When Diane McGowen of Nazareth, Pa., gave her son Martin Tylenol before putting him to bed on Feb. 8, 2005, she never imagined it would be the last time she would say goodnight to her son.

After spending the day at baseball tryouts, Martin was exhausted and complained of leg pain, which was attributed as normal pain any teenager would experience after fully exerting himself at a sports tryout.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., Martin began vomiting, and within hours his mother was on the phone with the doctor scheduling an appointment. After scheduling the only appointment available that day, she asked Martin if he could wait several hours to be seen. Martin said no, and asked his mother to take him to the ER.

Martin was treated and even taken into surgery for what doctors thought was compartmental syndrome, a disease that attacks the muscles and limits blood circulation in the legs. Unfortunately, the pain in his legs was a severe symptom of influenza, and no surgery was going to spare Martin his life.

Nearly 24 hours after experiencing his first flu symptom, Martin was dead. An autopsy showed influenza as the cause of death, marking him one of 400 children who have died in the last five flu seasons as a result of not being vaccinated against the deadly virus.

Wednesday, Martin’s mother to spoke to eighth-graders from Park Middle School about the importance of receiving a flu shot. In memory of her son, McGowen established the MARTIN Flu Foundation, which stands for May All Receive Their Immunization Now.

McGowen tells her son’s story “in hopes to influence people.”

While speaking, McGowen asked the students to raise their hands if they had received flu shots. Out of nearly 150 students, roughly 10 raised their hands. McGowen urges parents to defend their children against influenza.

“I do not want your parents to stand up and speak on your behalf as I am today for my son. I know it (getting a shot) hurts, but it only lasts for a second. And a second can save your life.”

Park principal Marsha Smith said, “I think parents need to realize immunizations are very important.”

Influenza, commonly called “flu,” is a highly contagious disease that is caused by a virus that infects the respiratory tract (nose, throat and lungs). Unlike the common cold, the flu can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications.

McGowen stressed the importance of children being proactive and letting parents know when they are ill.

“He didn’t let us know how sick he really was. He was a very healthy kid,” she said.

McGowen didn’t force Martin to get vaccinated because at 15 he was not part of the recommended age group to receive a flu shot.

Last February, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to expand the recommended age for flu immunizations to include all children six months to 18 years. Today, adults who fall into the 18-50 age group are not advised. However, McGowen said the group is aiming for a universal recommendation for everyone to receive an immunization yearly.

Sharon Lansdale, CEO of Rural Health Development, agreed most people don’t get a flu shot because they believe the myth that you can get the flu from taking a flu shot. According to Lansdale, “This is a hand-me-down wives’ tale and huge misconception. You can’t get the flu from taking a flu shot. It’s a dead virus.”

Jeff Neccuzi, director of the immunization program at the Bureau of Public Health in Charleston, wants the public to understand the significance of getting children vaccinated. Neccuzi agrees with Lansdale, but says those who opt to get the flu in the nasal spray form are receiving an extremely weakened live form of the flu and can theoretically contract the flu from it.

Live vaccines such as the nasal form are still advised for healthy individuals ages two to 49 since they work better because they prime the immune system to develop protective antibodies sooner.

Neccuzi understands there are anti-vaccination groups that don’t believe in getting children vaccinated in fear of overloading their immune system or causing severe defects such as autism or neurological and developmental disorders.

Neccuzi insists, “This is not true at all. The immune system is presented with thousands of foreign organisms and it is constantly fighting them off. A vaccine barely scratches the surface of what the immune system fights on a daily basis.”

Anti-vaccine believers are against them because of thermerasol, a preservative found in some vaccines that include mercury. Neccuzi says, “If you feel strongly about vaccines containing thermerasol, we provide a thermerasol-free influenza vaccine to make sure that it is not a barrier for being unvaccinated.”

He insists people should know “there are no links among vaccines and autism, development or neurological disorders. It’s unfounded and unsubstantiated.”

Necuzzi’s bureau disperses vaccines to county health departments and pediatricians under the Children for Vaccines Program. The program makes it feasible for children to get a vaccination at no cost. “The ability to pay will not be a cause for a child missing an immunization,” he said.

He urges all parents to contact their local health department for more information.

Wednesday’s program at Tamarack was made possible through the Take Your Best Shot immunization grant which promotes adolescent immunizations. Raleigh County is one of seven in the state that currently takes part in the program.

Flu season is typically November to May, and peaking in February and March in West Virginia. Neccuzi urges people to get vaccinated in October and November to protect themselves from this vaccine-preventable virus.

— E-mail:

jayres@register-herald.com