The Cochran Firm Atlanta has identified an issue regarding the health of children that we would like to share with the V-103 listening community. It has come to our attention that there has been a recent onslaught of meningitis and pneumonia cases resulting in serious illness and/or death to children age 5 and under. It has also come to our attention that the majority of these cases are preventable, if the proper vaccination schedule mandated by the State of Georgia and the CDC are followed.
· Young children are developing serious and potentially life threatening diseases caused by two deadly organisms: S. Pneumoniae and Haemophilus Influezae B.
· These organisms cause serious illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis, as well as more minor conditions such as upper respiratory infections, and otitis media (ear infections). They most commonly affect children under the age of 5.
· There are two vaccines that can prevent the more serious illnesses in young children with a 90+% success rate.
· The two vaccines that are designed to prevent these diseases are Prevnar/PCV7 and Hib.
· The vaccines are part of your children’s routine vaccination schedule, although under Georgia law, they are not required for school entrance after the age of 5.
· Each of the vaccines comes in 4 doses. They are to be given at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months.
· For the maximum efficacy to be achieved, all 4 doses should be given.
· Some healthcare providers are either failing to administer any or failing to administer all of the required doses, leaving our children unprotected.
· African American children are considered high risk for contracting the diseases prevented by these vaccines.
· It is estimated that more than 1 million children per year die due to these organisms. Most of these deaths are due to complications from pneumonia.
Contact the Cochran Firm at 404-222-9922
