Back over the spring I heard from a friend of a friend of a friend (I think) about their friend, Natalie Norton who recently lost her baby to pertussis, aka whooping cough.
(You can read her story here. Make sure you bring your box of tissues. And check out her photography, too. I wish I lived in Hawaii.)
And I thought to myself at the time that I needed to get the adult vaccine to protect against pertussis.
Did you know that as an adult, your vaccine "wears off"? And that 80% of infants with pertussis contacted it from a family member.
I would do it next time I go to the doctor. I didn't go the doctor again until September. And of course, I forgot. Bummer.So, my so called sinus infection got worse and worse. I'll spare you the details, but the coughing fits weren't very fun. On Monday, my chest and rib cage started hurting. That afternoon the boys brought home a letter from the school saying that there was a confirmed case of pertussis at the school. I called the doctor right away. I knew.
It sucks. I feel like crap. I wish I had gotten that vaccine sooner. I did get it, though, yesterday. I feel like I cracked a rib. My neck muscles feel strained. I feel awful that I've exposed so many people to it. Especially my own children. And my friends children. Blah.
For any of my local friends, several cases have been confirmed in our area.
Get your vaccine! The Health Department wants me to tell you that the vaccine is FREE. No excuses.
Manassas Office9301 Lee Avenue Manassas, VA 20110 Phone: 703-792-6300 | Immunization Clinic Hours Monday: 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Friday: 8 - 10:30 a.m. |
Moms, Dads, day-care workers, photographers, teachers, babysitters, teens, college kids, anyone who has contact with infants, any one who comes in contact with any one who has an infant, I'm talking to you! Get vaccinated.
7 comments to remember:
Ugh, I was following Natalie's blog as her son got sick and I remember sobbing when I read the post on the day he passed away. Her blog is inspiring and utterly heartbreaking. And yet, I still haven't gotten my vaccine. Time to set up my appt ASAP! Great posting Andrea.
Thank you for educating people about the dangers of pertussis! I'm supposed to give birth in 3 weeks, and my single greatest fear about having a winter baby is whooping cough. Seriously, I'm terrified. I doubt I'll be able to let anyone hold her!
Wow I had no idea. Thank you for educating me/ us.
Ryder had his 2-day check-up today so I asked the doctor about vaccinations. Turns out my kids already were vaccinated, and I had just been given the right one in the hospital! So you can cross us off of your "worry" list. Thanks for giving us the scoop so that I knew to ask!
Grandma Kunz
I really enjoyed seeing your blog again,as I have missed it. Your super hero costumes were fantastic. I agree on getting the pertussis shot, I got it last year along with a booster of tetnus and diptheria. It's good to get a booster of all three. I got it because I am around grandkids and didnot want to risk either getting or giving it to one another. Keep up the blogging I love it.
Thank you for posting this. I know you posted on FB too! Such a good way to help awareness. Such a sad story on Natalie's blog. Prayers to their family!
Brandon's very paranoid about whooping cough. He had it as a two year old and has a nasty emergency tracheotomy scar to prove it...and a long stay in the hospital as a toddler.
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