Pertussis

[SilverMoon010]

I keep hearing the pertussis, "whooping cough," is on the rise again due to those that are not vaccinated.

Does anyone know is this is true? We are not vaxing my son and I am disturbed when I hear these types of things. Sometimes I think people just say this to try to get us to vaccinate for it.

I can't believe I even saw an ad stating that parents should get DTaP shot now too. I can't believe it! Boy, they just really want their money bad, don't they? When I saw that ad, I just laughed. I also saw other ads where they state all parents, grandparents, etc, should be up to date on their vaccinations too. Sure, let's all just go ahead and inject ourselves with poison.

[Marnica]

Pertussis is on the rise among everybody. WC epidemics cycle about every 4 years. Vaccinated kids regularly come down with WC and the Dtap does not prevent transmission, so vaccinated folks can spread it around just as easily as unvaccinated ones.

[Peony]

Pertussis is big in my area right now, it was around heavily a few years back when my whole family got it as well. I do know that most of the people who have gotten it recently here have been vaxed, info courtesy of my pedi who is very friendly to non vaxers such as myself. Anyway, the CDC is actually here studying why there is so much pertussis here right now. I'm rather interested in hearing what their "findings" will be...

[SilverMoon010]

Peony,

Wow, so you are saying that those who have been vaxed for it actually got the disease? I was just wondering how you were feeling being in an area where it is big and unvaxed. My son is completely unvaxed and is 16 months. I don't plan on getting any, but worry about the diseases going around and wonder how I would feel if it was spreading in my area. I would definitely keep him locked indoors for sure.

[13Sandals]

pertussis always cycles up and down and always has. NO, overall rates of pertussis are NOT on the rise. However, the diagnosing of pertussis IS on the rise because doctors have now admitted that the vaccine wears off.

Five years ago, you took your teenager with a prolonged cough to the doctor. They checked her vaccination status and saw she had all the DTaP's and said, "oh, its allergies". Your daughter eventually got over it (pertussis is not usually dangerous at all to teens/adults). Today - you take your teen with a prolonged cough to the doc. He says, "oh, its pertussis'. You say, "But doc, she had all FIVE of the DTaP shots for school." He says, "Oh, haven't you heard? the vax wears off. You should both get boosters today!"

[larkedyflarp]

Classic

[alegna]

My kids are unvaxed and pertussis seems to go around pretty regularly. I never worry about it.

-Angela

[mleigh23]

yeah, the vaccine for WP is one of the least effective percentage wise.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by mleigh23

yeah, the vaccine for WP is one of the least effective percentage wise.

which is kind of ironic because most parents..even delayers and selective parents get the DTaP because they fear pertussis...not tetanus and diptheria