California: Whooping cough outbreak closes school

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Whooping cough outbreak closes school

Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer

A private school in El Sobrante is closed today because of
an outbreak of whooping cough, authorities said.

Classes will not be in session today at the East Bay Waldorf
School at 3800 Clark Road because a number of kindergartners
and their teachers have come down with the contagious lung
infection, authorities said.

In a letter to parents that was posted at the K-12 school,
administrator Morgan Cleveland wrote, "You should be aware
that because this is considered a significant outbreak,
there is likely to be media attention."

Contra Costa County health officials were at the school on
Thursday and made the decision to shut the campus. A scheduled
"Morning in the Kindergarten" that had been scheduled for
Saturday has been canceled.

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Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/09/BAN310JQVL.DTL&tsp=1

An effective vaccine has been around for years.

As both a parent, and an RN myself, it infuriates me that parents can refuse having their children immunized for "religious reasons" - yet still be allowed to send those kids off to public school.

No shots = No school. Period.

in El Sobrante

No shots = No school. Period.

wow

and what about the diseases that don't have vaccines?

should we not educate the children who have those?

:wtf:

that was very bad wording on my part, I apologize for that, and am in no way advocating forced immunization or anything like that. Parents have the choice and the freedom to do as they wish when it comes to the raising of their children - but, when those parental beliefs are going to risk the health of those children, *along* with the health of the general public as well - then, requirements need to be in place.

Well, I will. Seems to me it's the same as withholding treatment, which amounts to child neglect.

AND endangers the public health.

Unfortunately, the only way to enforce such a mandate is through the public schools.

I'd also fund programs to make vaccine freely available through the public schools and require the corporate media to run PSA's to educate the public about the dangers of disease and the benefits of vaccination.

Sometimes, the vaccine "doesn't take". Bt if most of
the population is properly vaccinated, then it won't
matter because you won't have a chance to be exposed
to the virus.

But if he population is full of Typhoid Mary imitators
who are spreading around the virus, then if you're one
of the unlucky vaccinated-but-unprotected individuals,
you can still come down with the disease.

The willfully unvaccinated should be treated like the
pariahs that they are.

Tesha

I'm also an RN so we can throw credentials at one another. Honestly, I agree with the vaccinations just not the universal one size fits all (and that size is getting bigger by the year). My son had some bad reactions to the vaccines and he ended up with super titers so he didn't need the boosters and he didn't get them. Your edict would keep him out of school, whereas my more individualized plan would not.

I've had whooping cough and I don't envy those folks for sure. Pertussis is one that I think we should vaccinate against. Now, Chickenpox, otoh, is one I'm not on board with.

The thing is, when politics and capitalism get mixed up with public health, it isn't always public health that wins.

"throwing my credentials" around - I mentioned my profession so people reading my posts about immunizations would know that I'm a healthcare professional.

I wasn't talking about someone like your son that has an individualized plan - I was talking about parents whose plan is NO plan.

I'm curious as to why you're not on board w/the chickenpox vaccine?

Vaccine we were told would be lifetime isn't. Lots of people with the disease for some time because doctors didn't recognize/consider it when it presented. Took them a few years to figure it out. Meanwhile, it spread a lot.

The affected kids were probably not vaccinated
against pertussis.

Tesha

but healthcare professionals and I would think, teachers, should have a Tdap vaccine every 5 years (Tdap is for adults/teens to protect against tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis). It's not lifelong immunity.

Edit - I should have said that ALL people should have the 5 year booster - but *especially* healthcare workers, teachers, daycare providers, etc, which is why I'm surprised that the teacher contracted it. Perhaps the virus has mutated... wouldn't surprise me.

to the virus in the first place. That's why it's so
important that a large percentage of the population
be vaccinated and that we recognize anti-vaccination
hysteria for what it is: a crime committed against
society as a whole.

Tesha

And the vaccine wears off MUCH sooner than doctors thought. Doesn't seem to last same time for all too. Lots of Pertussis around these days, has been noticed for 5 years or better, but the word STILL isn't getting out about the need for booster shots.

While I have a son who had untoward reactions to some vaccines, I'm not antivaccine. I take a flu shot every year and got a TdaP this year. I work with premature babies and don't need to be passing on stuff to them. If we ended up with a safe rotovirus and a safe RSV vaccine, I would take them both to protect the premies.

The cough was so horrible for him that he lost thirty pounds in the 6 weeks he was struggling with it.

and there is no earthly excuse for this.

These idiot parents are going to learn all over again that the "usual childhood diseases" are DANGEROUS, which is why vaccines were developed.

