Vaccine Refusals Fueled California's Whooping Cough Epidemic

[Ohio Joe]

When the whooping cough vaccine was invented in the 1940s, doctors thought they had finally licked the illness, which is especially dangerous for babies. But then it came roaring back.

In 2010, a whooping cough outbreak in California sickened 9,120 people, more than in any year since 1947. Ten infants died; babies are too young to be vaccinated.

Public health officials suspected that the increased numbers of parents who refused to vaccinate their children played a role, but they couldn't be sure.

Vaccine refusal was indeed a factor, researchers now say. They compared the location and number of whooping cough, or , cases in that outbreak with the personal belief exemptions filed by parents who chose not to vaccinate for reasons other than a child's health. (Some children with compromised immune systems aren't able to be vaccinated.)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/09/25/226147147/vaccine-refusals-fueled-californias-whooping-cough-epidemic

The war on science marches on... Good job anti-vax'ers

[Sheldon Cooper]

1. Are you sure babies can't be vaccinated?

My kids started with their DPT shots when they were two months old.(Diptheria, Pertussis (whooping cough) and Tetanus.) They received a series of them every two months for a year or so, IIRC. Although those first few shots wouldn't provide complete immunity, it should have given them some protection. This was 17-21 years ago though, so maybe things have changed. Either way, parents who don't vaccinate are stupid.

[dipsydoodle]

2. In the UK

kids had those shots late 1940's onwards - good 'ol NHS. That's somewhat more than 20 odd years ago. Not sure , on this subject , whether or not whooping cough should've been topped up or was effectively forever.

Currently starts at 2 months old in the UK. See note in this link :

Children are vaccinated against whooping cough with the 5-in-1 vaccine at two, three and four months of age, and again with the 4-in-1 pre-school booster before starting school at the age of about three years and four months.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Whooping-cough/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[ChoppinBroccoli]

3. That's What Happens When You Let Jenny McCarthy Do Your Thinking For You

We don't need none a that there book learnin'. We got JEEZUS power!!!

[LostOne4Ever]

4. Of all the various forms of anti-intellectual and anti-science movements

The anti-vaccination movement is the single most wreckless and FUCKING MORONIC one in history. Everyone of those parents who didn't give their children vaccinations should be SUED.