pertussis only vaccine

[lolo'smom]

Is there a pertussis only vaccine available? If so, where and how do you get it?

[Deborah]

No, pertussis only comes as a combo with diphtheria and tetanus. It was one of the first vaxes to be put into a combo.

[lolo'smom]

Darn. Why am i not surprised? Pertussis is the only vax i would consider and of course you can't get it by itself. Typical. :

[nalo]

That was me too. I now THANK G*D it wasn't available as an individual shot because I think I would have gotten it for DD. I am now SOOOO happy she hasn't had any vax's. You could just take it as a sign and skip the whole thing. I did kind of hold my breath until she was past 6 months knowing she was unvaxed during the winter but all was fine and I could not be happier that she is an unvaxed kiddo.

[lolo'smom]

Yeah I was feeling the same way. By having that vax in a combo (along with two vaxes for diseases that have cases of <1 and <30 per year) it just makes it that much easier to pass. Maybe it's a good thing. Like you, I'll definitely feel better after 6 mos or 1yr. Of course, of my ped's 4 pertussis cases in the last two years (you know I got the lecture) two were adolescents, the other two were infants who were uncompletely vaxed, so if we got the vax we're not protected anyway when they're that young? :

[Deborah]

do a look through at the pertussis threads in the archives...there is some info on how to treat a baby with pertussis...many moms have sucessfully gotten their babes through this sickness with no permanent problems.