It isn't and some doctors still haven't addressed that fact. One wonders how many cases went undiagnosed in all the decades since the 30s because it never occurred to doctors that was what they were looking at. They thought it was taken care of.

to take the small pox vaccine because of imagined terrorist threats-we had a national shortage of DpT that was so bad only newborns could get the series or those folks in the ER that needed a tetanus shot could get the vaccines. I raised holy hell about and sent letters to Congress over this because one of my teenager's couldn't get the shot...he actually came down with whooping cough and gave it to his infant niece. The Doc's didn't recognize it at first but her grandmother (a Nurse) did. This was totally unnecessary. Congress allotting millions of dollars for small pox, but we couldn't get vaccines for kids to complete the DpT and Tetanus series. We were lucky we didn't have an outbreak.

I actually think I may have had whooping cough myself just prior to the shortage (looking back-I had the symptoms but they weren't picked up on. Luckily all the kids around me WERE vaccinated at the time).

I too believe in vaccination-the benefits out weigh the costs and these same folks that want exemptions are the first to scream bloody murder if they can't get the vaccine in an outbreak (yeah, I experienced that too-colour me cynical).

We rely on herd immunity. if you vaccinate enough folks in the neighborhood, even those few that aren't have a bit of protection because those around them can't get it (me having it but all the kids around me having shots and not taking it home to their brothers and sisters.

I was a nurse at the time and it was never really offered to us.

Those of us who had been vaccinated as children said we'd probably turn it down when we talked among ourselves.

However, the discussions were short lived and the program never materialized, even as a voluntary thing through employee health. They spent millions, but apparently didn't spend it on either producing or distributing the vaccine.

I thought it was all but wiped out.

Seems the vaccine is not life long in effect. This has been on the rise for several years now.

If it's the latter, we're looking at a while before a new vaccine is made.

busy making money writing stupid articles about how bad vaccines are while ignoring how much worse the diseases were and scaring foolish parents out of giving their kids lifesaving preventive treatment.

Note that this is a private school, so that the parents could duck the vaccination requirements at public schools.

The vaccine is still effective but the immunity wears off after a few years. Kids and adults both need periodic boosters, something they're finding out about adults only now that antivaxers have managed to create another disease reservoir.

I had pertussis 17 years ago. I was sick for eight months. Get the booster.

Most thought it did not need boosters. Doctors missed that too. The disease HAS been around all the while, we just didn't usually get as sick when we would get it as older kids or adults.

Turns out, many kids between 5 and 10, and many more in teens have had a lapse in immunity when parents thought they were covered. Seems it varies with individuals.

In the meantime, LOTS of doctors all over the nation missed the diagnosis and the disease probably mutated besides.

Nature finds a way. Viruses are tricky and we often have too much faith in Big Pharma promises. I'm all for vaccines, but also for full disclosure, which we didn't really get on this one.

Look out; you almost said the 'E' word. Next year is the sesquicentennial of Darwin's first publication of The Origin of Species.

as they race off to look over and buy expensive bulls for the sole purpose of improving their herds! They mix plants and make hybrids that do better, they BREED specific characteristics into their cattle, sheep, AND DOGS, but they don't believe in evolution.

Guess it's OK that they don't believe in what they do every damn day, but it sure puzzles me that they can't connect the dots.

and just like the funny noise under your car's hood, it goes away while you're seeing the doctor, and returns 10 minutes after you leave. When you're not having an attack, you can seem basically OK.

So easily preventable but the stupid parents did not vaccinate.

The vaccine does not give lifetime immunity, though most think it does. Even doctors were unaware and so the disease got a foot hold as it went unrecognized.

But that was not like I planned it, just got a full spectrum of shots because I was going to Vietnam.

Kids have to get these shots unless the stupid parents opt out.

We do need to recogize that these things do wear out.

and stupid viruses DO mutate

Glad you got your shots. Seems way too many adults (and doctors) think they are kids-stuff.

no doubt from some unvaccinated kid who got sick and then while home sick, mom decided to haul him to the vet along with kitty. That's also how I got exposed to Fifth Disease, which probably did permanent minor heart damage to me.

Parents, PLEASE don't take your sick-at-home kids to the vet unnecessarily. If kitty needs her shots and kid is home sick, RESCHEDULE the cat. PLEASE.

We didn't know (most of us) that boosters were necessary.

the Tdap - which is for tetanus/diptheria/pertussis. The CDC recommends a booster once every five years; tetanus is good for 10 years, but getting one every five years in the Tdap is ok.


Note: there are different letter-case/combinations for the different vaccines (DTP, DTaP and Tdap); the Tdap has less of the diptheria and pertussis toxoid (hence, the low-case letters D and P), and this is the usual vacc for adolescents and adults.

