Freaked out by pertussis - Page 2

[CookAMH]

I would not like my infant to get sick pertussis. However, I will NOT get DTaP for these reasons:

1. P is showing to be fairly ineffective yet reactive
2. She'll be ebf and not in daycare
3. I am very against combo shots
4. I believe in natural immune support over artificial

[namistenicole]

Originally Posted by CookAMH

I would not like my infant to get sick pertussis. However, I will NOT get DTaP for these reasons:

1. P is showing to be fairly ineffective yet reactive
2. She'll be ebf and not in daycare
3. I am very against combo shots
4. I believe in natural immune support over artificial

Can you tell me what this means?

[anewmama]

ok, so which is it... people in this thread are saying they got pertussis so have natural immunity and some are saying you can get it over and over again.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by anewmama

ok, so which is it... people in this thread are saying they got pertussis so have natural immunity and some are saying you can get it over and over again.

Both.

Having pertussis affords some level of immunity- but it doesn't last. Neither having pertussis nor the pertussis vaccine, provide lasting or full immunity to pertussis.

-Angela

[Pandme]

Originally Posted by alegna

Both.

Having pertussis affords some level of immunity- but it doesn't last. Neither having pertussis nor the pertussis vaccine, provide lasting or full immunity to pertussis.

-Angela

Thanks for this....the full immunity thing didn't jibe with what I know of pertussis either.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by namistenicole

4. I believe in natural immune support over artificial

Can you tell me what this means?

I believe it's better for the body to have a trial of sickness in childhood to benefit and strengthen the immune system. Yes, one can get sick from bacteria over and over, and viruses generally provide immunity once contracted and recovered. Does that mean I'll go looking for illnesses? Not necessarily - I'd look for chicken pox and mumps, but do plan to support their immune systems with ebf, nutrition and vitamins.

Overall, with vaccines, my husband and I don't wish to artificially influence or alter our kids' immune systems - we want them to face and recover from illnesses by themselves, with support, and we believe they'll be healthier as adults. It's far too unknown and questionable what vaccines do to an immune system (though much IS known at the same time). They at least trigger a response for antibodies, but don't trigger a response for expulsion of the illness as our un-altered immune systems do. That single response seems to lead to auto-immune disorders in some people.

Hope that helps.

[MyBoysBlue]

I love the Mothering Article "Don't Worry Mom, I'm Just Growing!". It talks about the role childhood illness have on our future health as adults.

[eireann]

Originally Posted by ericswifey27

And in 5 or 10 years then we'll be hearing "oh but the new vaccine is so much better than the older DTaP version, now it's totally safe, boy that older version wasn't safe at all, thank goodness they've changed it..."
It seems after the fact drugs and vaccines are found to NOT be safe after all. like the DTP or the more recent drugs Vioxx, Celebrex, and that drug given to pregnant women in the 70s (that left my neighbor's son with deformed arms). So yes, it's being called safe now, but I don't want to wait 20 years to confirm what I already can see is happening now, ykwim?

Anyhow, It is apparently very well known among medical professionals to cause adverse reactions- they attribute it to the Pertussis portion- acellular or not- it is a toxin and it is still causing severe reactions. Among my local moms groups I know of several moderate to severe reactions, and those are just the ones I am aware of in my fairly small local circle (On the flip side, my doctor has only had 2 pertussis cases he's even seen, and they were not as severe as the DTaP ads would lead you to believe)

Also just a couple of months ago my (then 5 mo. old) nephew nearly died after receiving the DTaP.

He had severe seizures (turned blue with purple lips, floppy rag doll, lost consciousness, father thought he was dead) that started within 2 days of his vaccination (and signs of earlier events. like staring, blueness around the lips the first day that his mom remembered in retrospect). My nephew was hospitalized for several days, his mom has to cart around an oxygen tank for him everywhere she goes in case she needs to resuscitate him, and he is on 3 different medications, including phenobarbital to keep seizures from happening. At this point he will be on this for at least a year, if not longer.

I am not saying pertussis is not a pretty illness, and from other's personal stories it obviously is not, but considering the potential risks of the vaccine, and the fact that it often does not even offer full protection until the child is older and less vulnerable anyway...well I would much rather deal with Pertussis and know what I am dealing with(and it is treatable) then the hell my sister is going through now.

So, if I were vaccinating right now I'd skip the DTaP (and MMR, but different story...) altogether.

ugh, i am so sorry about what your sister is dealing with.

[anewmama]

Pandme, me neither! *lol* But maybe I had missed something.... !

[gardenmommy]

My kids are just getting over pertussis. It hasn't been pretty, but really, not as bad as everything I've read about it. I would (did) skip the vaccine, and support the immune system through breastfeeding, good maternal nutrition, rest, and, if you get sick, plenty of vit. C.

[ericswifey27]

Originally Posted by eireann

ugh, i am so sorry about what your sister is dealing with.

Resurrecting this old thread as I am just seeing this now. He is still struggling with health issues and now is on 4 medications not 3. I keep thinking if he had got pertussis naturally any reprecussions would have been long over with by now, but the DTaP just keeps on going...I feel so bad for my nephew and his family

[mamakah]

I am the most afraid of the DTaP. It seems to be the most reactive vax, and the pertussis portion seems to be the least effective.
An ex coworkers daughter just got pertussis. She is 12 months and fully "immunized". Pertussis is something you need to worry about whether your LO is vaxed or not, getting the shot does not mean your LO will not get pertussis. That is a fact.
Plus, it isn't life threatening after 6 months, and according to the CDC, your LO won't be fully immune until they get their 3 doses of the DTaP, the last dose is at 6 months, so...you do the math, even if she gets the shots she can still catch it before she is "fully immunized" from it. It is a total waste in my opinion and the benefits don't even come close to outweighing the risks.

[nudhistbudhist]

I was vaccinated AND had pertussis as a kid. I was supposedly still "covered" by my vax, but I had it BAD. I remember it. It felt like I was going to die with every cough. I believe my vaxes caused my immune disorders, and for what??????

My friend has twins. One almost died 2 months ago from a reaction to DTap. The other had a mild reaction. They were 4 mos at the time.

[Gitti]

http://insidevaccines.com/wordpress/...s-yo-yo-stats/

[Deborah]

One other interesting and peculiar factoid about pertussis. Roughly 10% of the population can have it with no noticeable symptoms. The illness is constantly circulating and most people get a mild dose every few years and don't even realize that they had pertussis. So this illness can range, naturally, from incredibly nasty and serious to so mild it is not noticed at all. Which means that the reported case rate for pertussis is totally off the wall.

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by Deborah

One other interesting and peculiar factoid about pertussis. Roughly 10% of the population can have it with no noticeable symptoms. The illness is constantly circulating and most people get a mild dose every few years and don't even realize that they had pertussis. So this illness can range, naturally, from incredibly nasty and serious to so mild it is not noticed at all. Which means that the reported case rate for pertussis is totally off the wall.

And the vaccine is not working!