Asking people to get whooping cough booster before they visit new baby

[Kimbles01]

Make sure also that they know that the vaccine takes a few weeks before it's considered effective. I didn't know this, but thankfully I harassed (in a loving way!) my DH a month before DD was due so he was covered in time!

[~ Mylitta ~]

At present I'm a non-vaccinater for a few reasons, but if I were your friend and you asked me to either get the booster or not see the baby, I wouldn't take offence. I almost died getting the WC vaccine so I would decline the booster, but I would respect your decision and your stance. Of course I would be sad that I didn't get to visit your newborn, but I wouldn't be offended.

One important thing to remember though is that one of the main strains of WC going around at the moment is not protected by the vaccine. So vaccinated people are just as likely to get it as non-vaccinated people. My two step sons (and possibly my DH) got whooping cough about a year ago. All three are "fully" vaccinated. My son and I were the only two in the house not to get it, and we are the only two not vaccinated against it.

[*TripleJ*]

i would respect ur decision its ur baby

[zilly]

Isn't the whooping cough booster the same as if you got the tetanus booster? (usually it has diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough all rolled into one).

[willow5]

One important thing to remember though is that one of the main strains of WC going around at the moment is not protected by the vaccine. So vaccinated people are just as likely to get it as non-vaccinated people. My two step sons (and possibly my DH) got whooping cough about a year ago. All three are "fully" vaccinated. My son and I were the only two in the house not to get it, and we are the only two not vaccinated against it.

This is very important to remember! Also no vaccine is 100%. So even if everyone you know is fully vaxed, if they are sick, you still need to be careful. You shouldn't be visiting a new baby when you're unwell vaxed or not. Have you looked into how WC is contracted? It's also not as easy to pick up as just one cough. You need to spend a good few hours with someone who has WC to contract it. So you don't need to worry about your bubba catching it from a passer by at the shops or anything like that. So just don't be lulled into a false sense of security that if someone is vaxed that they are100% protected. Play it safe and I would ask anyone who is sick to stay away from bub. Un-vaccinated people visiting my baby would not be an issue to me, unless they were sick. The same way that I wouldn't want a fully vaccinated person who was sick visiting.

It is your baby so you have the right to do whatever you think is best for your baby! If someone objects, bad luck for them.

[BellyBelly]

As per above posts re effectiveness even if you're vaxed but I think its better to say you're worried about whooping cough at the moment and ask if they are up to date with it, rather then tell them they have to get it if they want to see the baby. Telling people to get something which may or may not have health risks or may or may not work.... its something that will effect their body. Its like a husband telling his wife to have a c/s, they need to make the choice about whats being done to them rather than be told, if you know what I mean? Just my two cents.

[RockinSAHD]

Its like a husband telling his wife to have a c/s

That's an awful thing to say.

The things we have to do to keep our children safe from disease are quite amazing.

[fromscratch]

Thanks for all your thoughts.
I was worried this would turn into a anti or pro vaccination thing and I am thrilled it hasn't. Phew! It's simply whats right for our family thing and I appreciate your input greatly. I don't want to ruffle too many feathers. I'm not a feather ruffler really I'm a sit on it an stewer so your input has been great for me.
Some terrific points have been raised. Thank you.
I am aware that the current strain of WC in our area is not the strain covered under vaccination dash it.
Kelly I am only taking that stance with one person whom I shal not name and really cause I know she will refuse to stay away till bubs is fully vacc even if she herself is sick. Darn relatives can't pick em.
Zilly I have no idea, good question for the GP I think.
Mylita thats awful. Pleased your ok now.

[Jennifer13]

I think you'd be better off asking anyone who is not well, or whose kids are not well, to stay away, rather than their vax status. Mostly because being vaxed does not mean you can't catch it, it just limits the chances, and secondly, as someone else said, you're more likely to get it in the general community who you can't screen. My new baby will be less than a month old when DD1 goes back to school next year - I can't not take DD1 to school and I can't possibly check that every child and parent who is at school has had their vax! I can't also leave the new baby at home by herself, or somehow organise to have DP drop DD1 off until she's six months old. So I have to limit exposure - I'll be wearing her in a sling and I won't be handing her around. And I'll ask that no one with any symptoms of illness visit us (plus, we're having her at home, so we have more control over who comes and who doesn't).

But DP and I haven't had booster shots for years and we are vax-ers. My DD has had all of hers. I am currently pg, so I couldn't even go and get a booster, even if I wanted to, to come and visit you. I'm pretty sure in my recent blood tests I still have immunity for WC, since I do for everything else, but I'm not 100% sure. So would I be one of those ppl you exclude?

I don't think it's as simple as who's had a booster and who hasn't. I just don't want you to have to fight with everyone and then find you're not as well protected as you thought anyway. No offence intended!

I'll be sticking with the "don't come near us if you have an illness". And that's seeing anyone in our household, not just the baby!

[NaeNae]

Mayaness - agreed especially on the imprinting!!

Jennifer13 - slings are a great way to ward off unwanted touching etc when you are out!!