Chapter 68: Childhood Immunization

5. A 1-year-old child is scheduled to receive the MMR vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine (PCV), Varivax, and hepatitis A vaccine. The child's parents request that the MMR vaccine not be given, saying that, even though there is no demonstrated link with autism, they are still concerned about toxic levels of mercury in the vaccine. Which response by the nurse is correct? a. "Most U.S.-made vaccines have zero to low amounts of mercury." b. "Other vaccine preparations contain mercury as well." c. "Thimerosal is a nontoxic form of mercury." d. "You can get more mercury from breast milk and many foods on the market."

ANS: A Because of concerns about mercury levels, most U.S.-made vaccines contain either zero or very low amounts of mercury. Some multidose vials of flu vaccine still contain thimerosal, but even that is a very low amount. Telling parents that other vaccines contain mercury will increase their suspicion about vaccines and further reduce their trust. Thimerosal is a mercury-based preservative and thus has the same toxicity as mercury. Although it is true that mercury is found in breast milk and other foods, telling parents this belittles their concerns about the vaccines.

13. An otherwise healthy child receives a varicella virus vaccine. Three weeks later the parent calls to report that the child has a mild case of chickenpox and wonders how this could happen after the vaccination. What will the nurse tell the parent? a. "A varicella-like rash can occur after the vaccine is given." b. "The vaccine was probably ineffective." c. "This represents a serious vaccine side effect." d. "Give the child aspirin to treat any fever that may occur."

ANS: A Children who receive the varicella vaccine may sometimes develop a mild, local varicella-like rash within a month of receiving the vaccine. This rash does not indicate that the vaccine was ineffective, and it is not a serious side effect. Because of the association with Reye's syndrome, children should not take aspirin or other salicylates for 6 weeks after receiving the vaccine.

6. The parent of a 2-month-old infant who has just received the first dose of DTaP asks the nurse about expected reactions to the vaccine. The nurse will respond by saying that: a. "Mild reactions, including a low-grade fever, are common." b. "Most children do not experience any reaction." c. "Seizures are common and may require anticonvulsant medication." d. "The most common reaction is a rash that develops into itchy vesicles."

ANS: A Mild reactions to the first dose of the DTaP vaccine are common and most often are manifested by a low-grade fever, fretfulness, drowsiness, and local reactions of swelling and redness. At least 50% of children experience reactions. Seizures are not common. Itchy vesicles do not appear with the DTaP vaccine.

9. A clinic nurse receives a phone call from a parent who states that a 2-month-old infant has a severe cough, a low-grade fever, and a runny nose that have lasted over a week. What will the nurse ask the parent? a. Whether the infant has had the first set of vaccines b. Whether the infant received a hepatitis B vaccine as a newborn c. Whether the infant attends day care d. Whether there is a family history of respiratory disorders

ANS: A This infant may have pertussis, for which the primary symptoms are low-grade fever, persistent cough, and runny nose. Infants who have not received the first set of immunizations, including the DTaP vaccine, are especially vulnerable to this disease. The hepatitis B vaccine does not protect against these symptoms. Asking about day care may be important for evaluating exposure, but differentiating between the cough of pertussis and other coughs is best done by determining immunization status. A family history of respiratory disorders may indicate whether the symptoms are related to a chronic lung disease, but these do not usually manifest at 2 months of age.

1. The public health nurse is teaching a group of parents about immunizations. The nurse tells the parents that after receiving the varicella virus vaccine, children should temporarily avoid close contact with whom? (Select all that apply.) a. Neonates b. Siblings c. Relatives older than 65 years d. Pregnant women e. Individuals infected with HIV

ANS: A, D, E To reduce the risk of transmission, vaccine recipients should temporarily avoid close contact with susceptible high-risk individuals (e.g., neonates, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people).

4. A -year-old child who has been receiving high-dose systemic glucocorticoids for several months comes to a clinic for school immunizations, which usually include the DTaP vaccine; varicella virus vaccine [Varivax]; the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (MMR) vaccine; and the inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). The clinic nurse will expect to administer which vaccines to this child? a. All four school immunizations b. DTaP and IPV only c. DTaP, OPV, and Varivax only d. DTaP and IPV, along with immunoglobulins

ANS: B Children who are immunocompromised should not receive live virus vaccines, including the MMR vaccine and Varivax. Children taking high-dose systemic glucocorticoids are immunocompromised and should not receive the vaccine until therapy is stopped and normal glucocorticoid production returns. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) contains live virus and is contraindicated. Immunoglobulins are not indicated unless children are exposed to the diseases themselves.

10. The nurse at a public health infant immunization clinic is acting as a preceptor for a nursing student. To assess the student's understanding of vaccinations, the nurse asks the student where the hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) should be administered. The student would be correct to respond that the hepatitis B vaccine should be administered in the: a. dorsogluteal muscle in an adult. b. anterolateral thigh in infants. c. ventrogluteal muscle in adolescents. d. deltoid of toddlers.

ANS: B The HepB vaccine should be administered in the anterolateral thigh in infants and children. The vaccine should be administered in the deltoid of adults and adolescents. The vaccine should not be administered in the deltoid of toddlers, because they have little muscle in that location.

14. A 3-year-old child who has asthma is in the clinic for a well-child checkup. The nurse notes that the child is up-to-date for the DTaP, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and the MMR vaccines but has only had one each of the Hib, the Rotavirus, and the PCV13 vaccines. Which vaccine(s) will the nurse anticipate administering to this child? a. Hib and Rotavirus vaccines b. PCV13 c. PCV13 and Hib d. Rotavirus

ANS: B The PCV13 should be given to all children under the age of 2 years and to all healthy children between ages 2 and 5 years, especially those who have conditions such as chronic lung disease that put them at high risk of serious pneumococcal disease. The Hib vaccine is only given up to age 15 months. The Rotavirus vaccine is not given after 32 weeks of age.

