Despite recent vaccination mandates in California schools, in 2012, cases of whooping cough in the U.S. reached their highest levels in more than 60 years, health officials say.
According to a report out Friday from The Associated Press, “about 42,000 cases were reported last year, the most since 1955. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still gathering information, and the number could rise to as much as 50,000.”
In California, the most recent numbers from the state’s department of public health show that from Jan. 1, 2012, through April 24, 2012, 169 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, had been reported statewide, with 10 cases in Orange County.
Although the risk of dying from whooping cough is low – nationally, 18 reportedly perished last year from the disease – some health officials are concerned about vaccine efficacy.
A November 2012 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that California kids who had been fully vaccinated were less likely to catch whooping cough, but the report also noted that the more time that had passed since children completed the initial recommended immunization regimen -- three doses of the DTaP vaccine (against diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis) at 2, 4 and 6 months, followed by booster shots at 15-18 months and 4-6 years -- the more likely they were to get whooping cough.
The JAMA report finds that the efficacy of the pertussis regimen fell from 98.1 percent within a year of finishing it to 71.2 percent five or more years later, according to estimates by the researchers from the CDC and the California Department of Public Health.
Despite the efficacy decline, an editorial in the JAMA issue still advises a “suboptimal” whooping cough vaccine is still warranted.
The report is in sync with a Kaiser Permanente study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in September.
As a result, California students entering or advancing to grades seven through 12 during the 2011–12 school year were required to be immunized with a pertussis vaccine booster. In July 2012, AB 354 required only students who were entering or advancing into grade seven to 12 show proof of a pertussis booster vaccine (on or after the seventh birthday).
During a July 2012 telebriefing hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health officials discussed a pertussis epidemic in Washington State, which has seen its highest rates of whooping cough in infants younger than one year of age.
“About half of these cases are babies under three months of age. That's because those very young babies are too young to be protected by vaccines that they start getting at two months of age. Their protection instead depends on the immunity of the people around them, especially pregnant women, their mothers. That is why we strongly urge pregnant women and all who will be around babies to be vaccinated. Infants often get pertussis from a family member or household member,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, said during the telebriefing.
She went on to address adolescents.
“We’re also seeing high rates in older children as well. … We realize that by age 10, immunity can wane from the early-childhood vaccines that kids get. That is why we ended up recommending a booster of pertussis-containing vaccine at 11-to-12 years of age.
“Pertussis vaccine remains the single most effective approach to prevent infection,” Dr. Schuchat continued. “It is critical to protect infants and others at high risk. I want to stress that unvaccinated children are at eight times higher risk of getting pertussis compared to children fully vaccinated.”
The good news? Some experts say whooping cough tends to run in multi-year cycles, and many believe 2012 appears to have been a peak.
Go to the CDC website and read it for yourself. And you are notorious for trying to pick out bits and pieces of a discussion and go on the attack INSTEAD OF addressing the overall subject matter being discussed. I know why you do this. I just want to bring it to the attention of others so they know what you're up to. Btw, don't run away from my response to your post under John Webb's latest blog. I hate it when people 'hit and run' instead of standing their ground and replying with either "Sorry, I was wrong" or your counterargument. Pick one. Now be a big boy and face your opponent.
I simply asked whether you had some evidence or other information that we dont know about with respect to illegal immigration causing the surge in pertussis cases in the US.
Stop with being such an obstructionist! Face the truth!!! ;)
http://www.fairus.org/issue/illegal-immigration-and-public-health Now I predict you will tell us that Dr. Nicky, the Director of Health in the County of El Paso is not a credible source!!! HAH! Bring it!!!! hah! :^)
We will wait for your response. We know your response will be timely and you won't run off in the meantime. :)
I'm not sure FAIR is a great source for objective, unbiased reports and data regarding immigration issues. They've been hauled over the coals quite a few times for fabricating facts about policy. FAIR is the Superman to the American Immigration Council's Lex Luther. Too much politics. Why not the CDC or WHO data sources?
