Whooping Cough shot

lildarling76 · February 2014

Not sure if this has been asked or not, but I don't recall seeing it. Is anyone else making close knit family get the shot before being near baby? I never worried about this with my other 4, but when I asked my ob she said I should make this important now. She said with fewer people not getting their kids shots it is really turning into a problem. My mom got her shot the other day and my kids are all up to date on shots. So just my husband and I have to get it in the 3rd tri. I know my inlaws are not going to so I am really thinking of telling them to stay away. ( don't get along with them and its a mutual feeling)

MamaLlama14 · February 2014

I don't know if making them get the shot is the way to look at it, since you can't force an adult to vaccinate themselves if they don't want to... but I understand your point. I found it more effective to present the facts to our immediate family (both sets of grandparents and great grandparents) and explain to them that this is a real, serious, life-threatening risk for children now even though it might not have been before. I found an article or two of recent cases and emailed them to both grandmothers. I explained that it was "doctors orders" that anyone who would be around LO regularly needed to be vaccinated and if they chose not to do it, it was their decision, but they would not be able to see DS a lot until he was a little older b/c of the risk and the time of year he was born (flu season).

spinsoffresonance · February 2014

Yes we asked our parents to get it before DD was born. I'm pretty sure my dad and FIL got theirs. MIL was insisting it wasn't needed, but I think DH managed to convince her and she got it too. My mom said she was getting it, but it bet she never did.

deanna1313 · February 2014

This was something I was thinking about and was planning on asking my dr about it. Hopefully my family will be on board, but I can't imagine they all will be.

Unknown · February 2014

This content has been removed.

Soupy84 · February 2014

There was a discussion back on Jan 8th (I don't remember who started it). I sent an email out to my immediate family members after reading the post.

I couldn't make them get the shot, but I was firm in telling them they may not be able to visit until the baby has had his/her shots. I told them it wasnt a road i wanted to go down and that I would hope they would be keeping up with their vaccines for their own health. They all looked into their vaccine history and have made appointments to update their vaccines.

Just be thoughtful in how you word your request. You will know how to deal with your family better than anyone else.

sparklingdiamond · February 2014

I am going to try and gently request that my family do it. DH and I for sure will and I think my mom already got hers. Just need to ask my dad and my ILs.

chillypenguin · February 2014

Yes, my family and IL's got it when DD was born. Luckily, they were all on board. Our hospital gave them for free to friends and family of anyone in L&D, so maybe check with your hospital.

CamrynnsMommy · February 2014

I'll be asking my mom to and H and I will get it again, even those ours is technically still current.

megmegs · February 2014

Yep! I've asked both my immediate family and DH's to get the tdap; my BIL is allergic to something in the pertussis shot, so he'll be the only one unable to get the booster.

RedInLove · February 2014

DH got his a few weeks ago. My OB's office doesn't carry it so I will be getting it from my PCP. Soon, we will talk to our parents and adult siblings about them getting it. My niece had Whooping cough when she was several months old, she was in the hospital for a few days but luckily her case wasn't too severe and she recovered completely.

oscarwao · February 2014

kitchencolors said:

Encouraging yes. Whooping cough is everywhere around here - three cheers for living in a hotbed of antivaxers... ugh.

Where do you live? Is "antivaxers" a regional thing in terms of popularity?

momthatlifts · February 2014

Me and my husband are getting it. We may or may not bring it up to the rest of the family.

dragossoul84 · February 2014

I made everyone get it with DS 1

laurblum · February 2014

We are definitely asking people who will be around the baby a lot to get vaccinated. Me, H, My mom, MIL, FIL, and our 2 best friends are all getting it done. It's too scary not to have it.

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

I informed family that we would limit exposure to anyone unvaccinated and let them make the call. I guess you could say I made them do it by holding my baby hostage but it worked which was all I cared about.

flutepharm87 · February 2014

I'm getting mine at my next OB appointment and DH doesn't have a choice, I'm making him get his. DH's grandma got her's and she'll be spending a lot of time with LO. We're not going to require anyone get the shot, but we also won't be allowing a lot of contact with others and our baby until baby has gotten vaccinated against pertussis. DH is going to talk to his parents about it and I'm going to talk to my family about it. I would never force anyone to get anything they don't want to get, but I can restrict access in order to protect my child.