I read your question as "when" adults should get a booster... no, there's a plain tetanus toxoid vaccine available, and they are good for 10 years (supposedly). That's the one you'd get in an ER if you went in for a cut, for example. But all adults need the diptheria/pertussis booster every five years.

why that kid gave it to me. I assume it was pertussis - WORST cough I've ever had, and I've had some. Hung on forever, lol.

Parents, no ifs ands or buts, vaccinate your kids. Those who don't are causing a lot of harm. Adults in general, consider getting re-vaccinated. This thing literally hangs on for months and is miserable.

I got my vaccination redone too I have seen little children with pertussis and it is one scary disease

Most people don't really know alot about immunity and vaccines. Vaccines are not some surefire solution to illness. The best way to protect your health against the MILLIONS of pathogens on the planet is to protect your immune system. The main ingredient to do this is organic fruits and vegetables and stress management. It is becoming increasingly obvious that childhood illnesses have a purpose and often prevent more serious diseases like cancer, down the road. Pediatricians don't check to see if a vaccine has "taken", which I find irresponsible, if they truly believe in vaccine usage. A new study showed this week that children in daycare have much lower cancer incidence because their immune systems are regularly challenged and offer better protection against this deadly disease. Our deficient food as well as fluoridated water is greatly weakening our ability to have a robust immune system, and we will increasingly see people more sick. Our immune systems are our license to live on this diverse planet and we should be vigorously protecting it. Our family has eaten organic and used whole food vitamins(not the synthetic vitamins they use in all the bogus studies) and we haven't had ANY SICKNESS in many years.

"Pediatricians don't check to see if a vaccine has "taken", which I find irresponsible, if they truly believe in vaccine usage."

How would one test this? Inject a kid with tetanus to test if the shot has "Taken"?

tb tests are one case where a vaccine is checked to see if it is still in effect. If they cannot test for this, it really is just a crapshoot whether a child has produced enough antibodies to mount an attack on a pathogen. This just shows how inexact this "science" really is. Why not discuss my immune system info? Drugs and vaccines are not the path to good health. The human race has developed over thousands of years without the drugs that are now available. It should be obviuos by now that PREVENTION should be the goal of health policy. Fluoride is a metabolic poison and it is unbelievable that our government promotes this practice when Europe stopped it over ten years ago because of the scientific evidence that it harms human health. It is no accident that Americans are experiencing poor health compared to the Europeans.

Ever heard of a Rubella titre??

Indeed, if they were truly concerned about only an 80-90% rate of protection with vaccine preventable diseases, they would test the children a few months after their final boosters to see if they have an acceptable rate of protection.
But THAT would take too much $$$ and extra work. Easier to just schedule more boosters once it becomes apparent immunity wears off and/or hope for that herd immunity.
Honestly, I hope it never comes to mandatory vaccines. So much for freedom. Education, cleanliness, less crowding and prompt, FREE medical help is every bit as important.

but not practical for a working family - it's expensive to eat organic food.

I used to think the same thing, but my food bills are LESS now because we don't eat out anymore. It really is expensive to eat out comapred to cooking at home. We eat about 75% of our food raw(fresh fruits and salads) so there isn't alot of prep time. I also have pots that I grow fresh lettuce and tomatoes and herbs. I don't have a yard, but it is so easy to grow these things and they taste great, very fresh of course. I think it's fun to teach children how to grow things and get them thinking about being personally responsible for their health. I think it is FAR more economical to eat high quality food than get sick. When a child is sick, usually one parent has to stop working to care for their child and THAT is EXPENSIVE. In the case of childhood cancer, it actually means quitting your job. Childhood cancer rates are increasing quite a bit, also teenage cancers are also way up. This is a direct result of poor nutrition and environmental factors.

As a child, I had mumps, german measles, measles, pneumonia, scarlet fever, ear infections, and chicken pox.

I don't know about whooping cough, perhaps I had it and it went undiagnosed. I do remember going through a period when I coughed and coughed this deep hoarse cough (I still have it when I get sick), it is a deep cough, weird for a kid and made my entire body vibrate. I had this when I was a little kid and I remember it taking a long time to get rid of.


And in general, I was considered a healthy kid.

As an adult, I almost never get sick. I did get the flu once. I generally don't get a flu shot. I think I would do better to get more exericse and eat a better diet--I'm working on it.

ETA: I also received all my childhood vaccinations.

Get you vaccine, or you can't attend any paid gathering of 5 or more kids (daycare, private school, public school, etc.) The only out is due to a health reason, and it must be signed off on by the county health department physician.

We suck in a lot of public health measures, but have the highest vaccination rate in the country.