96.7k views
3 votes
The parents of an infant who will be attending day care tell the nurse that they do not want their child vaccinated against rotavirus because an older cousin developed intussusception after receiving this vaccine. Which response by the nurse is correct?

1) "Intussusception is much less serious than getting the disease."
2) "It was probably just a coincidental reaction to the vaccine."
3) "The newer vaccines for rotavirus are not associated with intussusception."
4) "Your child will have herd immunity and will not need the vaccine."

User Utpaul
by
9.1k points

1 Answer

0 votes

Final answer:

The best response to concerns about intussusception from the rotavirus vaccine is that it is most likely a coincidental reaction. The benefits of vaccination, as recommended by the WHO, far outweigh this rare risk, and herd immunity cannot be relied upon, especially for infants in a day care setting.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most correct answer to the concern about intussusception and the rotavirus vaccine is option 2: "It was probably just a coincidental reaction to the vaccine." While there is a small associated risk of intussusception with the first generation of rotavirus vaccine, the overall benefits of vaccination in preventing disease must be weighed against this risk. Herd immunity, as mentioned in option 4, is not a reliable form of protection for an individual infant, especially in settings such as day care where the disease can spread quickly if children are not vaccinated.

Large-scale studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of rotavirus vaccines. The rare cases of intussusception are significantly outnumbered by the cases of severe rotavirus gastroenteritis prevented by vaccination. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all infants worldwide receive the rotavirus vaccine. Furthermore, vaccines have been repeatedly proven to be safe, with extensive research debunking the myth of vaccines causing autism. Although one must respect parental concerns, it is important to present the overwhelming scientific evidence supporting vaccination and its crucial role in public health.

User Lichi
by
7.7k points