FYI -- Pertussis

[dr.girlfriend]

Just an FYI, Pertussis is really bad right now. My hospital had ten new cases in a single day a few weeks back. I don't want to start a pro-vax anti-vax war, but if your kid is too young to get the vaccination and you haven't gotten it yourself, please consider it. It's in the DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis).

[Deleted]

So scary. If you're pregnant, send dad before baby is born. My DH went when I was in third tri to make sure his immunity would be in place before the baby showed up.

[redheadk]

Thanks for the heads up.

I still need a few people in my family to get it before DD's arrival. :@ How long can people put something easy off?

Anyway, DH and my mom both got theirs at the pharmacy. My mom actually tried to go to a clinic she likes and they were out. The pharmacy (Walgreens) was easy and fast if anyone is looking for a simple option. I am friends with an NP at a drop-in clinic at one of our grocery stores and she said that she gives a lot of these shots, too, so that's another good place to go.

[Saudade]

Ugh this makes me so irritated. My younger (and very naive and brainwashed) SIL and her bf are not vaxing their son who is 3 months older than my DS. They won't start with vaccinations until he is 3 years old. RANT RANT RANT. We're limiting our contact with them.

[wordtothewise]

Do you know when a child is considered protected? My ten month old had the 2, 4 and 6 month DTaP vaccine, but obviously not the ones that come later.

[barefootcontessa]

Jul 12, 2012 10:21:34 GMT -5 @wordtothewise said:

Do you know when a child is considered protected? My ten month old had the 2, 4 and 6 month DTaP vaccine, but obviously not the ones that come later.

He definitely has some protection. He could still get it but it would be more mild as a result. This is such a serious disease in babies.

[ijack]

thanks for the heads up!

[sewpinkgal]

Hell, it's a serious disease in adults. It's down right deadly for babies. I had it 3 years ago and was sick as a dog for 1 month and then still pretty darn sick for a second month. I quite literally couldn't breathe during coughing fits. The thought of an infant going through that... just horrible.

[Deleted]

Jul 12, 2012 10:48:12 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

Do you normally get the shot while pregnant? I thought I heard about that... my doctor hasn't said anything about it yet.

Some doctors do it in third tri, some do it in the hospital after the birth. I have not really researched which is currently best practice, but I think the third tri shots tend to happen in areas with lots of pertussis.

[MamaMaui24]

Jul 12, 2012 10:48:12 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

Do you normally get the shot while pregnant? I thought I heard about that... my doctor hasn't said anything about it yet.

I got mine in the hospital prior to discharge.

[zeewifeandmama]

I got it as I left the hospital yesterday

[sewpinkgal]

My former career was in Public Health and I think that more and more professionals are leaning towards vaccinating mom in third tri as there haven't been any negative effects shown to the baby. My guess is at this time, most moms still get it in the hospital before discharge.

[redheadk]

I'll get mine after I give birth but before I leave the hospital. My ob actually brought the whole thing up herself at our first appt to date the pregnancy. We do not live in an area with a pertussis outbreak.

[starlily]

Jul 12, 2012 11:00:12 GMT -5 sewpinkgal said:

My former career was in Public Health and I think that more and more professionals are leaning towards vaccinating mom in third tri as there haven't been any negative effects shown to the baby. My guess is at this time, most moms still get it in the hospital before discharge.

Kaiser definitely recommends getting it in the third tri, which is probably a good thing considering how big it is & the number of cases we've had in CA.

[Brie]

This is good to know. My OB hasn't mentioned it to me, but I'll bring it up at my next appointment.

[schrodinger]

My OB mentioned that I should get it in my 3rd tri, even though I got a booster in the last 2-3 years. DH will be getting one too.

Is there a minimum time between getting the shot and being around a new baby? I assume immunity isn't instantaneous. Some relatives have mentioned wanting to come out and visit and I'd like to tell them that they'll need a booster by a certain date.

[water*drop]

They did mine right before discharge.

Jul 12, 2012 10:59:14 GMT -5 littlespitfire said:

Looks like I am going to have to put my big-girl panties on and get the shot.

Ask if they can use a small gauge needle. My nurse used a tiny one, and it really wasn't that bad (and I have a horrible needle phobia).

