Whooping cough and daycare

J&Jaggies06

My midwife also highly recommended getting vaccinated which we are and grandparents are. I thought I would check with our daycare and was surprised to find out they are not required to have the vaccine for teachers. I don't feel good about this, but also don't know that I can do anything about it. From what the director told me it is recommended but not required. She did say in her 14 years she has never seen a case at the center. 

What are other daycares doing?

any advice? 

It seems like most insurance covers it 100% similar to flu shot so I guess I just hoped they would go the extra mile to protect the babies. This wasn't a big deal when we had DD 3 years ago.  

WildRumpus

I would be looking for a different daycare. It's been required for every daycare job and class I ever had that interacted with kids.

melosch

If baby is being vaccinated is there really a concern?

I know that babies/students at my daycare can attend without the vaccine, but I will definitely be vaccinating my child so I'm not worried.

Is pertussis common in your state? (You can find infection rates for the last few years on your state's .gov site.) 

Wjoyner08

I used to be a pre-k teacher and in TX you aren't required to get vaccinations that seem like common sense. The school where I worked required TB but some don't even require that, it all depends on the school. 

MommyKristin88

Keep in mind, everyone with a job does not have health insurance, so insurance covering it 100% is not relevant.

I would find another daycare.

beckyanddon

I had to have it just to intern at Easter seals. Sounds fishy to me.

BlondieBia21

Jill9288:

I would be looking for a different daycare. It's been required for every daycare job and class I ever had that interacted with kids.

This.

At my pediatrician interview today, she told me that she recommends it especially for parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles. Whoever will be "caring" for baby, rather than just stopping by to see him/her. (Specifically mentioned kissing the child, being in his/her face, etc.) She said a visitor who hasn't had the vaccination who is only around for a couple hours won't be enough contact to spread it. 

henderson1026

Jill9288:

I would be looking for a different daycare. It's been required for every daycare job and class I ever had that interacted with kids.

I can't believe they don't require it.  My mom had to have it for her job and she works with older children.

mochalattemama

melosch:

If baby is being vaccinated is there really a concern?

I know that babies/students at my daycare can attend without the vaccine, but I will definitely be vaccinating my child so I'm not worried.

Is pertussis common in your state? (You can find infection rates for the last few years on your state's .gov site.) 

Everyone around baby should be vaccinated until he or she is about 6 months.

mochalattemama

melosch:

If baby is being vaccinated is there really a concern?

I know that babies/students at my daycare can attend without the vaccine, but I will definitely be vaccinating my child so I'm not worried.

Is pertussis common in your state? (You can find infection rates for the last few years on your state's .gov site.) 

Everyone around baby should be vaccinated until he or she is about 6 months.

mochalattemama

Wjoyner08:

I used to be a pre-k teacher and in TX you aren't required to get vaccinations that seem like common sense. The school where I worked required TB but some don't even require that, it all depends on the school. 

PPD testing, I assume? BCG is a very uncommon vaccine. 

Ktbug613

If it makes you uncomfortable then find another daycare. Ive worked in numerous daycare centers and never been required to get any sort of vaccination. Im not surprised that it wouldn't be required you can't bring an infant prior to 6 weeks and by 6 weeks they can have the vaccination for themselves.

 

mochalattemama

It takes some time to build up antibodies from the DTaP so the CDC recommends pregnant women get the Tdap in the third trimester to give the baby antibodies before he or she gets vaccinated. 

WildRumpus

First TDAP shot isn't recommended until 2 months, then at 4 months, and then 6 months. Like PP said, it takes time to build up in baby's system, so if they go to daycare at 6 weeks, they realistically could be exposed while they're not protected. Yes, I know they can be exposed just by being out and about in the world, but I *personally* wouldn't be comfortable knowing that the daycare teachers aren't required to have it.

floridababy3

BlondieBia21:

Jill9288:

I would be looking for a different daycare. It's been required for every daycare job and class I ever had that interacted with kids.

This.

At my pediatrician interview today, she told me that she recommends it especially for parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles. Whoever will be "caring" for baby, rather than just stopping by to see him/her. (Specifically mentioned kissing the child, being in his/her face, etc.) She said a visitor who hasn't had the vaccination who is only around for a couple hours won't be enough contact to spread it. 

I understand wanting the people who will care for LO to have the vaccine. If you look at transmission of pertussis it is transmitted by droplet and takes very little for LO to be exposed. Unfortunately, It just takes a cough or a sneeze.

For reference:

https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/causestransmission.html

J&Jaggies06

Ktbug613:

If it makes you uncomfortable then find another daycare. Ive worked in numerous daycare centers and never been required to get any sort of vaccination. Im not surprised that it wouldn't be required you can't bring an infant prior to 6 weeks and by 6 weeks they can have the vaccination for themselves.

 

the baby's first dose of it isn't u til 2 months and they actually don't have all 3 doses until 6 months so it is an issue for the first 6 months.

Wjoyner08

mochalattemama:

Wjoyner08:

I used to be a pre-k teacher and in TX you aren't required to get vaccinations that seem like common sense. The school where I worked required TB but some don't even require that, it all depends on the school. 

PPD testing, I assume? BCG is a very uncommon vaccine. 

 

LOL honestly it's been 5 years so I may have the abbreviations off. We all had to have tuberculosis, that was it though. They recommended a flu shot but it isn't required. That was the only school I worked at that did require any shots.  

J&Jaggies06

I should clarify that it is state licensing that does NOT require it so other daycares ar e likely doing the same thing. 

Rowcate

i would find a new daycare. That should be a requirement. I do not demand everyone in contact with my child be up to date on vaccinations but I imagine if you want to work with them there should be requirements. Are these people cpr certified or is that optional as well?

J&Jaggies06

Rowcate:

i would find a new daycare. That should be a requirement. I do not demand everyone in contact with my child be up to date on vaccinations but I imagine if you want to work with them there should be requirements. Are these people cpr certified or is that optional as well?

they are all CPR certified 

Rowcate

J&Jaggies06:

Rowcate:

i would find a new daycare. That should be a requirement. I do not demand everyone in contact with my child be up to date on vaccinations but I imagine if you want to work with them there should be requirements. Are these people cpr certified or is that optional as well?

they are all CPR certified 

 

Thats good. I just noticed the post about the state requirements. That is unfortunate that they do not require it and you are right, I would assume most other daycares wouldn't enforce it then. There are a million things to stress and worry about with kids, it never ends, sometimes you just have to trust your gut let go of the little things. 

Hinessn

My DH works at a daycare center run by the federal government and it is not a part of the vaccination requirement. I was surprised as well but there's nothing I can do about it. 

kahlan82

Wjoyner08:

I used to be a pre-k teacher and in TX you aren't required to get vaccinations that seem like common sense. The school where I worked required TB but some don't even require that, it all depends on the school. 

 

Same here, I am required to have a TB test to teach elementary school but nothing else.  I never really thought about it before but, it is strange.