"Protect your infant from pertussis" - But the vax doesn't even kick in until 6months???

[Dixielane]

You hear all the time "protect your infant from pertussis", "pertussis is deadly in small infants under 6months" etc etc. But here's my million dollar question:

WHY do they say this, if the vaccine is not effective until the 3rd dose?

From http://children.webmd.com/whooping-c...e-dtap-vaccine After the third dose -- given at age 6 months -- children have 80% to 85% immunity against pertussis. Protection lasts from three to five years. The DTaP shot also protects against tetanus and diphtheria.

So basically, all newborns and all babies under 6 months who ARE vaccinated, are just as much "at risk" as purposely non-vaxed children. So why do docs act like you are taking SUCH A HUGE risk if you don't give your 2...3...4 month old this vaccine?

Am I missing something? Is there data that shows the 1st or 2nd dose may be beneficial?

[AllyRae]

I'm pretty sure the "protect your infant" campaign is encouraging *adults* to be vaccinated because infants *can't*. So, their reasoning is that if adults and older children all had their boosters, the under 6 month crowd would not catch it from the other kids and adults.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by AllyRae

I'm pretty sure the "protect your infant" campaign is encouraging *adults* to be vaccinated because infants *can't*. So, their reasoning is that if adults and older children all had their boosters, the under 6 month crowd would not catch it from the other kids and adults.

However, the vax doesn't protect against transmission...so an adult getting vaxed doesn't REALLY protect their child.

[Fyrestorm]

More circular logic by big pharma and the CDC

[pregnant@40]

Originally Posted by Dixielane

You hear all the time "protect your infant from pertussis", "pertussis is deadly in small infants under 6months" etc etc. But here's my million dollar question:

WHY do they say this, if the vaccine is not effective until the 3rd dose?

From http://children.webmd.com/whooping-c...e-dtap-vaccine After the third dose -- given at age 6 months -- children have 80% to 85% immunity against pertussis. Protection lasts from three to five years. The DTaP shot also protects against tetanus and diphtheria.

So basically, all newborns and all babies under 6 months who ARE vaccinated, are just as much "at risk" as purposely non-vaxed children. So why do docs act like you are taking SUCH A HUGE risk if you don't give your 2...3...4 month old this vaccine?

Am I missing something? Is there data that shows the 1st or 2nd dose may be beneficial?

Pertussis can be especially severe in children up to 2 years old. It does take a while for the body to build up a sufficient defense to confer protection against a disease, hence the 6 month vulnerable time after the initiation of vaccines. Until then, the child is relying on herd immunity for protection.

Just wanted to add, docs don't want patients to wait b/cs this disease can be fatal in young infants. The sooner you start, the earlier the child will obtain some degree of immunity. There is some degree of immunity w/ each shot, but in order to achieve effective immunity, the child must receive all the shots & boosters on time.

[carriebft]

yes, there is data that one dose even can be beneficial. this is a recent study on moving the first dose back to 6 weeks:

http://journals.lww.com/pidj/Abstrac..._of.99210.aspx

We estimated the potential benefits of advancing the first dose of pertussis vaccine for infants from 8 to 6 weeks of age, using Australian national disease databases. Infants had notification rates 3-fold greater than the general population and accounted for 52% of recorded hospitalizations. Infants 1 and 2 months of age had notification rates 3.5 times (95% CI: 2.7-4.5) higher than infants 3 to 11 months of age. Estimation of acceleration of the vaccine to 6 weeks of age reduced average notifications, hospitalizations, and hospital bed-days by 8%, 9%, and 12%, respectively, with larger reductions in an epidemic year.

also I believe i sent an efficacy of one dose study to you in that email...if not, I can locate it and send it over.


And you can also see studies from countries that do a 4-6, 8-10, and 12-16 week schedule, giving that 3 dose protection way before 6 months.

[Mama Metis]

However, the vax doesn't protect against transmission...so an adult getting vaxed doesn't REALLY protect their child.

Does anybody have a source on this? I thought the P vax could protect against transmission.

Thanks!

[carriebft]

it has the potential to by blocking production of the toxin, which makes you cough a lot less...less coughing is less spewing of the bacteria. Also studies in animals have shown less bacterial count in the noses and throats of immunized animals...not sure if there are human studies on that.

However, the vaccine is mostly about blocking the production of the toxin...well...it's all about that really! though there are some newer ones being looked at which might change things.

[ema-adama]

It is fairly well established that the vaccine does not prevent transmission. It does lessen the severity of the cough. The stage where you are most contagious is when you have a cold and are not coughing yet.

This thread goes into more detail. Mamakay is a MDC user who has a good understanding of the issues, IMO anyway.

[caned & able]

...given at age 6 months -- children have 80% to 85% immunity against pertussis.

That is the high end. I have read that the immunity can be as low as 59%-79%.

The CA pertussis deaths occurred because the doctors did not even bother to test for pertussis in those young ones and by the time they were whooping, they were too far gone.

[Dixielane]

Originally Posted by caned & able

That is the high end. I have read that the immunity can be as low as 59%-79%.

The CA pertussis deaths occurred because the doctors did not even bother to test for pertussis in those young ones and by the time they were whooping, they were too far gone.

Can you verify this? (the 59-79% statement as well as the CA pertussis one)

[theatermom]

Originally Posted by pregnant@40

Just wanted to add, docs don't want patients to wait b/cs this disease can be fatal in young infants. The sooner you start, the earlier the child will obtain some degree of immunity. There is some degree of immunity w/ each shot, but in order to achieve effective immunity, the child must receive all the shots & boosters on time.

That's funny, because when my 2nd babe was little, there was a shortage of this vaccine, and the doctor said not to worry because he had already had 2 of the shots. None of the children in that practice (a very conscientious and pro vax practice, I might add) got any of their pertussis shots on time that year, and many of them never "caught up" with the recommended boosters (mine included).