CA Pertussis outbreak

June 28, 2010

Hey all,

I have been absent for a while so excuse me if this has already been discussed a

bunch, but has the group been following this lastest pertussis outbreak in CA?

This seems like the usual fear campaign that is waged every few years. I have

been told that pertussis becomes highly contagious every 3-5 years, that it

moves in cycles.

Is this just another cycle peak? They are making it sound like the numbers are

slated to hit a 50 year high in CA and, of course, they are blaming it on the

parents that don't vaccinate.

I saw a comment on this board that someone's mom is flipping out about all the

immigrants bringing diseases in. I'm sure our LEGAL immigrants are well

vaccinated, but I'm sure she is referring to the illegals. THAT is my husbands

HUGE concern.

Are there any statistics that refute any of these claims. The article above

says that the role of vaccines is " unclear " in the outbreak, but then they

proceed to make it seem pretty darn CLEAR that it is the lack of vaccine

coverage that is the problem.

I thought pertussis had some of the highest vaccine coverage in the nation!!

This just seems like the same old story... " we have to vaccinate MORE people,

with MORE boosters, especially ADULTS, they are the problem, babies are

dying!!! "

Haven't we heard this before?

Thanks,

~Caroline

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