Whooping cough in Fairfax

[Anonymous]

I thought there was a vaccine for this? Pertussis?

Ten year old who goes to Gesher Jewish Day School caught it at summer camp.

[Anonymous]

The vaccine isn't very effective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The vaccine isn't very effective.

That isn't exactly true...what they've found is that the effectiveness of the vaccine wears off as people age. The current DTaP is about 80-90% effective in those that are fully vaccinated and have an immune system that responds correctly (i.e. Produces antibodies). The effectiveness does decrease over time, with the current estimate that 7 out of 10 people are protected.
Since the effectiveness decreases over time, this is why the health community recommends a booster vaccine for adults who will have significant contact time with infants.
If this is a children's camp, it's probably more likely that these kids were:
a) not vaccinated at all
b) not fully vaccinated/vaccinated on schedule (should have 5 doses by age 6)
c) those who became sick were high risk (asthma/respiratory issues/compromised immune system) or are part of the unlucky group that does not respond to the vaccine

[Anonymous]

I remember some kids getting this a few years ago and they were at the age or close to it when they would be due for a booster shot. I think my kids hot the boosters around 11-12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The vaccine isn't very effective.

That isn't exactly true...what they've found is that the effectiveness of the vaccine wears off as people age. The current DTaP is about 80-90% effective in those that are fully vaccinated and have an immune system that responds correctly (i.e. Produces antibodies). The effectiveness does decrease over time, with the current estimate that 7 out of 10 people are protected.
Since the effectiveness decreases over time, this is why the health community recommends a booster vaccine for adults who will have significant contact time with infants.
If this is a children's camp, it's probably more likely that these kids were:
a) not vaccinated at all
b) not fully vaccinated/vaccinated on schedule (should have 5 doses by age 6)
c) those who became sick were high risk (asthma/respiratory issues/compromised immune system) or are part of the unlucky group that does not respond to the vaccine

My kid was in that camp; one girl in her bunk got whooping cough....the kids who got it were vaccinated, from what I understand. There were 500 kids at the camp. I am not sure who the initial patient was, but with an 80% effective vaccine, some will get it if it comes into camp.

I have been coughing for the last week....

[Anonymous]

My ds and I have been having coughing fits for about 2 months. We've both been to the doc, but were never tested for pertussis.

He had a booster 2 years ago and I had one 3 years ago.

In Va, a booster is required before entering 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

What is the name of the "Pennsylvania science camp?"

[Anonymous]

WTOP reports it was Capital Camps in Waynesboro, PA

[Anonymous]

Oh crap. I've been coughing all week.

[Anonymous]

When I was in college, we had an outbreak of the whooper - it was before boosters about 16 yrs ago - anyway the cough was no joke. I ended up having walking pneumonia not whooping cough but got quarantined bc I'd been exposed and had been coughing like crazy. Anyway my friend who got it coughed so badly that she cracked her ribs

[Anonymous]

Do adults need booster shots too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do adults need booster shots too?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the name of the "Pennsylvania science camp?"

It is not a science camp.

[Anonymous]

CBS and NBC both said it was a science camp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CBS and NBC both said it was a science camp

Then CBS and NBC are wrong. It was a jewish sleep away camp