Got DT, not DTaP - now am worried about Pertussis. Need a pep talk or advice.

[cynotgirl]

i have a 3 & 5 year old (and 8 month old who won't be touched until age 2 at the very earliest.)

I decided to get the Dt shot for them after lots of research. I decided NOT to get DTaP because of the multitude of adverse reactioons to the Pertussis in the shot.

As we have all heard there's an "outbreak" of pertussis. The state of CA, where we live, has passed a law requiring the DTaP shot for public schools. From what I understand, this will be much like the law requiring Chicken Pox, where I have to sign a waiver, and once 1 child at that school is confirmed with a case of said disease, my kids are not legally allowed back to school for two weeks. (don't get me started on that, it's so insane, I think.)

I'm not terribly afraid of Whooping Cough, really - but I'm just concerned now that I made a wrong decision. My gut tells me to avoid that Pertussis shot (DTaP) ... and I really do feel l need to trust my gut instincts.

Can anyone offer input on this -- did anyone else get Dt but not DTaP, and have feelilngs, either way?

My kids do/will go to public school, and we are able to sign waivers. I might be second guessing myself??

[ma2two]

The waiver you have to sign is on the second page of this form. http://www.cdph.ca.gov/pubsforms/forms/CtrldForms/pm286b.pdf

The waiver in CA, as well as in most states, works for both to public and private schools.

The new pertussis law in California only applies to kids in 7th grade and older.  There was already a law mandating the pertussis vaccine for kids up to age 7.  There is still no requirement for the pertussis vaccine for kids between the ages of 7 (usually 2nd grade), through 6th grade.  This is because the pertussis vaccine is not FDA approved for kids ages 7-10. So currently, unvaccinated kids in 2nd-6th grade get a break from the threat of being excluded from school during a pertussis outbreak, since they are not actually required to have the pertussis vaccine in that age range (because it is not FDA approved).

There's no way I would vaccinate my kids just to avoid the unlikely event of being excluded from school during an outbreak.  So, if it did ever happen, it would be a pain for sure, but I would never second guess my decision to protect my kids from vaccines.

For chickenpox, be constantly on the lookout for chickenpox parties.  Once your kids have had doctor confirmed chickenpox, you won't ever have to worry about them being excluded from school during a chickenpox outbreak.

[JBaxter]

I read an interesting article ... The outbreak in California of the 332 confirmed cases of pertussis 197 were UP TO DATE on their vaccines.  59%.  http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/sep/07/whooping-cough-vaccine-working/

[cynotgirl]

Originally Posted by JBaxter 

I read an interesting article ... The outbreak in California of the 332 confirmed cases of pertussis 197 were UP TO DATE on their vaccines.  59%.  http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/sep/07/whooping-cough-vaccine-working/

thanks!! That's exactly the kind of thing I really was wondering about... thanks  a lot.

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by JBaxter 

I read an interesting article ... The outbreak in California of the 332 confirmed cases of pertussis 197 were UP TO DATE on their vaccines.  59%.  http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/sep/07/whooping-cough-vaccine-working/

Yes - thanks!   I remember hearing that pertussis was not a particularly effective vaccine - now I have a bit more data to back it up.

[EVC]

once 1 child at that school is confirmed with a case of said disease, my kids are not legally allowed back to school for two weeks. 

Not necessarily. My (unvax'ed) dd's school newletter last week mentioned that they had recently been informed of "several" confirmed cases of WC at the school. No one has contacted me about excluding dd from school (although I know that they could, given the conditions of the vax exemption). Just saying that some schools might not be so strict in terms of what constitutes "an outbreak." 

[cynotgirl]

thanks everyone, I really appreciate the input. Really puts me at ease. It can be hard to be the "odd man out" at our school... but I'm glad there's a community where I can get my confidence back.

Thanks again ~

[cynotgirl]

The new pertussis law in California only applies to kids in 7th grade and older.

I didn't realize that, thank you!