CDPH warns of ongoing pertussis risk The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently warned about the ongoing danger of pertussis (whooping cough). According to state public health officials, pertussis continues to spread at above-normal levels in California following last year's epidemic, when reported disease rates were the highest they've been since the 1950s. Pertussis can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening complications in infants, especially within the first six months of life. The disease has already caused one infant death and at least 126 infant hospitalizations in California this year. Physicians are reminded that the best way to protect infants against fatal or severe pertussis infection is to vaccinate pregnant women with Tdap during every pregnancy. Vaccinated pregnant women develop antibodies to pertussis that are passed onto the fetus and may protect young infants until they are old enough to be vaccinated at 6 weeks of age. To maximize the maternal antibody response and passive antibody transfer to the infant, optimal timing for Tdap administration is between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation. In addition to providing pertussis antibodies to the infant, the mother herself will be protected and less likely to become infected and transmit pertussis to her infant. “Vaccinated mothers pass protective antibodies to their infants during pregnancy,” said CDPH Director and State Health Officer Karen Smith, M.D. “Right now, it’s estimated that fewer than half of all pregnant women in California are vaccinated against whooping cough. We need to increase that number to help improve the health of our children and of our communities.” Vaccination during pregnancy is highly preferred over postpartum vaccination. However, if a woman is not vaccinated prior to giving birth, it is recommended that she receive the vaccine before hospital discharge (breastfeeding is not a contraindication). Other family members and close contacts of infants who have not received Tdap should be vaccinated at least two weeks prior to any contact with the infant. It is recommended that babies get their first dose of the pertussis vaccine at 2 months of age, and should have three doses by the time they are 6 months old. Children should also receive a booster shot in their second year, before kindergarten and at 11-12 years of age. CDPH also reminds parents that Tdap vaccination is a requirement for advancement into the seventh grade. Adults and teens who never received a vaccine during their preteen years are also encouraged to get vaccinated. For more information and guidelines on pertussis vaccination, see the CDPH website. August 6, 2015 General Immunization, Pertussis, Public Health, Vaccination, Whooping Cough, Department of Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
Pertussis on the rise in California The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is reporting an uptick in cases of pertussis since the beginning of the year. According to the state, a total of 2,649 cases have been reported, with more than 800 new cases reported in April alone—the highest monthly count since the 2010 epidemic. Pertussis can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening complications in infants, especially within the first 6 months of life.Two infant mortalities have been reported this year—the first infant pertussis fatalities reported since 2010. In 2010, 9,159 total cases were reported, including 10 deaths — all infants. So far this year 77 children have been hospitalized, most of these younger than three months. Ninety percent of the cases have been in children under the age of 18, with 32 percent of them ages 14 to 16. State public health officials remind physicians that the best way to protect infants against fatal or severe pertussis infection is to vaccinate pregnant women with Tdap during every pregnancy. Vaccinated pregnant women develop antibodies to pertussis that are passed to the fetus and may protect young infants until they are old enough to be vaccinated at six weeks of age. To maximize the maternal antibody response and passive antibody transfer to the infant, optimal timing for Tdap administration is between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation. In addition to providing pertussis antibodies to the infant, the mother herself will be protected and less likely to become infected and transmit pertussis to her infant. Vaccination during pregnancy is highly preferred over postpartum vaccination. However, if a woman is not vaccinated prior to giving birth, it is recommended that she receive the vaccine before hospital discharge (breastfeeding is not a contraindication). Other family members and close contacts of infants who have not received Tdap, should be vaccinated at least 2 weeks prior to any contact with the infant. It is recommended that babies get their first dose of the pertussis vaccine at 2 months of age, and should have three doses by the time they are 6 months old. Children should also receive booster shot in their second year, before kindergarten and at 11-12 years of age. Adults and teens who never received a vaccine during their preteen years are also encouraged to get vaccinated. For more information and guidelines on pertussis vaccination, see the California Department of Public Health website. June 18, 2014 General Public Health, Immunization, Pertussis, Whooping Cough 0 0 Comment Read More »
Vaccine refusal tied to pertussis outbreak Parents refusing to vaccinate their children against pertussis (also known as whooping cough) might have played a role in the deadly 2010 outbreak in California – this according to a new study published in the October issue of Pediatrics. In 2010, 9,120 cases of pertussis were reported in California, the most since 1947. This new study examines the role of clusters of individuals who refused the vaccine. The study, “Nonmedical Vaccine Exemptions and Pertussis in California, 2010," analyzes non-medical exemptions for children entering kindergarten from 2005 through 2010, and pertussis cases that were diagnosed in 2010 in California. Researchers identified 39 statistically significant clusters with high rates of non-medical exemptions, and two statistically significant clusters of pertussis cases. Census tracks within an exemption cluster were 2.5 times more likely to be in a pertussis cluster. With highly infectious diseases like measles and pertussis, it is estimated that more than 95 percent of the population must be immunized to prevent outbreaks and to reduce the risk of the disease for those too young to be vaccinated or unable to receive vaccines. Study authors conclude that communities with large numbers of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people can lead to pertussis outbreaks, putting vulnerable populations like young infants at increased risk. From 2000 to 2010, the overall rate of nonmedical exemptions in California rose from 0.77 percent of children entering kindergarten to 2.33 percent. While those rates are still low, researchers noted that some schools reported as many as 84 percent in some cases of new students were exempted in 2010. The 2010 outbreaks prompted the immediate passage of a new law that made a pertussis booster (Tdap) mandatory for all students in grades seven to 12, starting with the 2011-2012 school year. In 2012, a bill sponsored by the California Medical Association (CMA) was signed into law that ensures parents make informed decisions about getting their children immunized before they enter school. Under the bill (AB 2109), sponsored by Sacramento pediatrician and Assemblymember Richard Pan, M.D., a parent seeking an exemption would need to first consult with their physician or other licensed health care professional, who would then sign a form attesting that they had provided information on the benefits and risks of the immunizations, as well as the health risks of the diseases that a child could contract if left unvaccinated. Previously, California parents could exempt their child from all immunizations by simply signing a standard exemption statement on the back of the California School Immunization Record or provide a separate written statement that proclaims they are exempting their child. No other information or explanation of reason was required. October 2, 2013 General Advocacy, Immunization, Pertussis, Whooping Cough, Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
