Study says Tylenol can reduce Vaccine effectiveness (???)

[Anonymous]

I have always given my 14 month old a preventative dose of Tylenol before her shots, per doctor's suggestion. Now I see this article in the Wash Post today that it may prevent the vaccine's effectiveness.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/15/AR2009101503209_2.html?hpid=sec-health

Any scientific minded people have thoughts about this study? Can I give Motrin instead, or basically they are preventing all pain relief before shots?

[Anonymous]

Great. (If it makes you feel any better, at our ped's suggestion, we gave our DD tylenol before her first few shots, and at one of them the nurse gave it to her as she gave the shot, so you are not alone.)

[Anonymous]

I read the study; this is not something to worry about after the fact - the vaccines are still more effective than if you haven't vaccinated, they just may be slightly less effective in SOME kids.

I have never given my child preventive tylenol because I want to know any reactions to any shot she gets and so far, she has never needed anything because she's never gotten a fever from a shot.

The take-away from this is, moving forward, there is probably not a good reason to give tylenol or any fever reducer before the shot, because it may not be necessary, and mild fevers are not harmful (though in young children efforts should be made to reduce high fevers obviously).

[Anonymous]

OP here. The reason I gave my daughter the Tylenol in advance was for pain, not fever. At her 6 month shots, she called out but didn't cry after getting 3 shots! So I thought the Tylenol was very effective in that case for the pain.

I hate that now I can't even give her that bit of relief, based on this study. I'd love to know if there is any pain relief that can be given before the shots.

[Anonymous]

It's hard to say. They described the difference in antibodies as "significant" in the summary, but they don't say whether it is just statistically significant or whether it significantly reduces the effectiveness of the vaccination.

We stopped using the tylenol after the first few vaccinations for our first child for unrelated reasons, and it was not that bad. From then on, we just occasionally gave him tylenol in the evening if he experienced a fever.

[Anonymous]

Oh, I should have added that if someone has access to Lancet and can get more information than is provided in the summary about the results after the initial shot and the booster, that would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Our ped. says to avoid pre-medicating (but never gave a reason), and based on my first child's reaction to shots, we don't give our son anything before being vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

I too was in shock over hearing this. My mother raised 3 kids, is a well-respected RN turned hospital administrator and always told me to give it to them (after their temp was taken and before the shot was given...and thru the first 24 hours). The one time I didn't with my firstborn he was hot and fussy the whole night. From then on I've always gone the tylenol route with all of my kids and they've never had any side effects. I was not pleased to hear this study!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our ped. says to avoid pre-medicating (but never gave a reason), and based on my first child's reaction to shots, we don't give our son anything before being vaccinated.

this is because they like to take the child's temp right before the shot. If they have a fever they can't get the immunization that day. I don't think until this study is was known there was any potential efficacy effects from the tylenol dosing. Ironically, my kids just got their last immunizations last week and I always gave tylenol after the temp, right before the shot to avoid aches and pains and fever the first 24 hours (like adults sometimes get after a flu shot--not for the pain of the immunization which is just a prick and lasts only a second).

[Anonymous]

Op again. So basically, no pain relief for the kids for the shots. Huh. I find this really annoying, since they are often getting three shots in those tiny little legs all at once!

Seems like just when you think you are doing something right, a study comes out and says the opposite. How frustrating, but guess I better get used to it.

[Anonymous]

PP. Tylenol is not going to reduce the immediate pain of the shot given to your kids. The reason to give it was to dull the more long lasting aches, pains, fevers from the vaccine, not to reduce the pain of the needle/shot.

[Anonymous]

Ha. Finally, my disorganization and inability to plan ahead has paid off. No more feeling guilty for forgetting to give my kids tylenol before their vaccines.