pressure to vaccinate

[annyhasababy]

My family recently relocated to VA before our son was born. My husband's family lives in CA and we had planned to visit them for Thanksgiving. I already had many concerns about traveling with a 2-month-old but the pertussis or parapertussis outbreak in CA is freaking me out.

My step-mother-in-law is putting a great deal of pressure on us to vaccinate for pertussis if we visit due to the outbreak. I have been doing lots of research and still feel that due to my history of severe allergies, vaccinating might be a bad idea. I guess my question is how do I stand up to this pressure from our parents and should we travel at all with such a young, unvaccinated baby? Does anyone from CA, or anywhere at all, have any advice?

[serenbat]

if they are that concerned have them come visit you instead

you don't say how you are traveling? plane- you could encounter far more that at 2 months you can't vac yet anyways-WC is only one thing, not to mention stress on the body from the travel

I would tell them they should do the trip not you- so worried they should have no problem doing so for the sake of the grandchild.

[karanyavel]

Don't know if it's any help but my DD (fully vaccinated against it) still got a nasty case of pertussis after a plane trip. I caught it as well, but when I checked my vax records, I was NOT vaccinated against it.

--K

[fairymom]

Even if you did start the DTaP vaxes your lo at that point would've only had 1 of the vaxes and would not have the full immunity anyways.

I agree w/serenbat that if they are so worried they should come to you or at least make sure that everyone you may come in contact w/on your visit has had THEIR own boosters (most adults haven't). But if that's not an option be diligent about hygeine and selective about who holds lo!

[fairymom]

Originally Posted by karanyavel

Don't know if it's any help but my DD (fully vaccinated against it) still got a nasty case of pertussis after a plane trip. I caught it as well, but when I checked my vax records, I was NOT vaccinated against it.

--K

The vax will not keep you from getting WC just make the symptoms less severe.

[JBaxter]

Like the PPs said 1 shot does not offer immunity and even depending on when you are traveling your child may or may not have had his appt. I would never make plans to travel within a week of the first vaccinations anyway.

If they are that concerned you should probably stay home . Vaccines are not magical ( explain that to SMIL) they take time to build immunity.

[VAERS]

Originally Posted by annyhasababy

My family recently relocated to VA before our son was born. My husband's family lives in CA and we had planned to visit them for Thanksgiving. I already had many concerns about traveling with a 2-month-old but the pertussis or parapertussis outbreak in CA is freaking me out.

My step-mother-in-law is putting a great deal of pressure on us to vaccinate for pertussis if we visit due to the outbreak. I have been doing lots of research and still feel that due to my history of severe allergies, vaccinating might be a bad idea. I guess my question is how do I stand up to this pressure from our parents and should we travel at all with such a young, unvaccinated baby? Does anyone from CA, or anywhere at all, have any advice?

I am behind you 100%!!!

The decision is YOURS. There is a large chance of getting Pertussis from the shot itself, so why chance it? Plus even vaccinated people are catching Pertussis. So there is no point.

YOU are the one who will have to deal with the consequences of your choice, NOT your relatives, NOT your doctor, etc. If the vaccine results in harming your child or giving them brain damage, it will be your burden to bear for the rest of your life. Don't take the pressure from anyone. Vaccinating is not worth the risk.

Pertussis is very survivable, in the event that you should be exposed. The chances of being harmed by the vaccine are FAR GREATER than dying from Whooping Cough.

Stand your ground, protect your child from the vaccine. Don't buy into all the hype.

[LisaSedai]

I wouldn't travel w/ my 2mo old to CA, vax'd or nonvax'd. Under 3mo is the most dangerous age for WC. Even if you believe the vax works, she will have had only 1 out of the 4 required.

[yarngoddess]

Flip this issue on S-MIL. Has SHE and the whole Family been Vaccinated against WC lately? Adults are the one's that usually passWC on to babies.

This issue of NOT vaccinating is a tough decision for a family to make. It's even harder when our extended families over-step their boundaries and make a point to make you feel like a bad mommy/daddy for not vaxing. This is a PERSONAL decision. You can try the bean-dip approach with this, but being a new mom it may be difficult. Try this "S-MIL I appreciate your concern about Baby, we will consider that. So what is Uncle SO and So doing?" and Repeat, Repeat, Repepeat. If she's uber pushy she may not get the hint then you may need to say "S-MIL I apprecate your love for Baby, this decision has been made by DH & I. We won't be discussing this again." and just repeat that it's no up for discussion.