You can say that there is no evidence that MMR is responsible for Autism all you want. But I know and see, and new studies have come out that if a tiny little infant that you want to pump all these chemicals into has a genetic or mitochondrial abnormality or deficiency, the metals in many vaccinces could be harmful. I have 2 kids with autism, one has his vaccinations and he is severe, and one doesn't and he is high functioning. But don't smugly say that there is no correlation between the two when you don't live the life. Look up the congressional hearings on CSpan that took place in November, and watch congress hold the CDC feet to the fire. It may enlighten you.
Should we position health police at all the places children frequent to make sure we are not exposed to their illegal germs? Playgrounds, movie theaters, museums, zoos, amusement parks. Should these health police be armed or should we arm the ticket takers? Can't be too careful but we have a budget problem in most places. Armed ticket takers seems less expensive than hiring off duty or retired trained weapons handlers (police, military personnel, etc.). Or should we just vaccinate ourselves? Seems a little less risky than the alternative suggested above. Armed ticket takers. <shudder>.
Boy, you're slippery as a greased sow, mfriedrich. The data I gave you referred to the Director of Health Services in El Paso. Dr. Nickey. He was the one quoted. Again, let's stick with the FACTS and not look for an easy escape, ok??? Thank you.
If they can't speak english and don't provide a US birth certificate that might be a clue, fact checker. You don't have to be Kojack to figure that out. And we do have a census every 10 years. And we are able to determine an estimate of how many illegals (and their children) reside in the US. The children in the household must attend school. Correct? Not brain science, fact checker. Where did you go to fact checking school, btw??? I'd just like to know for future reference. Thanks.
Since you have 2 children you certainly have skin in the game and your opinion needs to be heard. We can not really trust what drug makers tell us. Women were taking birth control pills and hormone related pills for years, not knowing that certain BCP were a cause for blood clots and heart attacks. And there have been some research that has pointed to hormone pills as a cause for cancer in some women. They won't disclose this until their back are up against the wall and they can no longer avoid the 800 pound gorilla in the living room. It's all about the MONEY. And MONEY trumps SAFETY each and every time - regardless of what the spokeholes tell you. Good for you to be concerned about the health of your children, Rebecca. God bless you, dear!
The problem is solved through vaccination. Easy peasy. If you refuse vaccination then you are part of the problem. It is your right. But diseases like polio were eradicated through immunizations. Children who attend school must show proof of immunizations in order to enroll. Their parents can opt out but I think that those who opt out are far more likely to be U.S. citizens than illegal immigrants. Immunizations are easily available and affordable.
I know of 3. Each 2 yrs apart. All immunized at full schedule. One with autism. Two without. A causal relationship would mean all 3 get autism. Autism is a complex spectrum disorder with what seems like infinite variation and severity levels. I understand the insistence on outside factors. There may be. I'm more inclined to believe genetic causal factors. But everyone is in a rush for the finish line on it. Without peer review, a lot of people looked really foolish, as Dr. Wakefield and many parents found out. Sadly a lot people have refused to immunize, which puts other children and adults at risk.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hepb/fs-parents.html
So they won't immunize their children. The children will not be matriculated into public schools. Theyll be part of a population serving as a reservoir of preventable infectious disease. Whooping cough is serious too. It can lead to pneumonia and death. If they don't want to do it, but then everyone surrenders their right to moan when we all have to start showing immunization records to board a flight.
Also I think the OC Register sometimes has lists of where free flu shots are available & for whom they are available. Sometimes it was for those over say 50 or 60 or who had a risk factor such as asthma or working w children or the elderly, etc. Of course those on Medicare I believe can get them from their dr. I have decided now, not to get them but am being very careful when I go out to not touch my face after touching various surfaces. & then when I get home, I immediately wash my hands. That & a natural remedy & I have not gotten sick this year, unlike the way I used to always get respiratory bugs in the Fall.