Whooping cough vaccine - thoughts?

[julesjules100]

PS obviously not a perfect match on the time periods for the data but reasonable to assume similar infection rates based on age across the two data sets to give you an idea.

Keep in mind too that from the CDC's data, of the c3,300 under 6 months that contracted whooping cough, only 25 died. Chance of getting it in the first place I would argue is pretty low x

 

[sheldonsmommy]

I would suggest that the rate of contraction is so low due to herd immunity; many of us are immune, whether from vaccine or previous infection, so it's less likely to be spread throughout dense populations.

Great resources, though!

 

[julesjules100]

I would suggest that the rate of contraction is so low due to herd immunity; many of us are immune, whether from vaccine or previous infection, so it's less likely to be spread throughout dense populations.

Great resources, though!

Possibly, although having had pertussis before or having been vaccinated before is no guarantee not to contract it again.

Given how low the rates are it does support the argument for considering not bothering with it x

 

[sheldonsmommy]

I agree, there's never a guarantee. And I would also think much harder and longer about getting the vaccine while pregnant, so I appreciate the two-sided discussion.

I don't think it's being recommended here in Canada to get the vaccine if you're already up to date with the dTap, but I did get the flu shot with my last pregnancy. I also work woth vulnerable populations as a nurse, and I see first-hand the outbreaks that happen with many diseases. In this sense, I am biased and feel it's partly my responsibility to choose to vaccinate myself after researching benefits and risks.

Good for you all for researching your choice

 

[steph.]

I had it at 1 day post partum and had no reactions from it. Here's the story of baby Kaliah:
https://shotbyshot.org/pertussis/kaliahs-story/

The thought of this happening to my baby is enough for me to have any vaccine no matter how shitty i could feel afterwards.

 

[AdriansMama]

I will not be getting it. Mainly because there has only been one case in my area since 2011. I never got it with my first (wasnt even aware of it) and it hasnt been mentioned at all this pregnancy . Considering this information I dont feel its necessary at all. If there were many cases I may feel more inclined to get it though

 

[julesjules100]

I had it at 1 day post partum and had no reactions from it. Here's the story of baby Kaliah:
https://shotbyshot.org/pertussis/kaliahs-story/

The thought of this happening to my baby is enough for me to have any vaccine no matter how shitty i could feel afterwards.

Agree, such stories are terrible and its a horrid thing for a child to contract.

The issue though is not how bad the vaccine may make mum feel but primarily the use of vaccines in pregnancy (which is inherently a group that cannot be tested on in clinical trials) and particularly the use of combination vaccines, the very nature of which (ie multiple items in there) makes it even more difficult to pull apart any effects that may or may not appear further down the line in a child that was exposed in utero. That was my greatest concern. Small local reactions to vaccines are par for the course but for me, I had severe lower body swelling from Revaxis and was in hospital for monitoring as a result. Something similar to that while pregnant was of course a concern, albeit not the primary one x

 

[oedipamass]

Great thread, ladies. As a pregnant lady weighing the pros and cons, I am happy to find a well-researched and cool-headed discussion.

I thought I'd add a link that I found illuminating... Happy to see the board admit to the risks of live vaccines (given that the DTaP is not live).

https://www.acog.org/Resources And ...nus Diphtheria and Pertussis Vaccination.aspx

 

[xsadiex]

I haven't got it as I've recently read a lot of things which make me think vaccines aren't as safe as we're told and aren't as effective either. Especially with this one where we don't know if immunity really is transferred. Rates of these diseases we're steadily declining before vaccines came out anyway which makes me think that's a lot to do with cleanliness and improved healthcare etc.

 

[oedipamass]

Rates of these diseases we're steadily declining before vaccines came out.

source?

 

[xsadiex]

I learnt that in history in school, I have seen charts on gov websites but don't have any links i'm afraid. Busy with the MIL here, but im sure you can find them online.

 

[fatandlumpy]

argh...

(chews through the restraints... )

stats! Voila!

https://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2013/news1913.htm#prtsss

Of interest... the increase in both provisional and laboratory confirm cases in 2012 (figures 1 and 2).

Laboratory confirmed cases fr those <1 years seem to peak about the same time my baby is due (July/August).

Got jabbed. Have a arm like someone has sat on it and a small reddish lump.

 

[Anderson8]

Thank you ladies

MrsGards that's a great tip, I'd be very interested to know what the stats are for my region so I will get in touch with my local healthy authority, thank you.

Julesjules thank you for the info, it does concern me that they're pushing it that hard without any concrete knowledge of how effective it actually is. Looking at the stats on the number of cases for my region it's 113, which is the highest so I suppose that makes me think maybe I should have it. Having said that it doesn't break it down by adult, child or baby etc.

As if by magic:

Lab confirmed cases of pertussis in the UK up to Q2 2012 https://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&Page&HPAwebAutoListName/Page/1191942148402 (table 2 is by region and age)

Total death in the UK under the age of 1: https://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1317136329151 c 10 in in the first 3 quarters of 2012

Declining WC cases in UK for interest https://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/N...asesofwhoopingcoughdeclineafterrecordnumbers/

x

These are not uk wide only England and Wales.

For those in Scotland
https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/immvax/wrdetail.aspx?id=54590&wrtype=9

 

[greeneyes098]

I had it done and can sit here and safely say I have done everything I could have done to protect my child against Whooping Cough at his most vulnerable stage.

I couldn't not have it done - I know some of the stats are low, but out of those babies who died - I couldn't chance the thought of my baby being 'one of those stats'

Good luck making your decisions ...

 

[Dragonfly]

No I wont be. I have done my research and its not even offered here anyway.

 

[Sarah125]

Thanks for Scotland stats Anderson8!

I'm still researching this but it's so difficult to decide. I really need to make up my mind soon!

 

[Anderson8]

There were no deaths in Scotland in 2012 or 2013 that were known to hps.
7.3% of cases in 2012 were in infants under 1 year.
I'm opting out of this jab as I did the flu jab.
Bubs will get its first jabs at 8 weeks