Pertussis Vaccines

[ladymoreta]

Ah good! It was in an emergency room, so I didn't have my immunization record with me. I also don't think I kept my hospital papers. Stupid, I know...

[GreyhoundsRUs]

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

dTap was my only option last year!

[GreyhoundsRUs]

I like your thinking, Cassy!

[DCJenn]

OK- I'm working on this right now. The goal is "cocooning" effect- so that everyone around baby has the dtap while baby is building their immunity- which if all goes well at every well-baby visit should be at 8 months of age.

(I was seriously just handed a CD-Rom of "the Sounds of Pertussis" go to www.soundsofpertussis.com That should be enough to convince anyone.)

Our Health Department is hooking up with our methadone clinic to provide vaccine to family members.

Jenn

[Meenah]

DH and I both got the TDap before Amy had her first, and we get the Flu every year. We actually get the Flu vaccine twice, the beginning and close to the end of flu season.

[DCJenn]

According to our health department, it's now being recommended that pregnant women get it- NOT to protect the fetus, but to proactively protect the baby (and other babies) from any exposure. Most hospitals vaccinate immediately after delivery. At least here they do.

J.

[SoonerTexan]

I was thinking of Rubella. Ignore my earlier post.

[diggitydot]

Hah. Didn't realize that the Tdap included pertussis. (Duh.) Yup, we're fully vax'd and boostered.

[Phoebe]

following this thread with interest. One of the families in the neighborhood did not vaccinate their kids. My kids play with their daughter daily. DH says the family is going nowhere near our baby when it is born. I think it is going to be awkward.

Our pediatrician recommended that dad and grandparents get the Tdap, but they won't give it to pregnant women here. We asked anyone who was staying in our home to get it.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

following this thread with interest. One of the families in the neighborhood did not vaccinate their kids. My kids play with their daughter daily. DH says the family is going nowhere near our baby when it is born. I think it is going to be awkward.

That sucks. Hopefully they understand that possibly exposing a helpless infant to germs they are carrying is a lot different than playing with your vaccinated kiddos.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

following this thread with interest. One of the families in the neighborhood did not vaccinate their kids. My kids play with their daughter daily. DH says the family is going nowhere near our baby when it is born. I think it is going to be awkward.

We're going to go through this nightmare too only with my SIL. DH didn't even recognize this as an issue until I brought it up. He's in charge of broaching with her. I recognize that it is her right to delay vaccinations for her child (though I will not be doing that) but I have a feeling she's going to have trouble recognizing that I have a right to exclude her non-vax child from contact with my newborn until he or she can be vaccinated.

[DCJenn]

Your newborn won't be completely protected until they're 8 months old- after the 2, 4, and 6 month shots. They serio-convert after each one but total protection doesn't happen for 2 months after the last shot.

J.

Tell her you'll be happy to skype until then...

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Your newborn won't be completely protected until they're 8 months old- after the 2, 4, and 6 month shots. They serio-convert after each one but total protection doesn't happen for 2 months after the last shot.

J.

Tell her you'll be happy to skype until then...

That's good to know!

[scrub-jay]

Yep, exactly. When I hear about pertussis outbreaks on the news, they talk about the infants who get sick/died. People are really quick to bash their parents for not vaxing them because they assume they were not vaccinated because they got sick when in reality there is absolutely no way for a fully-vaxed infant that age to be protected from pertussis because they have not had the whole series yet and if they have, it hasn't had time to be effective.

More often than not the infant/child was exposed by an adult family member who was asymptomatic (or did not recognize their symptoms) because the cough can be much more mild in an adult. Although, it should be noted that it is prevalent in non-vaccinating communities too... (Marin County, CA...)