FDA Advises Vaccination for Cochlear Implant Patients
October 31st, 2007 amy
Children with Cochlear Implants are at risk for bacterial meningitis and should receive pneumococcal vaccination. According to the Center for Disease Control, Children implanted with Cochlear Implants with a positioner component are at an even greater risk. Two children, ages 9 and 11, with Cochlear Implants with the positioner component have died from meningitis within the past year. Neither child had been fully vaccinated.
The FDA is informing healthcare providers and consumers that children with Cochlear Implants should be vaccinated under the same schedules that apply to other individuals at high risk for invasive pneumococcal disease. A partial vaccination has proved not to be enough in at least one case.
While Cochlear Implants are opening up a new world of hearing for deaf and severely hearing impaired children, it is important that parents and healthcare providers be aware of the risks and take necessary precautions to ensure these children experience miracles, not meningitis.
