[nichole]

We got the baby DTaP at six months old. He had no reaction. Not a fever, sleepy, crying, nothing. It was so different than when his brother had everything at 2 months old. But then I was thinking do I really want him to have booster for the rest of his life? I was reading the CDC website and most common reactions are to the 4th and 5th dose. 1/3 will have their whole arm or leg swell up. gosh that is scary. would it be stupid to get the first 3 shots and then just stop? i do not get my TDaP and I don't really worry about it. maybe i'll just "forget" to go back.<br><br>
i know a lot of people here get DTaP or at least are concerned about pertussis. do you guys plan to do all the boosters? i figure the older he is the less i will worry about it.

 

[mom0810]

I haven't started any vaccines yet, but IF I do, and I do the DTaP, I will probably only do the 3 initial doses. I am most concerned about pertussis with a very young child. My son is almost 18 months old. His ped is currently pushing polio and Hib (he would only need one dose of this), and then said we could start DTaP later. So she obviously isn't that concerned about it, even at his age.<br><br>
I would consider just getting the first 3 doses, since only very young babies are at real risk from pertussis. By the time your baby is 4, you might not be worried about pertussis anymore. But infancy is when it can be really bad.<br><br>
Just my thoughts...

 

[mamakay]

I still don't know what to think about the DTaP. Not enough research done on vaccine effectiveness to make an informed decision, really. But when/if I do it, I'll only do a couple of doses. I think a large part of the supposed additional effectiveness of the 4th and 5th doses is probably an illusion having to do with how pertussis becomes milder and less typical as kids get older.

 

[alegna]

I was really only worried about pertussis in an infant. So when I read that the efficacy was so low that made it easy.<br><br>
Also, I'm reactive to the tetanus (that's what makes your limb swell up fwiw) and you can't get pertussis without tetanus.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[nichole]

thanks wise mamas

 

[DoratheExplora]

Now I'm getting scared. My baby just turned 6 months. Should I get him the pertussis? They don't give pertussis alone do they? Didn't want to give him tetanus or diptheria. Scared. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[alegna]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>DoratheExplora</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7932994"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Now I'm getting scared. My baby just turned 6 months. Should I get him the pertussis? They don't give pertussis alone do they? Didn't want to give him tetanus or diptheria. Scared. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"></div>
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What are you scared of? Pertussis is most dangerous UNDER 6 months. No you can't get it alone. Only in combination.<br><br>
One DTaP would do almost no good at all most likely. Just risk a reaction.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[rredhead]

The pertussis vax is useless. The virus is mutating so as to be resistant to the vax - that's one theory anyway. DS was exposed to pertussis at 7 months, but he didn't get it. (I've told the story in my other mini-rants about pertussis.)<br><br>
Here's a recent article, for what it's worth. Most of the people who get pertussis ARE vaxed, often within the time limit. That is - they got their boosters when they should have. It's better to get it, I think.<br><br>
Title: Whooping Cough Worries Rise: State Officials Consider Stiffer<br>
Immunization Rules for Children<br><br>
Date: 4/26/2007; Publication: The Tribune;<br><br>
Apr. 26--State health officials want to launch a war on whooping cough<br>
by toughening immunization requirements for schoolchildren.<br><br>
Whooping cough, formally known as pertussis, was once thought to be on<br>
the decline in the United States because of childhood vaccinations. But<br>
the vaccine's immunity wore off over time, and the respiratory illness<br>
has made a comeback.<br><br>
In 2005, nearly 1,000 cases were reported in Arizona.<br><br>
Now, the state Department of Health Services wants children ages 11 and<br>
older to receive a booster of the pertussis vaccine.<br><br>
<snip><br><br>
While whooping cough is rare, the bacterial illness is highly<br>
contagious, transmitted by breathing in airborne droplets. It can cause<br>
weeks of severe coughing that causes patients to make a "whooping" sound<br>
when they gasp between coughs. Coughing can be so bad it causes vomiting<br>
and even cracks ribs. Complications are most common among infants and<br>
young children.

 

[anewmama]

RRhead... what do you think of hte rest of DTaP? If you want to forgo the P, what do you think about the DT part of it?

 

[Mama2E&O]

I am also wondering about the other part: DS is unvaxed so far, and I want Ds to have a T shot when he is older (seems so unnecessary for an infant). I am wondering about diptheria though: how much of a danger is this?<br>
I have not yet made up my mind about DTaP. It is such a difficult decision.

 

[rredhead]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>anewmama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8203363"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">RRhead... what do you think of hte rest of DTaP? If you want to forgo the P, what do you think about the DT part of it?</div>
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I'm still trying to figure that out. I have read posts from others that say the Tetanus vax, by itself, contains thimerosol and is not available in a single dose to those under the age of 11. (Again, this is something that I read and have not checked out with any published information.)<br>
Diptheria, if you get it, sounds REALLY unpleasant.<br>
According to the Dr. Cave book, diptheria affects children ages 2 through 5 the most.<br>
Tetanus affects the elderly (50+) the most. On one hand, tetanus is the one vaccine that seems to make sense - if you cut yourself on something that contains the wrong kind of bacteria, you get tetanus. But the vaccine is actually effective. OTOH, how likely is it that the wrong bacteria will be on something in contact with a child?<br><br>
The MMR and the components of DTaP are the vaxes that concern me most. That is, they're the ones I want to learn about. Unlike Hep B and chicken pox, which are vaxes that I despise, MMR and DTaP may have their purpose.<br><br>
It's all a vast tapestry!

 

[alegna]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>anewmama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8203363"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">RRhead... what do you think of hte rest of DTaP? If you want to forgo the P, what do you think about the DT part of it?</div>
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From my research tetanus has never been a real threat to children.<br><br>
And according to the CDC there is almost no diptheria around at all.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[Margot Adler]

I am actualy more concerned about tetanus than dyptheria or whooping cough. Has anyone had their baby vaccinated against tetanus alone?

 

[alegna]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Rebecca Addicks</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8281445"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I am actualy more concerned about tetanus than dyptheria or whooping cough. Has anyone had their baby vaccinated against tetanus alone?</div>
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The single tetanus vaccine is only approved for children 7 yrs and older.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[nataliachick7]

tetanus is not something to be scared of in young children. tetanus affects elderly people where circulation is not so good. if there is good circulation and you clean the wound, tetanus is very unlikely. tetanus is extremely rare in children.<br><br>
and no, i dont think MMR serves a good purpose.

 

[amnesiac]

I didn't do DTaP #5 - I did a Td later on though.