth it to me. Childhood influenza deaths occur every winter. These are the most heartbreaking because it’s preventable (in many cases).
Dr. Gendernalik: Even if it’s only a 50 percent chance of protection, that’s better than 0 by far. Influenza shots can be given at 6-months on.
Why do infants get so many vaccines at once?
Guzman: We’re trying to protect them as early as possible. The vaccine schedule is to protect infants as soon as possible.
Dr. Gendernalik: Infants have a robust immune system during that time frame. They tolerate it well and build immune faster. The older you are, the more difficult it is to mount that immune response and maintain it. Infections cause illness and death, and infants have a great immune response for vaccine to prevent those very, very bad diseases, like meningitis and whooping cough.
Should I put off vaccines because of COVID?
Dr. Gendernalik: We are worried about the decline in vaccines. There was a terrible, terrible decline in vaccines rates in 20220. There’s still a very large gap.
Guzman: The fear in public health is to see a resurgent in diseases like measles and pertussis and chicken pox. Please keep on your schedule of vaccination appointments.
Do vaccines cause autism?
Guzman: No. The beginning signs of autism happen at the same age when children are getting vaccines.
Was the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System started because the COVID vaccine is dangerous?
Guzman: It was not designed because there is an extra risk. I’ve been a nurse for 15 years. It’s been in use since I’ve been giving vaccines. It’s used to monitor side effects of all vaccines. The CDD looks for trends and commonalities.
Why are we sick after getting a COVID vaccine?
Dr. Gendernalik: It’s the response of the immune system. Aches, chills, nausea, all of this is your immune response to that vaccine.
Guzman: It’s great if you’re felling terrible. Your body is doing what is should be doing. It’s building antibodies. It’s worth it for the protection you’re getting.
There’s now medicine for COVID, can’t I just take that instead of getting the vaccine?
Dr. Gendernalik: There is a limited supply of these, I mean limited. Only seven pharmacies in the state have it. Those who get it have to meet criteria. Medicine is second. The vaccine is first.
Are doctors making money off of COVID?
Dr. Gendernalik: I don’t make anything off of any of this. I get very disheartened when I continuously see sick people and those who can’t get the care they could get because the hospitals are filled.