If you are that concerned with WC- make it an excuse to cancel the trip. Sounds mean but maybe this isn't the time to travel with such a tiny baby? I live in Cali and don't know if I'd travel or let my 2month old around lots of people or not.....that's a very though decision. Stay Strong there Mama! You've made a decision for the health of your baby, and on YOU and DH/DP are the one's that can make those decisions.

[Arduinna]

This has nothing to do specifically with vax, but personally the last thing I'd want to do with a 2 month old is travel cross country over the holiday season. To do such is the way of madness IMO


And personally I would never choose to vax for a trip. If I feel that uncomfortable about going, I'd stay home.

I'm not sure inviting them to come to your house is the cure though, you are just as likely to get exposed from them flying ( I think it's safe to assume they will come by plane that far) and being locked up in a cabin for numerous hours with recirculated air.

[SwanMom]

Just want to chime in and say that if you want to travel, you're not crazy. We went to Italy when DD was 6 weeks old & she was fine. Breastfeeding & babywearing help. It's great that some people want to stay home with a 2-month-old, but some of us want to travel & there's nothing wrong with that.

As far as vaccinating goes, 1 shot at this time isn't going to make her immune.

[Lady Lilya]

* I was under the impression that you couldn't vax for pertussis until 6 months

* The pertussis vaccine doesn't claim to prevent pertussis contraction, since pertussis is one you can get again and again, unlike most diseases that are vaccinated against

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by VAERS

There is a large chance of getting Pertussis from the shot itself, so why chance it? Plus even vaccinated people are catching Pertussis. So there is no point.

Just needed to point this out - DTaP is not a live vaccine and you can not contract WP or Tetanus or Diptheria from the vaccine. Might you pick it up in the Dr.'s office while getting the vaccine? Yes...but from the vaccine? No.

OP - I'm going to agree with the PPs that said at this point, your DC will not be able to get the full series in time, I would push the point with the MIL that they all need to be UTD with vaccines in order to not endanger your DC (not that them being vaccinated will protect your DC, but I bet they have no idea about that). and I'm not sure I would want to take a recently vaccinated child on a trip..what if there is a reaction? Plus, who knows what it will do to the child's immune system and it may make them more susceptible to the other icky stuff that are not VADs but fly around freely in the confines of an airplane.

[MamieCole]

Originally Posted by Lady Lilya

* I was under the impression that you couldn't vax for pertussis until 6 months

* The pertussis vaccine doesn't claim to prevent pertussis contraction, since pertussis is one you can get again and again, unlike most diseases that are vaccinated against

Following the CDC's vaccination schedule, DTaP is to be given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and age between 15-18 months.

The estimate for duration of immunity for pertussis after having the disease is anywhere from 4 years to 20 years. Duration of immunity after getting the vaccine is 4-12 years.

But it is all a moot point. Pertussis is only significantly dangerous to babies under the age of 3 months. Even if the vaccine worked, and even if the risks of the shot didn't outweigh the benefits, one DTaP shot at the age of 2 months gives no protection.

Pertussis is significantly under-diagnosed in the US. Lots of adults have it and never know. During these times, they pass it on to others.

So to the OP, no one can make this decision but you. If it were me, I would NOT give my baby the vax, not only because it is highly reactive, but because it doesn't work very well and the one shot she would have prior to the trip gives her NO immunity. Your in-laws don't need to know about your decision. Tell them whatever you need to get them off your back. Your baby, your decision. Period.

When deciding whether or not to go on the trip, I would ask myself the following questions: What area of CA will I be visiting? Is it southern California where more pertussis cases have been diagnosed or it is a different part of the state? Will all of the adults at the home where I will be visiting refrain from coming if they have signs of a cough or upper respiratory illness? Do I feel comfortable putting my babe on a plane with adults who could be exposing her to WC? Do I know the signs and symptoms of WC to look for in my baby? Will I be at home or still on CA after the incubation stage of pertussis? If I will still be in CA, do I have access to health care and am I willing and able to stay in CA while my baby is in the hospital?

