Questions for vaccinology panel discussion

Mangalore, 31/10/2009, 3.15 – 4.00 pm

Varicella
vaccine:
Failures. Your experience. ALL

Should a 2 dose be recommended in India?

nd
N

How useful is varicella vaccine as post exposure prophylaxis? P

H1N1
vaccine:
What is the present scenario?
PC
When is it likely to be available?
PC
Any studies about it’s efficacy?
N
What is the target population for vaccination?
N
If the present virus undergoes antigenic drift, will the vaccine protect? P

IPV:

What is the logic behind giving both OPV & IPV at the same time to an Indian baby? Is
there any precedent anywhere in the world? PC

DPwP & DTaP:

“Do you want a vaccine with side effects or the one without side effects?!!” How
scientifically correct is this statement? N

2c v/s 3c v/s 5c: any differences? PC

What are the absolute contraindications for DTwP ? P

 Can DTaP be used in these situations?

Should we strongly insist on DTaP for the 2nd booster at 4.5-5 yrs. Is the duration of
protection longer? N

6 week old infant from a lower middle class family comes to you for vaccination. H/O
neonatal seizures, cause unknown, on Gardinal. Neuro-development apparently normal
What will you do? Resource constraints are present. P

1) Insist on DTaP

2) give DTwP

3) Postpone DTP vaccination

4) Give DTaP now and continue with DTwP at 10weeks if baby neurologically normal.

RV Vaccine:

A 5+ months old infant is brought to you for Rotavirus vaccine: PC

1. Will you give the vaccine or no? Reasons

2. If Yes, will you give the 2 dose 1 month later?
nd

A 3 month old baby has come from US ,after taking one dose of Rotateq. How to
continue in India? N

Prevenar:

Child between 2 & 5 years with Nephrotic Syndrome or Sickle Cell disease or pre-
splenectomy :

Will you use P

Prevenar
 Polysaccharide Pneum Vaccine

Both

Please give a schedule

Child between 5 & 10 years with Nephrotic Syndrome or Sickle Cell disease or pre-
splenectomy:

Will you use N

Prevenar

Polysaccharide Pneum Vaccine

Both

Please give a schedule

Are there any alternate schedules with reduced number of doses? PC

Typhoid vaccines:

There is a lot of controversy regarding the new conjugate typhoid vaccine. Can you give
us some facts and help us take decisions regarding use of this vaccine? PC

HPV Vaccine:

This vaccine is recommended before sexual debut. Social mores are different in India
from the Western world . Morever the last word regarding the duration of long term
protection has not been said. Keeping these factors in mind do you feel 10 – 15 years is
still an optimum age for immunizing Indian girls or should it be done at a later age? PC

Thiomersal in vaccines. Your views. N

Do too many vaccines cause an immune overload? P

Which AEFI should be reported and to whom? N

NOTE:

1. PC : Dr Panna Choudhary, N : Dr Narayanappa , P ; Dr Prashanth

2. Please be brief and relevant in your answers
3. Kindly give additional information on questions answered by other panelists
4. About 20 minutes of the panel time will be reserved for questions from the
audience
5. It may not be possible to cover all the topics mentioned above
6. If you have any suggestions about topics or conduct of the panel discussion,
please email to me at the earliest