[OkieDokie]

We just got all the lab tests back from our daughters first visit to the pediatricians. The tests came back saying she had never received the vaccines to several things! Hepatitis A and B are the only ones I remember. The pedi says since it was documented that she got them and turns out she didn't, he wants to repeat every vaccine because there is a good chance she never got the others either. Ugh. I had wondered when it was documented that she had the rotavirus vaccine and ended up having rota on the way home. He says her liver enzymes are also elevated and we're to wait a few weeks and retest. Has anyone else had this happen???

[stephjoel99]

Our daughter isn't home so it hasn't happened to us, but I've heard what you described is common. In developing countries the vaccines they give to the children are often expired vaccines from "the first world". That's why it's common practice to run the titers once they're home in the US to see what took. Although I would be cautious about redoing anything if the titer shows it took. HTH.

[adoptnky]

We were going to run full titers on Alex as the times he got some of his vacinnes concerned our peds. The first routine testing that was done showed that he has no immunity to the Heps. So, we are redoing all of his vaccines.

This is not uncommon. The non-immunity can be because the shots weren't given at the right time, or weren't stored correctly.

Alex had "the best" doctor in Guatemala, so we were really hoping he'd be ok.

Kim

[linda512]

There are a certain percentage of people who don't develop immunity even if the vaccines were given correctly. So, it may not be an issue with the vaccines in Guatemala, but it's safer to revaccinate.
Linda

[Niclayson]

I am a RN. I believe that my son's Guatemalan medical records were flat out falsified.Trey required revaccination. We also were not told about a large tumor that developed on his back after our visit trip that required surgery 2 weeks after returning home. I even got to meet the Embassy doctor during the pick-up trip and argued with him about the growth on Trey's back. I KNEW it wasn't the type of tumor he said it was and I was concerned. Turns out I was right...it was a rare growth,benign, but close to his spinal cord.

Yes, have titers done but not all vaccines have titers...so it is quite reasonable of your pediatrician to assume that if several vaccines either weren't given or were given after expiration...that an appropriate course of action is to re-vaccinate. Yes vaccines come with risks...but so do the diseases we are vaccinating them for.

Good luck!

[kimberlyann68]

We had the same problem. The vaccination card was neatly filled out, but after our son had bloodwork done upon arriving home, the pediatrician told us that he was healthy but not immune to anything. The only one that our son didn't need to have redone was the polio vaccine.

[Mariais5]

Bryce also had no immunity to the Heps, so we have started revaccinating her too. We're still waiting for some of the other titers to come back, and the Dr said if they come back neg too, he will redo all of them..

[spidermanteache]

Same here...the vac. card looks great, but we had to have all vacc. redone! Everyone please have titers tested!

[mommytoEli]

well, eli's third dose of shots was dated before his second dose of shots, so our peds is pretending the 3rd dose never happend and redid those.

[tybeemuffin]

Bumping!

It is very important to have your Pediatrician do titers to check the vacinces when your little one gets home!

My Pediatrician has about 80 patients that were adopted internationally. He said that he doesn't run into a problem as often with Guatemala, but many times the vacination records from Russia and especially China turn out to be
PURE FICTION!!!!

My DD titers came back fine, but she had to repeat some vaccinations because they were given too early by my state's requirements, so the Pediatrician gave them to her again.

TITERS TITERS TITERS!!!!

[maurahunter]

I felt so lied to..! None of the documented vaccines were showing in her system! So we did them all again...poor thing, every time we go to Dr she needs shots!

[kare4you]

I was wondering if there were specific Dr.s down there that this happens with all of the time? I am wondering if our doctor is one of them b/c our medical report says "no vaccinations were given at this visit", but my agency says he writes it on a card (for the return trip).
Karen

[tybeemuffin]

I would recommend to anyone who has this happen to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell your agency.

In your fees, you are paying for these vaccines. The agencies need to know when this isn't happening, so they can put pressure on the lawyers, doctors, etc. to make sure this gets done. If the agencies aren't told they they don't know to pass the info on. By passing this info on to your agency, you could possibly prevent this from happening to furture children.

[nurse_reedle]

If your titiers come back fine, I would not allow ANYONE to give anymore vaccines to the child. Vaccines do have side effects and to give more than is needed to achieve immunity runs serious risks.

[Mom2Isabella]

We also have had all the vac done agian. Poor baby one time she had 4 shots