any thoughts on the commercial...

[vivvysue]

they are really pushing it here in bc. it is a commercial for adult pertussis and babies catching if from their parents, therefore the parents should get vaccinated to protect their children from being held by their parents.

i find it a bit annoying, because

a) it doesnt list the stats of how many babies actually get pertussis
b) it doesnt give the stats on how many adults get pertussis and then pass it on to their children

i have never been vaccinated, neither have any of my children, wellexcept my son who needed a tetnus after a metal cut accident. at that time they tried to push the DPT on me saying that they had no single does tetnus in the building. i told them i would return when they found one, they minraculously found one very quickly.

my concern is fear mongering in new parents, having them think that they are somehow endangering their babies when holding them. i am not sureof the company pushing the shot but i dont like advertising that causes new parents to fear holding and loving their new babies.

any thoughts or info i am unaware of would be appreciated

thanks, vs

[elus0814]

I hear you! That commercial bothers me so much. It makes it seem like parents are putting their babies in danger by holding them.

My understanding (and I may be totally wrong) is that pertussis is a bacteria which can cause sickness in the same person over and over (no immunity after illness). This bacteria releases a toxin which is a lung irritant and causes a distinctive cough with a whooping sound. The vaccine is a 'toxoid' vaccine so it doesn't alter illness or transmission, it just keeps the cough from developing.

If all that is true then the vaccine would actually be harmful when babies are concerned because people (including parents) could have pertussis but not know it because they don't develop the cough.

[SuburbanHippie]

I've noticed they've been pushing them too. It must be a national campaign due to the so-called epidemic (aka normal cycle) of pertussis in CA.

It's quite ridiculous how they are able to market this vaccine without stating the simple fact that the vaccine does not prevent transmission. But that would defeat the entire purpose of making boat loads of money at the expense of uninformed parents and their children. It's sick I tell you.

[ma2two]

Originally Posted by SuburbanHippie

It's quite ridiculous how they are able to market this vaccine without stating the simple fact that the vaccine does not prevent transmission.

They actually do admit that in at least one of the print advertisements.
http://www.adacel-locator.com/index....E&P=HowS_pread
"It is unknown whether immunizing adolescents and adults against pertussis will reduce the risk of transmission to infants."

[Sileree]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/724863

I also found this interesting:

Tdap's licensure in 2005 was based on serological surrogate end points rather than direct vaccine efficacy data.

That may be why they don't know if it will prevent transmission.

[vivvysue]

i am glad to see that i am not the only one disturbed by these ads... i think they are misleading and fear mongering for new parents, he** for experienced parents also.

i was unaware that they are using similar ads in the us, as i am in canada. i think it it really lies with the pharmacutical companies wanting to push yet another vaccine.
i know with the chicken pox one, it really doesnt makea difference...my third dd had cp four times before her body developed immunities for it...she suffered no ill effects from them at all, except a little scar on her eyelid. i dont see how a vac would prevent a childhood disease from reoccurring, when nature doesnt either...
my other two older girls allhad themonce and that was that, the other two have had nothing in the way of sickness or the regular childhood diseases... i didhavea doctor once tellmy five yo dd that if she wasnt vacced then when she ever did get sick she would die :shock: i left his practice right after that :

thanks for your replies, vs