Unvaccinated boy nearly dies of tetanus, running $811,929 in hospital bills, but parents still to refuse to vaccinate him
A specialist said that the whole affair could have been prevented with five doses of DTaP vaccine, with each dose costing around $24-$30
An unvaccinated six-year-old boy in Oregon nearly died of tetanus, spending 47 days in ICU, and running $811,929 in hospital bills. The boy's parents, however, have continued to refuse to vaccinate him despite advice from medical experts.
The boy had reportedly cut his head while playing on his family's farm. Although his parents cleaned the wound and stitched it up, he developed severe symptoms six days later. Reports state that the child's neck was clenching and his neck and back were arched, signs of opisthotonus, muscle spasms, which are indicators of tetanus. The boy's case was reportedly profiled in a case study published by the Centers for Disease Control.