Pertussis and New Recommendation

It is a well know fact that I support vaccinations. I become irritated when I think about the cases of pertussis that takes the life of an infant because herd immunity is losing its protection. These gaps allow these vaccine preventable diseases to find their way back into the general population. Just the other day on my Facebook wall, there was a comment from someone who is against vaccines. They were told their insurance would no longer cover well visits because she doesn't vaccinate her children. I believe this is the directions insurance companies will go. Vaccinate or no coverage. I do not agree with taking away choice. But truly, if we didn't need insurance and paid for our own healthcare (who does that?) we could make our own decisions.

The CDC now recommends that pregnant women get a dose of the Tdap every time they are pregnant rather than the one time booster if they had not previously received the vaccine. Dr. William Schaffner, who is the chair of the department of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt School of Medicine, suspects that a proportion of babies who die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome are caused by pertussis.

Whooping Cough Reaching Record Levels

I remember how I felt about vaccines prior to becoming a mother. They were effective. They were needed. They saved lives. However, my thinking changed the first time I stared at my newborn son seconds after birth, and the reports of the possibility of a link between autism and vaccines and the higher rate in males vs females really challenged my thinking. I ran to the bookstore buying all of Dr. Sears' books, scoured the Internet for information, and joined forums where it was cool to be a home birthing, baby wearing, baby led weaning, crunchy, baby food making, raw milk drinking and cloth diapering momma. I suddenly felt like the worst mother in the world, and all my sense about science left as the prolactin levels rose.

I declined hepatitis B vaccine for my infant. Hell, he was not a IV drug user and wasn't having sex yet.

Over time, he is finally up-to-date, and my daughter received all as scheduled (though I did delay hepatitis B with her as well until she reached three months, I believe. I have definitely been more laid back this time. And I have also seen the stories of the prevalence of diseases previously almost eradicated making a huge comeback. Unfortunately herd immunity is only good if all subscribe. Sporadic cases are becoming more normal... and with that deaths.

Last month, Washington state had 640 confirmed cases of whooping cough (or pertussis) compared to only 94 in the same period last year.

The connection between autism and vaccines have never been confirmed. I cannot think of anything more responsible as a parent than getting your kids vaccinated. I guess you can say my thinking was challenged, but I have reached full circle.