We'll be allowing family, vaccinated and unvaccinated, to see Robbie once he's born for a brief visit. But anyone who wants to see him on a more regular basis after that is going to have to be vaccinated. Once Robbie's vaccinated, I'm cool with him being around whoever for however long, but I have to advocate for my child's health and, being from an epidemic area, I feel I have to take additional measures to protect him. I've had 2 babies in the NICU and I've seen how devastating illness can be in the very, very young. I'm not going to risk putting this little guy through that.

jenb_99 · February 2014

I asked my parents and husband to get the Tdap shortly before DS was born, but I didn't force them. I didn't ask anyone else to get it, and I didn't ask anyone about their shot records or health status before they visited our home or touched/held/looked at DS while we were out. I just made sure to have DS vaccinated on the recommended schedule, kept my house clean but not sterile, and kept DS's hands and face clean when we were out.

DS was born in early November, right at the start of cold and flu season, and he only received breast milk for 4 months (and even then it only made up about 30% of his diet), but he still managed not to come down with his first illness till he was 6 months old and cold/flu season was technically over.

Kids get exposed to stuff. You can't stop it, no matter how badly you want to. No point stressing over things you don't have the ability or the right to control.

dogsombrero · February 2014

I'm asking any adults that are staying with us prior to LO's 1st set of shots to get theirs. My Mom, Grandma, SIL, MIL & FIL are all planning to get theirs because they are staying in our guest room. I figure if they aren't staying with us then it's probably going to be a short visit prior to the 2 month mark anyway but obviously folks that are around more I'd have no problem asking.

MrsT2008 · February 2014

I'm always in the minority, but no, I won't be making anyone else get it. I may mention it in passing, but we don't really see our families enough for me to tell them that they have to be vaccinated. I will get mine, DD has hers, and I think MH is due for his as well, but otherwise, no.

danabsd · February 2014

My family got it, H's had it perviously.

momthatlifts · February 2014

Speaking of, am I going to need to ask for this at my appointment or is it offered? I'm going to be at a new doctor come next appointment so I'm assuming I should probably just ask for it?

MrsT2008 · February 2014

FTR - those of you saying so-and-so had it 2+ years ago and is covered may want to talk to your OB. I had mine 2 years ago when DD was born and was told that I (and MH and others) should get it again because they are now thinking that the pertussis part of the TDaP does not last for 10 years like the tetanus part does.

dp1320 · February 2014

I'll be getting it once I'm in the 3rd tri and DH already got his. I've put MIL in charge of being sure she and FIL get theirs. My family lives out of state so it's not as much of a concern. That being said, I won't be checking everyone's immunization records or "ban" anyone from seeing LO.

springbeduk2 · February 2014

I'll get my booster at next appointment - the MW prefers not to do it during the GTT just to not have any chance of it throwing off the GTT result and that sounded good to me so I didn't have it at this last one. I'm pretty much due anyway but she said they vaccinate expectant mothers in each pregnancy even if it has only been a short time (like 1.5 or 2 years) since last because they hope that maybe doing the vaccine during the pregnancy transfers a little extra immunity to the baby in addition to what they get BFing (and in case BFing doesn't work out for whatever reason).

DH needs to get his ASAP too. We will be asking all family who will be visiting to spend time with baby or who want us to bring baby to visit to please get the vaccine. I don't expect any resistance and really, I can't think of any non-bogus reason for family members to decline other than if they have had an allergy/reaction that prohibits them from getting the shot or maybe if they have limited access to health care and $$ is a factor but there's gotta be a way to work around that too. Like, isn't this one of the shots you can get at a pharmacy or public health office for pretty cheap? The only one we won't ask to is my mother (if she is still alive to meet the baby) because she will not be healthy enough to be vaccinated. She also has been pretty much house-bound so won't have exposure especially if my stepfather gets his vaccine. At least if hospice workers are up to date on their shots which they should be required to be ... I guess I'd better ask that.

Thank you for sharing the CDC link (not hard to search for but so much more convenient to just click the link!) - I had been wondering if having actually had whooping cough (my mom did) gives life-long immunity making the vaccine not needed and the answer was on the site, and unfortunately, is NO. It says even people who have had the illness need to be vaccinated as immunity wears off.

gutsysneakers · February 2014

I'll be getting the booster after 28 weeks. DH is also getting his booster. I emailed family and close friends (like family) requesting them to get the booster or vaccine (depending on when they last had it).

momthatlifts · February 2014

jennish11 said:

JKBMA2014 said:

Speaking of, am I going to need to ask for this at my appointment or is it offered? I'm going to be at a new doctor come next appointment so I'm assuming I should probably just ask for it?

