Pertussis Vaccines

[GreyhoundsRUs]

This whole "baby born during cold/flu season" thing is really going to be interesting

DH and I both have had the pertussis vaccine, but what about our parents? Our brothers? How much contact is "enough" for us to say, "Hey, you should probably do this"?

Thanks!

[GrayMatterWife]

I am very biased. My mom got pertussis two years ago (the vaccine wears off after years, apparently) and it damn near killed her. She was sick for months and her lungs have never fully recovered. Try to be cautious, is my very unmedically qualified advice.

[MrsK]

We battled with my ILs to get them vaccinated for the Swine Flu when BabyK was born. I thought it was so stupid/selfish that they wouldn't get it when they were traveling through airports to see a 1 wk old preemie.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

DH and I both just got boosters last fall, so we are good. His dad might have an up-to-date booster as well since he is an internal medicine doc. Pertussis seems to be on the rise (or it was last year) - especially in our state :/

I am all about being cautious for sure! I guess I am just unsure about who should get the vaccine - neither of our families live in town, and she won't be spending alone time at our parents' houses for a long time (mine - never). His mom will come up for 2 weeks if I have a C-section, otherwise, we are looking at our parents being around for about 3 days at a time (they will be staying at a hotel). Does any of this matter???

[GreyhoundsRUs]

We battled with my ILs to get them vaccinated for the Swine Flu when BabyK was born. I thought it was so stupid/selfish that they wouldn't get it when they were traveling through airports to see a 1 wk old preemie.

Our families all get the flu shot, thankfully! I don't know if it would be a battle for our parents (unless my dad's insurance doesn't cover it) - I guess I could just say that it's recommended that they do it???

[v-girl]

I only get the flu shot when I'm pregnant. Never had pertussis booster. DH & kids get flu vaccine every year.

[Thirteen]

We both had flu vax and DTap. My mom and dad got the DTap, and my MIL had one as well (she's an RN).
Not sure about great-grandparents, though: we might request that they do so this winter.

[scrub-jay]

We had everyone who came into contact get one, but our families are all from CA and there was a pertussis epidemic there the year dd was born.

[diggitydot]

We get vax for flu, but that's it. They've been administering it in the schools because we've had such nasty flu seasons for the last couple years. After a middle school student died due to complications of H1N1, people freaked.

[Deebs]

If they're more than 10 years since they're last one, they should have dTAP for their own health. Maybe bring it up that way? Pertussis is a crappy illness, even for the non young or elderly, and tetanus should be boosted every 10 years anyway.

[ladymoreta]

Yikes, I had no idea! I got a tetanus shot when I hurt my finger 3 years ago, but I'm not sure if it was only tetanus... I just assumed I was okay since I had my immunizations when I was little. Can you get the Pertussis vaccine when you're pregnant?

[SoonerTexan]

Can you get the Pertussis vaccine when you're pregnant?

I don't think so. I might be confusing it with another vaccine, but I realized after I was pregnant I probably should have gotten a booster, but they said I couldn't until after the pregnancy. I plan to get it after.

I totally might be confusing it with something else, though. I put my lunch in the pantry instead of the fridge last night, so my track record isn't great lately.

[Thirteen]

LM, they give the DTap to pregnant women in CA.

[ladymoreta]

I'll ask at my next appointment! Thanks for bringing this up!

[scrub-jay]

LM - Your tetanus shot likely included the pertussis as well. They've been phasing out Td in favor of Tdap for the past few years, it is worth checking your vaccination records.

ETA: To be technical, dTAP is for infants/children and Tdap is for adults... my bad.