[karinothing]

I tried to get the shot in 3rd tri per CDC recommendations. No one would give it to me. I got it like a few weeks after birth at the Rite Aide. It is really easy to get people. Most of the local pharmacies carry it and you don't need a script.

[sewpinkgal]

Jul 12, 2012 11:29:31 GMT -5 starlily said:

Jul 12, 2012 11:00:12 GMT -5 sewpinkgal said:

My former career was in Public Health and I think that more and more professionals are leaning towards vaccinating mom in third tri as there haven't been any negative effects shown to the baby. My guess is at this time, most moms still get it in the hospital before discharge.

Kaiser definitely recommends getting it in the third tri, which is probably a good thing considering how big it is & the number of cases we've had in CA.

I didn't know that about Kaiser, that is great! My dr wanted me to wait a couple years after having the disease to get my booster (something about possibly interfering with natural immunity), so I just got it in the hospital.

I asked that our parents and siblings all get the shot and requested that they had it at least a month before J's due date. It was like pulling teeth with MIL, but they eventually all complied. And really, it was either follow my request or don't see the baby. Pretty easy choice, IMO.

[rubytuesday]

I'm also curious what the booster requirement is if there is one. I'm planning on asking my pedi at our next appointment but maybe someone here knows...

[bcv513]

I got a DTaP booster this past April. How long does the protection last? I know they say the tetanus part is 5-10 years. I'm not sure about the rest.

[dr.girlfriend]

Jul 12, 2012 12:15:59 GMT -5 bcv513 said:

I got a DTaP booster this past April. How long does the protection last? I know they say the tetanus part is 5-10 years. I'm not sure about the rest.

There's no real consensus on that, I don't think. They used to think the childhood shots were enough, but then there was a rash of outbreak in immunized infants when they got to later childhood, and they started recommending the age 11-12 booster. For adults, they just recommend replacing the Td booster with DTaP the next time they are due, or if someone is going to be around an infant, and then just doing Td boosters after that. So, theoretically the pertussis component does not need to be boosted in adults.

[ssmjlm]

We have commercials here about it.

I asked at my pre ttc appt and my doc said they do it during pregnancy. I already told DH he'll need to get it also.

I didn't even think about family, but you guys are totally right, so I'll add that to the list.

[MamaMaui24]

Jul 12, 2012 11:42:38 GMT -5 schrodinger said:

Is there a minimum time between getting the shot and being around a new baby? I assume immunity isn't instantaneous. Some relatives have mentioned wanting to come out and visit and I'd like to tell them that they'll need a booster by a certain date.

I want to say one month, but ask your MD.

[BAMFMrsB]

I will get mine in the hospital, prior to being discharged.

[drloretta]

As for boosters, it's in combination with tetanus, which is recommended every 10 years for adults. So my understanding (we got them when DD was born) was that we should make sure our tetanus was up to date, or else, get the DTap/TDap.

[vanillacourage]

It's funny you posted this, DS2 (3 months old) has a cough that's getting worse and not better. I called his pedi today and as soon as I said "cough" and that he'd only had one round of shots, they immediately said he needed to come in. (Dx with cold & ear infection)

[hannamarin]

Jul 12, 2012 10:53:24 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Jul 12, 2012 10:48:12 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

Do you normally get the shot while pregnant? I thought I heard about that... my doctor hasn't said anything about it yet.

Some doctors do it in third tri, some do it in the hospital after the birth. I have not really researched which is currently best practice, but I think the third tri shots tend to happen in areas with lots of pertussis.

Is this common where you live? Nobody I know here has been given the shot as a standard.
My OB nurse said that because our babies are home the first year (out of daycares) the risk is low. Hmm?

[Deleted]

They did mine right before discharge.

[redheadk]

Jul 12, 2012 14:55:43 GMT -5 @hannamarin said:

Jul 12, 2012 10:53:24 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Some doctors do it in third tri, some do it in the hospital after the birth. I have not really researched which is currently best practice, but I think the third tri shots tend to happen in areas with lots of pertussis.

Is this common where you live? Nobody I know here has been given the shot as a standard.
My OB nurse said that because our babies are home the first year (out of daycares) the risk is low. Hmm?

Not starry but it is common practice where I live. We do not have any outbreaks and I'm going to be a SAHM so DD will not be in daycare.