Whooping cough provides immunity which is much more robust than the temporary one given by vaccines. In previous generations most children had it in early childhood (2+ years) and would be immune later on through natural immunity and frequent re-exposure to others in the community who had it. Mothers had had it as children so they provided placental and breast milk antibodies to it so babies who were newborn did not used to get it - that wasn't the usual age for acquiring whooping cough. It has come about because mothers did not get natural immunity and cannot pass it on in pregnancy or through feeding. Also, as many babies are now formula fed this just increases the risk. Also even if you have the jab, you may be asymptomatic but you can still pass it on. See medscape article:
The effects of whole-cell pertussis vaccine wane after 5 to 10 years, and infection in a vaccinated person causes nonspecific symptoms[3-7]. Vaccinated adolescents and adults may serve as reservoirs for silent infection and become potential transmitters to unprotected infants[3-11]. The whole-cell vaccine for pertussis is protective only against clinical disease, not against infection[15-17]. Therefore, even young, recently vaccinated children may serve as reservoirs and potential transmitters of infection.'
Of course we use DTaP now but as that is half-cell it has problems with duration of immunity anyway.
Terribly sorry for the problems your baby had but it can happen in unvaccinated and vaccinated alike and the vaccines don't prevent transmission, only symptoms.
Joanna (whose 2nd daughter also had whooping cough and whose friend's vaccinated son had it age 7).
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Whooping cough provides immunity which is much more robust than the temporary one given by vaccines. In previous generations most children had it in early childhood (2+ years) and would be immune later on through natural immunity and frequent re-exposure to others in the community who had it. Mothers had had it as children so they provided placental and breast milk antibodies to it so babies who were newborn did not used to get it - that wasn't the usual age for acquiring whooping cough. It has come about because mothers did not get natural immunity and cannot pass it on in pregnancy or through feeding. Also, as many babies are now formula fed this just increases the risk. Also even if you have the jab, you may be asymptomatic but you can still pass it on. See medscape article:
The effects of whole-cell pertussis vaccine wane after 5 to 10 years, and infection in a vaccinated person causes nonspecific symptoms[3-7]. Vaccinated adolescents and adults may serve as reservoirs for silent infection and become potential transmitters to unprotected infants[3-11]. The whole-cell vaccine for pertussis is protective only against clinical disease, not against infection[15-17]. Therefore, even young, recently vaccinated children may serve as reservoirs and potential transmitters of infection.'
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/414768_3
Of course we use DTaP now but as that is half-cell it has problems with duration of immunity anyway.
Terribly sorry for the problems your baby had but it can happen in unvaccinated and vaccinated alike and the vaccines don't prevent transmission, only symptoms.
Joanna (whose 2nd daughter also had whooping cough and whose friend's vaccinated son had it age 7).
January 25, 2012 - 5:34amThis Comment
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