Would you vax an older child to help protect a younger child? - Page 2

[Peony]

No I wouldn't. DD2 did get pertussis as a newborn, it didn't come from unvaxed DD1, but DH. He actually had it when she was born, but by the time the cough got severe and we realized what it was it, she had been throughly exposed.


And for those that were wondering about adults getting it, out of the 4 of us, 2 DC and 2 adults. DD1 and I had moderate cases, DH and DD2 had severe cases. We actually we able to trace it back to DH had gotten it from, an employee of a bank where he manages their computers/phone, she had a moderate case, as did all her vaxed children. We didn't pass it to anyone else that we ever found out about, and many we exposed were unvaxed or not up to date on vaxs.

[beanbean]

Originally Posted by mommyof3andcountin

Now this is all MNSHO for ME only, not trying to debate:
I'm of the camp of selective delayed vaxes, starting around 2yo, and DTaP is one of the first ones I've chosen for the teatnus and pertussis reasons. I think I have a moral obligation to use vaccines that are effective (if even marginally) and provide a "herd immunity" to our communitity. That's where I'm at...

Well, since the Pertussis vax doesn't prevent transmission, Tetanus isn't transmissible, and Diptheria is incredibly rare, you're really not adding anything to herd immunity.

[carriebft]

I guess you could say, in a way, we already do. We do the MMR vaccine and that would protect our other children until they reached the age to get it, but it definitely not a top reason why we do that one, though the fact that it protects against measles transmission was a factor.

I also decided to go ahead with the Hib vaccine once oldest was starting school/camp with a newborn in the house, so I guess it was a factor there as well.

[quarteralien]

Originally Posted by beanbean

Well, since the Pertussis vax doesn't prevent transmission, Tetanus isn't transmissible, and Diptheria is incredibly rare, you're really not adding anything to herd immunity.

As I understand it, the same thing applies to diphtheria as pertussis, that the vax does not prevent transmission. As alegna explained, it's a vax against the toxin, not the bacteria that causes it.

And no, my older kids haven't had a shot in 2 years, and I'm not about to start now, even with a preemie in the house. JMO

ETA: info about pertussis vax and transmission can be found in the CDC's Pink Book in the chapter on pertussis. It's amazing how they completely come out and admit it, but still go forth with that ad campaign to get parents to vax themselves for it. Whole pack of lies.

[suschi]

Absolutely not. I would not inject a neurotoxin into my older child under the guise of protecting a younger child.