Most of us received our routine vaccinations in childhood. Our parents knew the great benefits that vaccines provide and that these benefits greatly outweighed the risks associated with vaccines. These vaccines have protected us from common, preventable diseases throughout our life. However, as many people do not know, some vaccines do not maintain full strength throughout an adult’s life. One of those is the pertussis vaccine, commonly known as whooping cough.
Since the 1980’s there has been an increase in the number of pertussis cases, especially among teens and infants. The problem is that the majority of severe effects that can be caused by pertussis mainly affect children under the age of 1 year. Children don’t receive the vaccine until the age of 2 months. Therefore it is important as parents and caregivers of these children to protect them by vaccinating ourselves.
The results of an infant contracting pertussis can be severe cough leading to the inability to breathe, difficulty eating, dehydration, pneumonia, seizures, brain disease and even death. The highest rate of hospitalizations required for those exposed to pertussis were in children less than 1 year of age.
In order to prevent this from occurring to your infant, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as well as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend re-vaccination with the Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis). The ideal timing of this vaccine would be prior to pregnancy, during preconception counseling. However, in most cases it is offered immediately after delivery while the mother and infant are still in the hospital. It is not recommended to be given during pregnancy, under most circumstances, based on a theoretical risk of the vaccine to the growing fetus.
Keep in mind, while vaccinating the mother is of utmost importance the CDC and ACOG both also recommend that the father of the baby, as well as any care givers, get re-vaccinated as well. They can receive their vaccinations from their primary care physician or the health department in their area.
Vaccines play a very important role in the young life of our newborn children and with pertussis cases continuing to rise, this is just another way that we as parents can continue to protect our children.
For additional information on Pertussis, visit National Center for Biotechnology Information at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002528/.
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