Resolved question:
My daughter aged 9 years recently was given Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Vaccine, but within 5 minutes after administering the vaccine she felt uncomfortable, feeling sick, even cannot speak loudly, feeling hearing disturbance, feeling hot from inside and the blood pressure was 80/40. She was given ORS and after about one hours of bed rest she felt better. The name of the Vaccine was JENVAC (India). The second primary dose of the same vaccine will be given after 28 days. My daughter is frighten to take the second dose, we are also very worried to administer the 2nd dose. We need your suggestion and advice. Whether second primary dose of the vaccine should be given or not..... Please provide suggestion
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Pediatrician
Dear Parent,
Thank you for your query at DoctorSpring.com
I can understand your concerns.Such reactions with JE vaccine or any injection are common. After seeing needles or injections, children can have even brief fainting spells. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes after the vaccine can prevent such episodes. In fact, a child can have vaso-vagal fainting episodes after any painful or perceived painful procedure.
Any drug can produce an ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION. Anaphylactic reactions can be life-threatening and include rash, vomiting or diarrhea and hypotensive shock. This generally requires IV fluid blues, IV or IM adrenaline injection, etc. In your child, you report that she was given ORS and she felt better after one hour of rest. If she responded without any other treatment, then it is unlikely to have been an anaphylactic reaction.
Studies have shown that severe reactions to JE vaccines are extremely rare and hence need not be a source of concern. Mild problems such as pain, tenderness or swelling at the site of injection, fever, headache, muscle aches and nausea may occur with JE vaccine but are relatively rare as well. Hence, I would advise you not to worry much and go ahead with the second dose.
Regards
Dr. Saptharishi L G
Whether the second primary dose of vaccination is enough to get life long protection from Japanese Enchephalaities
Dear parent,
No vaccine can give absolute protection lifelong. It has been found that with two doses of Jenvac, there is up to 98-99 percentage seroconversion and seroprotection. This only means development of antibodies to the virus. Whether this translates into clinical protection or not depends on the child. Jenvac is one of the best vaccines for JE available today, but even this cannot claim absolute, life long immunity. It can only be said that this vaccine reduces your child's risk of acquiring Japanese encephalitis significantly in comparison to an unvaccinated child.
Regards.