2. Which are recommended measures to help minimize pain associated with vaccine administration? (Select all that apply.) a. Administer acetaminophen or ibuprofen before the vaccine is given. b. Apply a topical anesthetic to the injection site before the vaccine is given. c. Give intramuscular vaccines rapidly without aspiration. d. Have the child lie down while the vaccine is given. e. Provide tactile stimulation as a diversion.

ANS: B, C, E Topical anesthetics and tactile stimulation are helpful for minimizing pain associated with vaccine administration, as is giving IM injections rapidly without aspirating. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are not recommended, because they can inhibit the immune response to the vaccine. Allowing the child to sit up helps minimize pain.

11. An 11-year-old boy received all childhood immunizations before attending school as a kindergartner. Which vaccines are recommended for this child at his current age? a. DTaP, MCV4, Varivax b. PCV-23, Td, MMR c. Tdap, MCV4, HPV d. Tdap, Varivax, hepatitis B

ANS: C At age 11, both males and females should receive a booster of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (Tdap); the Menactra vaccine against meningitis (MCV4); and the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. A Varivax booster is not recommended at this age. The PCV-23 vaccine is indicated only in high-risk patients. The Td can be given, but a vaccine with a pertussis component is preferred. The MMR is not given at this age. The hepatitis B vaccine is not given at this age.

7. A 1-year-old child receives the MMR vaccine. The next day the child's parent calls the nurse to report that the child has a temperature of 103°F. What will the nurse do? a. File an adverse event report with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). b. Notify the child's provider that thrombocytopenia is likely to occur. c. Reassure the parent that fever can occur with the MMR vaccine. d. Tell the parent to take the child to the emergency department.

ANS: C The MMR vaccine can have several adverse effects, including fever up to 103°F; this is not considered a serious effect and does not warrant filing an adverse event report with VAERS. Thrombocytopenia is a rare but serious side effect of the MMR vaccine but is not associated with fever. There is no need to have the parent take the child to the emergency department.

3. 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? a. "Intussusception is much less serious than getting the disease." b. "It was probably just a coincidental reaction to the vaccine." c. "The newer vaccines for rotavirus are not associated with intussusception." d. "Your child will have herd immunity and won't need the vaccine."

ANS: C The rotavirus vaccine product RotaShield was withdrawn because of the high rate of intussusception associated with it. The two products currently on the market—RotaTeq and Rotarix—do not carry a risk for intussusception. Intussusception can be life threatening, so telling parents it is less serious than the disease is incorrect. Intussusception was not merely a coincidental reaction. Herd immunity is not guaranteed.

2. A nurse is preparing to administer vaccines to a 1-year-old child. The parents ask the nurse to give the child acetaminophen before administering the vaccine to reduce the pain. Which response by the nurse is correct? a. "Children don't remember pain, so it isn't necessary to give acetaminophen." b. "The small needles used to inject the vaccines cause hardly any discomfort." c. "You can apply a topical anesthetic when you get home to reduce pain from the injection." d. "Your child's immune response may not be as effective if I give acetaminophen before the vaccine."

ANS: D Giving analgesic/antipyretic medications before or shortly after vaccines can reduce the immune response, so giving them to prevent pain or fever is not recommended. Children do remember pain, and it is important to provide other comfort measures and to give the injections rapidly. Small needles cause less discomfort, and it is important to reassure the parents about this; however, it is more important to explain why acetaminophen is not recommended. Topical anesthetics are useful before giving the injections, not afterwards.

12. An immigrant child is in the clinic for MMR vaccination. The nurse learns that the child has recently received an immune globulin injection for a viral infection, currently has an upper respiratory infection with a temperature of 100°F, and has a recent history of thrombocytopenia, which has resolved. What does the nurse tell the child's parents? a. "The vaccine is contraindicated in this child because of the history of thrombocytopenia." b. "The child should be brought back for the vaccine when the temperature is back to normal." c. "The child is at increased risk of developing autism from this vaccine." d. "The vaccine must be postponed for 3 months after administration of the immune globulin."

ANS: D The MMR vaccine should be postponed in children who have received immunoglobulins, because the immunoglobulin contains antibodies against the viruses in the vaccine. Thrombocytopenia is not a contraindication to the MMR vaccine. A low-grade temperature is not a contraindication. There is no link between receiving the MMR vaccine and the development of autism.

1. A nurse at an immunization clinic is providing vaccines to children. The parent of a child waiting to receive vaccines tells the nurse that the child has an immune deficiency disorder. The nurse understands that which vaccine should not be administered to this child? a. Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine b. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine c. Polio injection d. Varicella virus vaccine

ANS: D The varicella vaccine should be avoided by individuals who are immunocompromised, which includes those infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and those who have a congenital immunodeficiency. The DTaP vaccine, Hib vaccine, and polio injection may be administered to immunocompromised individuals, because these are not live vaccines.

8. The parent of a child who attends day care questions the need for Varivax. What will the nurse tell the parent? a. "Chickenpox is not as contagious as other communicable diseases." b. "The child will be protected by herd immunity and does not need the vaccine." c. "Varicella is an uncomfortable disease, but it is not that serious." d. "Varicella in adults can have serious consequences."

ANS: D Varicella tends to cause more severe symptoms in adults than in children; adults have a 10-fold greater likelihood of hospitalization and a 20-fold increase in deaths. Chickenpox is highly contagious. Even with herd immunity, because of the degree of contagiousness, spread is likely. Varicella can be serious, even in children.