@JKBMA2014 - My OB just has it on the regular schedule, but I asked about it anyways just so I knew for sure when I would get it.

since It's a new doctor, I recommend bringing it up if they don't to get specifics on when you will be getting it.

OK thank you!

gutsysneakers · February 2014

JKBMA2014 said:

JKBMA2014 said:

Speaking of, am I going to need to ask for this at my appointment or is it offered? I'm going to be at a new doctor come next appointment so I'm assuming I should probably just ask for it?

@JKBMA2014 - My OB just has it on the regular schedule, but I asked about it anyways just so I knew for sure when I would get it.

since It's a new doctor, I recommend bringing it up if they don't to get specifics on when you will be getting it.
OK thank you!

I called my OB and they don't offer it - I have to go to my primary care doctor. Most CVS MinuteClinics also offer it though.

softservecity · February 2014

I can't make anyone get it and besides me and DH and son I dout any of my family members will. DHs mom doesnt have medical insurance so wont go pay out of pocket for office visit. This was a HUGE issue in my family last year when my cousins wife wouldn't bring the baby to my grandmothers (babies great grandmother). My family pretty much thinks this whole thing is just an over reaction to a few bad cases. No need to try to convince me otherwise ladies; it's what my family believes and they are VERY set in their beliefs!

hfooter · February 2014

We will be getting it and asking moms and siblings to get theirs as well.

I am in fact going to be sending out an email to my family and friends to let them know that if they plan on seeing baby Clay they need to at least be up to date on all their vaxs. If not then they can wait to see him till when he is older.

AugustGlass · February 2014

My husband is getting it, I've talked to my parents about it and he needs to talk to his. Not sure if we're asking our siblings to. My BIL and SIL have an infant so they likely already got the shot.

lildarling76 · February 2014

JKBMA2014 said:

Speaking of, am I going to need to ask for this at my appointment or is it offered? I'm going to be at a new doctor come next appointment so I'm assuming I should probably just ask for it?

I would ask your ob, mine doesn't offer it so I have to go to my pcp

Lauren5905 · February 2014

I'm totally ok board with having family get the vaccination. But my grandparents are 91 and 90. I feel bad asking them to get a shot. What do you guys think about that? Y grandma coughs all the time but I think it's because she had smoked back in the day.

pistolpackinmomma · February 2014

softservecity said:

I can't make anyone get it and besides me and DH and son I dout any of my family members will. DHs mom doesnt have medical insurance so wont go pay out of pocket for office visit. This was a HUGE issue in my family last year when my cousins wife wouldn't bring the baby to my grandmothers (babies great grandmother). My family pretty much thinks this whole thing is just an over reaction to a few bad cases. No need to try to convince me otherwise ladies; it's what my family believes and they are VERY set in their beliefs!

Check with your local health dept and see if they offer it at a decent price. I think it's like $5 at our health dept (state wide program in Ohio) and others may do the same with the recent outbreaks. Just be sure to tell them that she will be in frequent contact with the baby.

giggler25 · February 2014

@Carpenter627, thanks for posting the email you used -- I'm totally borrowing that!

Unknown · February 2014

This content has been removed.

momthatlifts · February 2014

Jcrewgirl85 said:

JKBMA2014 said:

jennish11 said:

JKBMA2014 said:

Speaking of, am I going to need to ask for this at my appointment or is it offered? I'm going to be at a new doctor come next appointment so I'm assuming I should probably just ask for it?

@JKBMA2014 - My OB just has it on the regular schedule, but I asked about it anyways just so I knew for sure when I would get it.

since It's a new doctor, I recommend bringing it up if they don't to get specifics on when you will be getting it.
OK thank you!

I called my OB and they don't offer it - I have to go to my primary care doctor. Most CVS MinuteClinics also offer it though.

OK great thank you. I will find out at my appointment next Thursday if they offer it. At least at cvs H can get it too. Do you know what it would cost at cvs without insurance?

Storrmys · February 2014

I got mine this morning it is a regular shot at my OB at 28 weeks.. I do have to say my arm still hurts from it and all I've done today is slept.

Want a personalized experience?

Whooping Cough shot

Re: Whooping Cough shot

Choose Another Board

Search Boards