Whooping cough vaccination rate among U.S. adults—less than 6 percent nationally.

[mzmolly]

LOS ANGELES— The low whooping cough vaccination rate among U.S. adults—less than 6 percent nationally is endangering the lives of infants too young to be immunized, federal and state health officials warned this week.

Diagnosing the disease in infants is difficult because early symptoms are generally no different from the common cold, so vaccinating adults “is the first line of defense,” Stacey Martin, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a packed ethnic media briefing here at Mercado La Paloma on July 15.

The CDC-sponsored briefing, supported by the California Public Health Department and organized by New America Media, drew some 25 ethnic media journalists, as well as a few from the mainstream media, from across Southern California.

After the deaths of five infants in California this year, and 1,300 more confirmed cases of the disease statewide, officials last month declared a whooping cough epidemic, calling it the worst outbreak in 50 years. Another 700 cases are suspected but not confirmed.

...

The CDC recommends re-inoculation every five years among adults.

More at - http://newamericamedia.org/2010/07/whooping-cough-low-adult-vaccination-rates-makes-infants-more-vulnerable.php">NEWAMERICAMEDIA.ORG

[peace13]

1. Adults..heck we have school age kids in Ohio getting Whooping cough.

What's that all about.

[mzmolly]

2. Probably getting it from their parents or teachers.

eom

[peace13]

3. Shouldn't the kids still have a vaccination in them? n/t

[mzmolly]

4. Yes they should. They're finding the vaccine wanes in efficacy,

however. Some children are no longer immune at 4 or 5, others have immunity longer.

[peace13]

6. Thanks. n/t

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[laconicsax]

8. Here's a question for you...ok, two questions:

You say that you aren't opposed to other people vaccinating...

Does that make you feel better about promoting an anti-vaccination agenda?
Does that make you feel better about intentionally putting yourself and your children at risk?

[mzmolly]

9. I'm not promoting an anti-vaccination agenda. I'm promoting

open, honest discussion, along with improved safety.

For the record, I'm quite enthusiastic about new vaccine technology. For example, I am looking forward to learning more about the vaccine patch (for influenza) which uses less vaccine material, and has the same level of efficacy as the current jab, (according to scientists working on development.) I'm also looking forward to the possibility of plant based vaccines, which are being tested currently. (Information on both can be found in my journal.)

I'm not of the opinion that honestly discussing risk, injury, side effects etc. will negate any positive that vaccination has to offer in the minds of the public. In fact, I think stiffing conversation is harmful. Partly because it plays into the hands of actual anti-vaccinationists.

Also, I'm not putting anyone at risk. Don't pretend to know my particular situation, my vaccination status, or how I make decisions for me and mine.

[laconicsax]

10. "Don't pretend to know my particular situation, my vaccination status..."

Do you mean exactly what you're doing on other threads? That wouldn't be hypocritical now, would it? I'm sure there's a good explanation for why you pretend to know other people's situation and status but tell others not to do the same.

I don't have to pretend to know how you make decisions--you have made that information readily available on other threads.

[mzmolly]

11. I'm pro-choice on this issue. I'm not railing against a highly vaccinated group of children,

while skipping my own booster shot. Additionally, odds are in my favor when I assume that most adults here have not had the *proper booster. (I'm not being hypocritical when I point that out.) Especially, when said adults suggest that I'm putting others at risk because I may or may not have engaged in a procedure they themselves, have not. Speaking of, have you had your tdap booster? Or, are you risking the lives of others?

*Note (tdap) is not the same as the tetanus (td) booster.

[laconicsax]

12. Uh huh..."pro choice" as in "pro-choosing to not vaccinate"

Go ahead yell all you want about supporting "choice" as if choosing to not vaccinate is a good decision. And you wonder why people say you're anti-vaccination.

BTW: I did get my Tdap booster a couple years back--it was one of the last things I did before losing my health insurance coverage (something I'm still without). So now that I've shared details of my health record, do you want to come clean about what "choice" you made regarding vaccination against pertussis or any other preventable disease?

Oh, and who claimed that a tetanus booster was the same thing as Tdap? It certainly wasn't me, so was this a piss-poor attempt at a straw man, or are you just rambling to watch yourself type?

[mzmolly]

13. I had all of my childhood vaccinations.

My family contracted pertussis (from a fully vaccinated friend) so a booster is not required in my case. Further, I had an MMR shot while pregnant as I was no longer immune to Rubella when I most needed protection. The recommendation that I have an MMR jab while pregnant, is considered controversial today. I'm currently due for a tetanus booster. I do not vaccinate against influenza annually, but would not rule out a flu jab, depending.

As to who claimed a tetanus booster was the same as tdap, I'm not going to call anyone out, but more than one person here has assumed this. It's an understandable mistake.

[Dorian Gray]

34. I'm shocked they gave you the MMR during pregnancy

I also wasn't immune to rubella, and they tested me prior to fertility treatments (which I ended up not having to go through to get pregnant). They said that once I took the innoculation (which I did), I would have to wait 3 months to start trying to get pregnant.

[HuckleB]

14. And...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x60929

[mzmolly]

16. Thanks for sharing that.

One of my favorite articles on this subject. :D

[HuckleB]

18. Thank you for confirming your status.

[mzmolly]

19. I'm a huge fan of David Kirby, JFK Jr. and others who seek truth vs. hype.

I have no qualms about saying that.

[HuckleB]

20. In other words, you are a fan of the anti-science fiction pushers.

Yes, we all knew that, but it's always nice to see that confirmed in the wake of the "look over there" attempt of the past few days.

[mzmolly]

21. Oh my! Not an ad hominem attack

from you Huck? :sarcasm:

No, I'm a fan of truth pushers and safety advocates, who don't sound like a television commercial for Merck.

[HuckleB]

22. The people you use as sources are anything but truth pushers and safety advocates.

And nice job locking your other thread after you posted more of the usual anti-vaccination themes.

[mzmolly]

23. Is that your last word? Another "ad hominem" attack?

:shrug:

[HuckleB]

25. It may be an "ad hominem" response, but it's supported by the evidence of your posts at DU.

[mzmolly]

27. You're entitled to your lazy opinion.

Are you done?

[HuckleB]

29. No, I'm not done.

My opinion is anything but lazy.

[mzmolly]

30. I disagree. I think when the term 'anti vaccine' is trotted out in this debate it's lazy.

Since you're not done, what else would you like to add? You have about 10 minutes of my time, before I'm done with this pathetic conversation.

[HuckleB]

31. No, it's not lazy. It's honesty.

Bye.

[mzmolly]

32. Buh bye.

:hi:

[mzmolly]

24. I left it up to the mods. Have the last word here.

What is it you'd like to add before I wrap up this non-productive, immature conversation? That I'm anti-vaccine? That I have an agenda?

I think we've beat this subject to death, don't you?

[HuckleB]

26. ROTFLMAO!

Am I on ignore again?

:rofl:

[mzmolly]

28. No.

:hi:

[leftyladyfrommo]

15. I got my vaccination - but it was because I needed a tetanus shot.

I really don't want whooping cough - or tetanus.

[mzmolly]

17. There is a td, which doesn't contain pertussis. I hope Dr.s are now promoting

the tdap booster for adults, as they're supposed to.

[mzmolly]

33. k

ick.