Whooping Cough in Upstate SC

[lilbsmama]

http://www.independentmail.com/news/...-rise-upstate/


I thought this article was interesting, that is, until I read the last paragraph.

“The vaccine that you give to children is toxic to adults,” he added.

[newmum35]

puzzling.

[BeckyBird]

LOL toxic to adults? But not to an infant, right? What the heck are they talking about?

I am openly against vaccines, but even if I were FOR them, the message is clear--the new agenda is to push vaccines on the entire population, from babies to seniors, and every age in between.

[Sileree]

Wow. Interesting slip.

[LAWoman]

I know it's easy to want to see a conspiracy here but I think he just showed poor judgement in word choice when he said "toxic" as shorthand instead of explaining the difference in vaccines and why the pediatric one is not appropriate in an adult population. Unfortunately long medical explanations don't make for good press quotes.

The pediatric formulation of the pertussis vaccine (DTaP) has higher levels of both diphtheria toxoid and pertussis antigen than the adult vaccine (Tdap) Hence the different letters. My understanding is that, when used in an adult or teen population those levels are more reactive than they are in young children. I would assume that is because adults have a more active immune response but I don't know the specifics. I believe the reactions are mostly mild still (swelling at site of injection, fever...that sort of thing) but I guess they are enough that that formulation of the vaccine is not recommended in children over 6, or adults. You'll notice that many vaccines require multiple doses in children to induce a proper immune response and only a single dose in adults. So it's not really unusual.

Since the lower doses contained in the adult vaccine produce an adequate immune response it wouldn't make sense to use the more reactive pediatric formulation in an adult or older child.

[newmum35]

Originally Posted by LAWoman

I know it's easy to want to see a conspiracy here but I think he just showed poor judgement in word choice when he said "toxic" as shorthand instead of explaining the difference in vaccines and why the pediatric one is not appropriate in an adult population. Unfortunately long medical explanations don't make for good press quotes.

The pediatric formulation of the pertussis vaccine (DTaP) has higher levels of both diphtheria toxoid and pertussis antigen than the adult vaccine (Tdap) Hence the different letters. My understanding is that, when used in an adult or teen population those levels are more reactive than they are in young children. I would assume that is because adults have a more active immune response but I don't know the specifics. I believe the reactions are mostly mild still (swelling at site of injection, fever...that sort of thing) but I guess they are enough that that formulation of the vaccine is not recommended in children over 6, or adults. You'll notice that many vaccines require multiple doses in children to induce a proper immune response and only a single dose in adults. So it's not really unusual.

Since the lower doses contained in the adult vaccine produce an adequate immune response it wouldn't make sense to use the more reactive pediatric formulation in an adult or older child.

Thank you for the great explanation. It makes me wonder if those babies who do have severe reactions to the infant DTaP perhaps have a more "mature" immune system or such that it makes it more reactive than in other babies? - or are all babies immune systems about on the same level, and some are simply reacting more strongly to other things in the vaccines, and not necessarily the level of diphtheria toxoid and pertussis antigen.

I also wonder, if this is true for other adult vaccines or only this particular one? (Do they put lower levels in others as well?)

[LAWoman]

Originally Posted by newmum35

Thank you for the great explanation. It makes me wonder if those babies who do have severe reactions to the infant DTaP perhaps have a more "mature" immune system or such that it makes it more reactive than in other babies? - or are all babies immune systems about on the same level, and some are simply reacting more strongly to other things in the vaccines, and not necessarily the level of diphtheria toxoid and pertussis antigen.

I also wonder, if this is true for other adult vaccines or only this particular one? (Do they put lower levels in others as well?)

Not sure if I'd say more mature. But an allergic reaction is essentially, an overblown immune response. It's the bodies immune system over reacting to something that it perceives to be a greater threat than it actually is, weather it is the actual antigen or another component of the vaccine. Luckily, the vast majority of those reactions will be very minor (Swelling, fever etc.) but on very rare occasions it can be serious.

I don't know how other adult vaccines differ in make up or dose from pediatric vaccines actually. I'm only familiar with DTaP vs. Tdap because I got the Tdap myself right after my son was born since we had decided to delay his vaccinations due to the fact that my husband had had some vaccine reactions as a kid, but I was very concerned about Whooping cough specifically. Kids are most vulnerable to complications from it at a very young age (less than 2 months even) so it actually makes a lot more sense to me to vaccinate the caregivers than to rely on the 2 month shots for protection on that one anyway. There are some studies being done on giving it at birth, but since babies that young are usually only exposed to a few caregivers it would make sense to me to concentrate on that population instead, unless kids are starting daycare at 6 weeks or something. I felt fine waiting until 6 months to give my son his shots because I had been vaccinated and was nursing. It was important to me that he be caught up upon starting daycare though so once he did fine with his first round of shots we put him on the catch up schedule.