New blog post - Extra jabs for whooping cough

[Guest guest]

http://avn.org.au/nocompulsoryvaccination/?p=931Extra jabs for whooping coughWhat articles like this seem to constantly ignore, is that all of these calls for more whooping cough vaccination are not based in scientific fact.FACT 1 – in 1991, no adults were vaccinated against whooping cough – only children were. We used a supposedly more effective vaccine at that time (the whole cell shot) and only just over 71% of Australia’s children – and none of our adults were vaccinated. We had only 318 cases reported for the country as a whole.FACT 2 – in 2009, we had over 95% of Australia’s children vaccinated and an unknown percentage of adults (remember, no adults were vaccinated previously because there was no adult vaccine to be had). in that year, we had just under 30,000 cases of whooping cough reported.FACT 3 – Even in the so-called pockets of low vaccination, the rate of those vaccinated against whooping cough has increased against the rates in 1991 when our rate of disease was so low. So blaming those who don’t vaccinate is not borne out by the facts in this case.FACT 4 – Increasing the vaccination rate has not been effective at reducing the incidence of this disease – not here in Australia – and not overseas where other countries like the US and the Netherlands which have very high levels of vaccination are seeing the same record high numbers of cases.But never try to use facts to discuss vaccination. Those who want to ensure that everyone gets their shots consider facts to be inconvenient. Luckily, the media is more than willing to allow reporting on these issues without the inclusion of anything that can possibly pass for a FACT.Should you choose to vaccinate, that decision should be based on scientific fact and not on misleading, fear-based propaganda posing as new stories.CASES of whooping cough have increased fivefold in since 2008, causing authorities to extend vaccinations for the life-threatening disease.About 5500 cases of the highly contagious throat infection, also known as pertussis, have been diagnosed so far this year.The figure has caused concern within the n Department of Health, as it compares to under 3000 cases last year and just over 1000 in 2008.A spokesman said there has been a “sustained increase over the past 18 months in the eastern states”. The increase has led the department to extend its new parent vaccination program.The free vaccine protects parents, who are the main cause of whooping cough infection in babies.The vaccine, called Boostrix, also provides protection against diphtheria and tetanus, and is available until June 30, next year.

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