I've Got Whooping Cough. Thanks a Lot, Jenny McCarthy.

[proverbialwisdom]

36. More here. I regard this material as factual (see extensive footnotes), neutral, essential reading.

Last edited Sat Jan 18, 2014, 09:16 PM - Edit history (1)

First citation below added on edit to refute inaccurate and ridiculous NVIC dismissals which follow post and refer to second citation.

http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-News/November-2013/Stephanie-Christner-Appointed-to-Serve-on-FDA’s-Va.aspx

Stephanie Christner Appointed to FDA Vaccine Advisory Committee
Posted: 11/11/2013 5:08:45 PM

Stephanie Christner, DO, has been appointed to a four-year term as the voting consumer representative on the Vaccines & Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) of the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). On Nov. 13, 2013, she will participate in her first meeting as a member of VRBPAC, a 12-member FDA committee that reviews and evaluates vaccine safety, effectiveness and appropriate use of vaccines and biological products intended for public use, including clinical trial and other data submitted by drug companies seeking licensure of new vaccines.

Honoring Her Daughter & Advocating for Vaccine Education

Stephanie Christner, DO, is a Board Member of the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC). Her infant daughter, Victoria, died on Valentine’s Day 2009 after reactions to a series of vaccinations she received at two and four months old. In honor of her daughter, Dr. Christner founded “Valentine’s for Victoria,” educational fundraisers held in 2010 and 2011 supporting NVIC’s charitable public education and advocacy work. Dr. Christner’s personal experience and professional perspective on the need for greater physician and parent vaccine education was featured in the award winning 2011 film documentary The Greater Good.

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http://www.nvic.org/vaccines-and-diseases/Whooping-Cough.aspx

[center]National VaccineInformation Center
Your Health. Your Family. Your Choice.
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The following information is provided to help you understand the disease pertussis (whooping cough) and the pertussis vaccine so you can make an informed decision regarding use of this vaccine. Information on this website with links to other websites and resources will help you become educated about many infectious diseases and vaccines so you can take control of and responsibility for your health choices. This information is not intended to serve as medical advice but as background information that you can use to educate yourself.

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What Is the Incidence of Pertussis in the US?

In 1922, there were 107,473 pertussis cases reported in the U.S. with 5,099 deaths. Mortality associated with pertussis declined dramatically in the 1940’s as living conditions improved, including sanitation and hygiene and access to health care. During the past quarter century, reports of whooping cough cases have increased among babies less than six months old and among teenagers and adults but mortality has remained low.

In 2010, out of a U.S. population of 308 million people, there were about 27,500 reported cases of pertussis including 27 deaths, with 25 deaths occurring in infants under age one year. However, many cases of whooping cough are never diagnosed or reported. Every four to five years, there are reported increases in whooping cough disease in the U.S. and other countries, no matter how high the vaccination rate.

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How Effective Is Pertussis Vaccine?

Most public health officials maintain that when pertussis vaccine is used on a widespread basis in a population, it appears to lessen the overall incidence of the disease and that vaccinated children have less severe cases of pertussis whooping cough. When pertussis vaccination rates fell to about 30 percent in Sweden, West Germany, England, and Japan in the 1970’s, these countries saw major increases in reported cases of the disease within three years of that drop in widespread use.

However, in 1984, Swedish epidemiologist B. Trollfors concluded that whole cell B. pertussis vaccines are only effective for 2 to 5 years. He pointed out that even countries with a 90-95 percent vaccination rate (such as the U.S.) could not completely prevent the disease.

According to a 2005 study in the journal, Pediatrics, pertussis containing DTP and DTaP vaccines were estimated to be from 83.6 percent to as much as 97.7 percent effective, depending on the number of doses administered, the combinations of vaccine used in the shot containing pertussis vaccine, and age of the child at which it was administered,

In 2010, an analysis of a California whooping cough outbreak published in the medical literature revealed that more than 80% were fully vaccinated and pertussis vaccine effectiveness was only between 24% and 41% in children two to 18 years old after three years from the date of vaccination.

In 2012, the CDC acknowledged that pertussis vaccine immunity has waned in older children, that DTaP/Tdap immunity begins to wane within five years of vaccination and that unvaccinated individuals and children with vaccine exemptions are not to blame for current whooping cough outbreaks.

There is another Bordetella pertussis whooping cough disease called B. parapertussis. Symptoms of B. parapertussis whooping cough can look identical to B, pertussis whooping cough but they are usually milder. B, parapertussis is increasing in the U.S. and other countries, which have had high pertussis vaccination rates for few decades. There are estimates that perhaps up to 30 percent of whooping cough disease in highly vaccinated populations may be caused by B. parapertussis organisms.

It is possible to have both B. pertussis and B. parapertussis infections at the same time. Parapertussis is often milder than B. pertussis but can also involve serious complications which lead to pneumonia and death.

Pertussis vaccines widely used around the world do not protect against parapertussis. There is no vaccine for parapertussis.

There is also some evidence that B. pertussis bacteria may have evolved to become vaccine resistant.

Other evidence points to emerging pertussis strains that are not covered in the current DTaP/Tdap and DTP pertussis containing vaccines used in the U.S. and globally.

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Conclusion

It is important to be equally concerned and knowledgeable about the risks of pertussis disease as we are about the risks of pertussis vaccine. Both B, pertussis whooping cough and the pertussis vaccine carry risks. Pertussis disease has the potential to cause seizures, brain damage, and even death, just as the vaccine can.

Most of America’s medical community believes that the risk of serious injury or death from pertussis is greater than the risk of injury or death which can be caused by pertussis vaccine. However, recognition of and concern about the risks of pertussis disease does not diminish our need and responsibility to acknowledge the need to minimize pertussis vaccine risks.

The challenge today is for parents, physicians, scientists, manufacturers and health officials to recognize the risks of both the disease and the vaccine and work to protect the health and well being of every child.