Can We Discuss DTaP and Transmission? - Page 3

[mamakay]

Originally Posted by MissRubyandKen

mamakay- do you believe that the antigens other than the PT are completely ineffective?

Maybe. Or they might add in another 10% or so effectiveness. But out of those 4 other antigens they put in there, nobody knows which one(s), if any, are having an effect. The research is all over the place, and in one study, they'll find an effect with one antigen, but in the next study, they'll find a negative effect there.
So it's hard to say.

[wallacesmum]

Originally Posted by mamakay

Yeah, I think it's the "pertussis toxin" part that helps infants/kids/adults not have such a bad cough.
For adults and teens...older people can get a bad case, too. Not "deadly" and it won't put you in the hospital, but it can be miserable. Really miserable. So I think it would be reasonable to get the shot to spare yourself that misery.

Is there efficacy data for adults that makes a case for a reduction in the cough? I haven't ever looked at it, because I figure an adult can decide whether or not to self-treat; it's just tricky convincing a baby that he should eat piles of sodium ascorbate!