worried about my five year old and pertussis

[sweetpea333]

I'm starting to have fears and doubts about my dd5 not having a pertussis vaccination. I'm scared that if she did get pertussis that she could die and it would all be because I chose not to vaccinate. This is really haunting me. But I'm also afraid of her being injured by the vaccine. I feel really confused right now and unsure of how to proceed. Does anyone else ever doubt their decisions?

[TonyaW]

I am pretty sure that it is usually only infants who die from pertussis. There may be rare cases in older children, but probably those that have serious health issues anyway. Pertussis is the one that doesn't scare me at all. Have you read about how to treat Pertussis with Sodium Ascorbate? If not, you can read about it in the stickies.

[Kristine233]

My child did have the vaccine and still got pertussis, along with half his special ed preschool class and both teachers. (and tons of kids at the Jr High where the pre-k was held) It sucked, but they all faired through it ok.

That specific situation is what started me questioning vaccines in the first place. From then on we opted for selective/delayed vaccinations.

[TonyaW]

Oh yes, that reminds me to say that I have a friend who has 2 fully immunized kids. She is very into conventional medicine!!!! They are literally at the doctor's office or urgent care every. single. week! Both kids had pertussis despite vaccination, and that seems to be the case among many fully vaccinated children.

[Sileree]

I'd look at studies of disease severity among unvaccinated (or DT vaccinated) kids first.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2548696/

http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...rint/100/6/e10

[mommaklo]

for what its worth, the Dr Sears Vaccine Book says 1% of infants that contract pertussis die. IMHO I cant imagine what they health and immune systems are like of these kids. I am prepared to give my child probiotics, vitamin d, and continue taking immunoboosting herbs for myself (astragulus, elderberry) as hes is only 7 mo and still bfs (and not immunized). I imagine in appropriate doses, these could be given to an older child as well. Im intimidated by cold and flu and pertussis season, but not scared. Im armed.

[HRJ]

My DS is 5 1/2 and unvaxxed. I have been told by probably 4-5 different doctors that at this age, pertussis would be no fun, but he would be fine. I have only considered the vaccine for him b/c I am pregnant and due Mar 2 and I'm more concerned about my newborn. That said, I don't believe we'll get him the shot. I'm a basketcase about the newborn, but we have so much autism in our family, and my son has had enough issues w/ casein (body slamming himself when he was younger if he had it), that I don't feel like I can make my son 'take one for the team'.

[OpenMama]

Your son might be pretty miserable if he contracted pertussis, but the mortality rates for otherwise healthy kids of his age are quite low. Are you planning to have more children or does he spend much time around other people's infants? The mortality rate for pertussis is much, much higher in babies than in school-age kids. You might also want to consider the fact that you and your husband might not have immunity to pertussis at this point in your lives either.