I don't buy in to the fear mongering associated with the current "outbreaks" of WC, BUT I don't have a newborn. If I did, I would not travel to southern California right now. I would not take my newborn to crowded places for a few months. I would not take my newborn on a plane if I could help it. If I had to travel, I would be super attentive to signs of illness in my babe afterward and seek medical attention at the first sign of anything that might be considered WC. Then once my babe was a few months older I would resume my normal activity and relax about it, feeling confident that even if my babe got WC at that point, chances are super high that they would recover just fine.

But, you have to do what you feel is right in your gut for you and your specific situation.

[serenbat]

When deciding whether or not to go on the trip, I would ask myself the following questions: What area of CA will I be visiting? Is it southern California where more pertussis cases have been diagnosed or it is a different part of the state? Will all of the adults at the home where I will be visiting refrain from coming if they have signs of a cough or upper respiratory illness? Do I feel comfortable putting my babe on a plane with adults who could be exposing her to WC? Do I know the signs and symptoms of WC to look for in my baby? Will I be at home or still on CA after the incubation stage of pertussis? If I will still be in CA, do I have access to health care and am I willing and able to stay in CA while my baby is in the hospital?

this is good

but still more--what would concern me is the stress, not only on the parents but the child (like stress is so great on the body!!!)
you will fly? layovers, cabin pressure, crowed airports, wait time on plane with air-flow-these would factor into my decision thought---your child could be just fine and you could get WC

while some fly at two months with no issue, I would much father wait until older-IMO

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by LisaSedai

I wouldn't travel w/ my 2mo old to CA, vax'd or nonvax'd. Under 3mo is the most dangerous age for WC. Even if you believe the vax works, she will have had only 1 out of the 4 required.

I'd be more worried about all the other illnesses the baby would be exposed to on the plane - colds, strep throat, RSV, etc. And the DTaP doesn't do anything for parapertussis anyway.

[Lady Lilya]

Following the CDC's vaccination schedule, DTaP is to be given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and age between 15-18 months.

OK, then that makes sense with all the places I have seen it said that it is most dangerous for those under 6 months who couldn't be protected yet anyway.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

This has nothing to do specifically with vax, but personally the last thing I'd want to do with a 2 month old is travel cross country over the holiday season. To do such is the way of madness IMO

And personally I would never choose to vax for a trip. If I feel that uncomfortable about going, I'd stay home.

I think your SMIL is smoking something if she expects you to travel with a 2mo in the winter.

It is most difficult to stand up to family pressure with your first child; once your child is old enough to prove that you are not a reckless idiot they should back off some. They raised their children, this is yours. You have to live with the outcome, so don't allow them to go against your instinct.

[mattemma04]

I would rather the in-laws vaccinate themselves and visit LATER.I would not want to take a baby on a plane. I did not fly with my dd until she was 14mo,and she did get sick on the oversea plane.Expected for a 10 hour flight.Traveling during the winter time holidays with a little one is something I would avoid.

Vaxing for WC you need a few doses and hope that they prodcue an immune response.To vax an infant with one dose and expose to WC is like getting a tetanus shot AFTER being exposed to tetanus.

Best wishes and healthy vibes whatever you decide.

[luckiest]

I'm probably just going to be seconding what PPs have already mentioned, but I do live in California and could maybe offer some perspective on that front.

Your baby would probably be better protected by having all of the adults around him vaccinated than by getting a vaccination himself. Like folks have mentioned, it takes a full three-shot course (at 2, 4, and 6 months) to get full protection (which lasts, on average, about ten years). Six months also happens to be the age where pertussis becomes more of a nuisance illness and less of a danger - deaths in children over 5 months or so are unheard of. I'd be curious to know whether your step-MIL has been vaccinated herself in the last 10 years. If not, she's probably no longer protected. One shot before traveling won't necessarily do your baby any good, so please don't feel pressured to do so. If they are that concerned, they should have no problem getting a booster before your trip.

Also, what part of CA will you be visiting? You could try to look up how many cases there have been in their county. I'm in SF county, and there have been about 30 cases, all in adults. Marin county, one county north of SF, is one they keep citing as being part of a "huge" outbreak, and there have been a couple hundred, also no deaths. All in all, there have been 6,000 (reported) cases in California this year - the CA population is about 37,000,000. I think some people have it in their heads that this outbreak means every other person you meet has whooping cough. Not true. CA is a big state, it's entirely possible that your family's county has been untouched by the "outbreak."

Do what you think is best for your family; don't be pressured into vaccinating or not, don't be pressured into visiting if you don't feel ready to travel. Best wishes, whatever you decide!