Pertussis Vaccine
LesSaintesMariesDeLaMer
member
Hey everyone. I was wondering if anyone could clear this up for me...
I started doing some research online about pertussis vaccine (after seeing the commercials on tv), which eventually led me to the cdc website, where I found a recommendation statement from October 2011, which states that pregnant women who are not current on the Tdap vaccine (i.e., have not gotten within 10 years), should ideally receive the vaccine during pregnancy.
I asked my doc about this and she was like "oh....during pregnancy?.....no.....ummmm.....you should probably get one.....uh.....after you deliver". She sounded like she was pretty unsure about the whole thing like I was the first person who has ever asked about it or something.
So I'm just curious to see what others' docs are telling them about the pertussis vaccine. Are you getting one or did you already get one while pregnant? Are you getting one after delivery?
PS - Im not looking for peoples' opinions on why they don't like vaccines - I just want to follow the standard protocol. Thanks!
</a
Re: Pertussis Vaccine
med-free birth x2, breastfeeding, baby wearing SAHM
My BFP Chart
The protocol has recently changed due to the upswing in whopping cough in the last couple of years.
It is totally safe and fine to get the TDAP (Tetanus, Diptheria and Acellular Pertussis) booster while pregnant. Since the virus is so deadly for young children AND most children get the virus from their care giver (aka MOM) it is better for you to be innoculated before delivery. However, if you have not received the booster beforehand, you can get it at the hospital when you deliver.
The CDC is recommending that all adults get them every 10 years. However, most adults do not stay current on their vaccinations and only update their tetanus shot afer having some sort of an accident.
Your OB should talk to you about this. Since you are pregnant you will get after you deliver (most give it before you leave the hospital). My husband just had his booster. The grandparents are getting their shots as well (b/c they will be around the baby in the beginning and it is recommended for 65+ and older). Anyone that will be in contact with your baby for prolong time (not just a quick visit) should really get it.
Whooping cough is on the rise and fatal for an infant. Insist that you get the booster after you deliver and before you leave the hospital. It's really important. I'm surprise your doc didn't seem to endorse it. Plus you get the other boosters with it (tetanus/diphtheria). It's all in one shot. Eventually your baby will get the vaccine as well.
I know! I like my doc but this worries me a bit. She sounded unsure about whether or not I should have it at all. I have an appt tomorrow so I'm going to print out the CDC recommendations and bring them with me.
TDaP isn't a live vaccine, but personally I wouldn't feel comfortable getting it during pregnancy. Just my personal preference.
Your baby will get a 4 phase schedule of the DTaP starting usually starting at 2mo, then 4 mo , then 6 mo and the final dose at around 15- 18 mo.
I'm getting another TDaP after birth even though I have one been recently - just 2 years ago. Immunity from the vaccine wanes over time...between 4-12 years.
As I understand it, they used to recommend you get this vaccine while pregnant if you were overdue for a booster. Then, a few years ago, they said you shouldn't. As of this year, it is once again considered OK to give pregnant women, as long as it is in the third trimester. At the same time, there is evidence that it can make the vaccine less effective for your LO when he or she eventually gets it.
I think it depends on the doctor/practice and how they feel about the respective studies and various research. I was already up to date, but if I wasn't, I would be waiting until after I deliver. I think that if they are going back and forth like that, I'd like to see more research and err on the side of caution until then.
Just to respond, since I am looking at the CDC rec's right now:
1. When they say "a woman who has not been vaccinated", they mean "has not had a Tdap in the last 10 years". That point was confusing to me at first also.
2. The recommendations do state that that the maternal antibodies can interfere with the infant's immunizations (after 3 months old), but also states that the maternal antibodies help protect the infant in the immediate post-partum period, and that the benefit of immunization during pregnancy outweighs any risk of interference, since morbidity and mortality for infants from pertussis is by far the highest in the first 3 months of life.
The way I see it (as well as the folks at the CDC) is that the problem with waiting until after delivery to get vax'd is that if you are already incubating pertussis or actively ill with pertussis at the time of delivery, you are risking transmitting it to your newborn during the period of the newborn's life when pertussis is most likely to cause serious disease or death. Vaccines don't work immediately and there is a window of risk there for your infant that is eliminated by vaccinating during the 2nd or 3rd trimester.
It may seem like splitting hairs, but that little window of time could be the difference between life and death.
As a mom who has had pertussis and gave it to her toddler, please get this vaccine or at least the booster. I had no idea I had whooping cough and by the time I was better (because my case was so mild, like many adults) my son had a terrible cough that wouldn't get better. Because he hadn't finished the entire round of DTaP yet his case was mild as well, thank God.
I had to call our school, our friends, and our families to inform them and tell them to get tested if they had a cold and cough come on. I felt terrible, and still feel terrible about it. I could have infected so many people and just thought I had a typical cold. We're all up to date this time around. It's not something I take lightly.
Married DH 7/30/11
CSC arrived 5/7/12
CHC arrived 6/2/14
Our local school system requires 5 doses for kindergarten entry!
My OB said I should get the TDap in the hospital after I deliver.
I've heard of many women getting it at the tail end of their pregnancy and others getting it the same day they deliver. As it stands now, I'll ask for it after delivery.