Whooping cough vaccination recommended for all U.S. adults

[X Factor 1,112]

http://www.freep.com/article/20120222/FEATURES08/120222035/whooping-cough-vaccination-adults

ATLANTA — A federal advisory panel wants all U.S. adults to get vaccinated against whooping cough.

The panel voted Wednesday to expand its recommendation to include all those 65 and older who haven't gotten a whooping cough shot as an adult.

Children have been vaccinated against whooping cough since the 1940s, but a vaccine for adolescents and adults was not licensed until 2005.

Since then, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has gradually added groups of adults to its recommendations, including 2010 advice that it be given to elderly people who spend a lot of time around infants.

Wednesday's recommendation means now all adults should get at least one dose.

"They've been moving up to this in baby steps," said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccines expert.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial disease that in rare cases can be fatal. It leads to severe coughing that causes children to make a distinctive whooping sound as they gasp for breath.

Recommendations from the panel are usually adopted by the government, which sends the guidance out to doctors.

Contributing to the push to vaccinate more adults was a California whooping cough epidemic in 2010 that infected 9,000. Ten babies died after exposure to infected adults or older children.

There's little data on how many elderly people have gotten the vaccine. Only about 8 percent of adults under 65 have been vaccinated, but about 70 percent of adolescents have.

Health officials believe whooping cough is underreported in older adults, perhaps because in older people the illness can be hard to distinguish from other coughing ailments.

A goal of the recommendation is to prevent teens and adults from spreading the disease to infants, although there's not good evidence this "herd immunity" approach has worked so far. Vaccination for children is included in a series of shots, beginning at 2 months.

The adult vaccine combines protection against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. One version of the vaccine, made by GlaxoSmithKline, was licensed for use in the elderly last year. The committee said another version, made by Sanofi Pasteur, can also be given. Both cost about $35 a dose.

The shot is as safe as a regular tetanus booster. Estimates range widely for how effective the vaccine is at preventing whooping cough in older adults, or how much its protection wanes years afterward

[Amby 490]

Had whooping cough as an adult and it sucked big time. I was sick for almost 2 months and ended up breaking 2 ribs coughing. Get a vaccine. The sickness sucks. It's especially important to get a vaccine if you're around babies because they can die from it.I

[Ontarkie 14,499]

If you have gotten a tetanus shot in the last few years you most likely got the new tdap version, it contains the pertussis vac also. It would be easy to find out if the doctor you deal with switched to it. I know most of the doctors that I have dealt with have.

[X Factor 1,112]

If you have gotten a tetanus shot in the last few years you most likely got the new tdap version, it contains the pertussis vac also. It would be easy to find out if the doctor you deal with switched to it. I know most of the doctors that I have dealt with have.

Good to know

[MyLittlePony 340]

whooping cough what are the signs?

[X Factor 1,112]

whooping cough what are the signs?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whooping-cough/DS00445/DSECTION=symptoms

Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Once you become infected with whooping cough, it can take one to three weeks for signs and symptoms to appear. They're usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold:

Runny nose

Nasal congestion

Sneezing

Red, watery eyes

A mild fever

Dry cough

After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Thick mucus accumulates inside your airways, causing uncontrollable coughing. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:

Provoke vomiting

Result in a red or blue face

Cause extreme fatigue

End with a high-pitched "whoop" sound during the next breath of air

However, many people don't develop the characteristic whoop. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an adolescent or adult has whooping cough.

When to see a doctor

Call your doctor if prolonged coughing spells cause you or your child to:

Vomit

Turn red or blue

Inhale with a whooping sound

[amyandjorge 76]

If you have gotten a tetanus shot in the last few years you most likely got the new tdap version, it contains the pertussis vac also. It would be easy to find out if the doctor you deal with switched to it. I know most of the doctors that I have dealt with have.

I was wondering why Dr.s are always telling new moms to get the tetanus shot... it didn't help me but that was years ago.