vaccination question

I know this is a controversial subject but does anyone know if the pertussis shot is available alone or is it only available with the doptheria and tetanus as part of the dtap shot. I am delaying but my pediatrician VERY much believes my child should have pertussis shot....I'm very much on the fence abotu this as I want to delay all but DH wants to follow the doctors advice. It was unclear to us during our visit whether she meant we could get JUST pertussis or we would need the DTAP shot, I haven't been able to find anything online....its so tough deciding this....

Re: vaccination question

I don't think it is available alone. Too bad -- I think a lot of parents would like to be able to just protect their children against pertussis and skip the other two vaccines. I'm a selective/delay vaxer, but I gave the DTaP to my son soley for pertussis. Good luck with your decision.

Re: vaccination question

I am like you and have developed my own shot schedule. DS gets 1 shot a month...that's it...it means more dr. visits but it gives me piece of mind. I do not think the DTaP shot comes seperately. This is one of the shots I gave to DS first b/c whooping cough is making a come back. It is also important for them to have a tetanus shot. I have done a ton of research and this is not a shot you need to be worried about or one that is associated with any possible long term problems such as the MMR shot.

Re: vaccination question

I'm happy to share.

6 weeks-HIB1
8 weeks-PNEU1
10 weeks-DTaP1
13 weeks-IPV1
15 weeks-HIB2
17 weeks-PNEU2
20 weeks-DTaP2
23 weeks-IPV2
27 weeks-HIB3
29 weeks-PNEU3
31weeks/7months-DTaP3
39 weeks/9months-IPV3
12 months-HIB4
12 1/2 months-PNEU4
13 months-DTaP4
13 1/2 months-Hep1
14 months-Hep2
15 months-MMR
16 months-Varicella (chickenpox)
18 months-Hep3


Hope this helps. My doctors have no problem with it because insurance pays. Insurance should pay no matter what because kids get sick and sometimes can't get a shot. Then when they go back to make it up they might be into their next round and you can't give a kid 4 shots at once.
For me it was piece of mind. No one is sure about what might cause problems with kids. If shots do eventually come into being a factor, I'm exposing my child a little less rather tha all at once. I still comply with the vaccinations it just gets spread out a little longer. I also don't like the fact they are putting so much of the immunizations into a little body all at once. Including, why does a 4 month old get the same dosage that my 8 mnth old gets of the same shot. Pleas efell free to Fm me if ou have any more questions. Good Luck!!

P.S. I came up with this schedule after I received a flyer from the CDC stating when kids should get their shots. This schedule falls within the CDC guidelines but like I said before it's just spread out.

Re: vaccination question

As far as I know, it doesnt come alone and is one I have had DS have as I have WHooping cough as a baby and was severly sick and its had lasting effects on my health since.

I am in the school of less is better thought as well, so I understand your not wanting to do it, but its a serious disease, and I lean towards the PEd in this case b/c it is much more common then the other diseases vaccinated.

I plan to delay MMR. Others we have either had on time or discussing as they come up.

Re: vaccination question

I had so much trouble with vaccinatinos as well. I HIGHLY recc the Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. It really helped me to make educated decisions.

Re: vaccination question

Posted by itsbabytime

I had so much trouble with vaccinatinos as well. I HIGHLY recc the Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears. It really helped me to make educated decisions.

Re: vaccination question

I'm delaying my DS vaccinations as well. Not sure if they give Pertussis alone or not. And for most diseases I believe in herd immunity, but pertussis is prevalent and i was informed by my doctor that it is frequently fatal in infants. Dr. Sears has a book on vaccinations that has a modified schedule...dtap is one of the first ones (there is another but I seem to have lost the book....and it never made it out of my car )

Re: vaccination question

the pertussis vaccine isn't available by itself. but the disease is making a comeback because of unvaccinated children, and it is very dangerous. i'm sorry if i sound a little crazy/militant/ preachy about this, but i am a doctor and i've seen pertussis firsthand and it is VERY ugly. in fact, MOST of the diseases that we vaccinate children against have the potential to be very ugly.

here are some stats from the center for disease control (www.cdc.gov) about the dangers of these diseases vs. potential complications of the vaccines. 1 in 20 people who get diptheria DIE. tetanus has a death rate of 20%!!! and all it takes is ONE unvaccinated person to get the disease and pass it on to your child. just some food for thought.


DISEASE
Diphtheria
Death: 1 in 20

Tetanus
Death: 2 in 10

Pertussis
Pneumonia: 1 in 8
Encephalitis: 1 in 20
Death: 1 in 1,500

VACCINES
DTaP
Continuous crying, then full recovery: 1 in 1000
Convulsions or shock, then full recovery: 1 in 14,000
Acute encephalopathy: 0-10.5 in 1,000,000
Death: None proven

Re: vaccination question

Posted by Matteos-mommy

I'm delaying my DS vaccinations as well. Not sure if they give Pertussis alone or not. And for most diseases I believe in herd immunity, but pertussis is prevalent and i was informed by my doctor that it is frequently fatal in infants. Dr. Sears has a book on vaccinations that has a modified schedule...dtap is one of the first ones (there is another but I seem to have lost the book....and it never made it out of my car )