Keri Russell signs on to be spokesperson for new baby health campaign
Keri Russell has signed up to become the spokesperson for the Silence the Sounds of Pertussis campaign -which is being launched today by the nonprofit organization Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases (PKIDs).
Pertussis, also knowns as whooping cough because of the “whoop” sound made when gasping for breath after a severe coughing attack, is a very contagious disease that is especially dangerous for young babies who have not been full immunized (which doesn’t usually happen until around 18 months of age). Coughing can last for weeks and can be so severe that it is hard for babies to eat, drink or breathe. In recent years, more than half of babies infected with pertussis werehospitalized, and 90% of pertussis-associated deaths have been amongbabies less than six month old.
Recent research has shown that more than 50% of infant cases of pertussis originated with one, or both, of the infant’s parents. Because Keri wants to make sure her 4 month old son, River Russell Deary, can’t contract the disease unknowingly from her or her husband Shane Deary (whooping cough often presents itself like a cold in adults), she and her husband got vaccinated with the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) booster. She now wants to encourage all other new parents to do the same.
As a new mom, Keri was moved to help PKIDs because she doesn’t want to put her son at risk and said,
Like any parent, I would do anything to protect my baby, and that is why I followed my pediatrician’s recommendation to get the pertussis vaccine myself. I am very excited to be working with PKIDs to spread the word and help other parents learn how to best protect their babies from this deadly but preventable disease.
Dr. Gary Freed, Director of the Division of General Pediatrics atUniversity of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor and the chair of theNational Vaccine Advisory Committee, said,
Because immunity from early childhood vaccination decreases over time, adults and teens can become infected with pertussis repeatedly and transmit the disease unknowingly. A parent, grandparent or babysitter suffering from what seems like a cold can actually have pertussis and spread the disease to an infant.
Information about “Silence the Sounds of Pertussis” as well as educational materials about preventing and managing pertussis are available on PKIDs’ website at www.pkids.org. Click here to hear what the cough sounds like.
Will you ask your pediatrician about the vaccine for the adults in your family and caregivers?
- Posted on Oct 16, 07 at 9:15AM
- Permalink
- 16 Comments
October 16th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
I think pertussis is a really scary disease because babies really can end up “whooping” themselves to death in their parent’s arms.
A lot of doctors say that since we’re vaccinated against it, it doesn’t happen, and I’m glad there’s an awareness campaign now. Many doctors won’t diagnose it in adults because they don’t want to admit it still happens and that it’s on the rise, but watching the CDC’s morbidity and mortality reports shows a increasing trend. If you have a cough for more than two weeks you should ask for a pertussis culture.
I personally chose the DTaP for my kiddos because I think pertussis and tetanus are scary (see above).
But I do think it’s important to understand there are limits to the vaccine. As you can see by this campaign immunity will wear off.
And my pediatrician told me the pertussis component of the vaccine won’t always prevent a baby from getting it – but will lessen the severity of it.
I think it’s important to take complete responsibility for your baby’s safety. Evaluate the vaccine and ALSO take care of your baby and yourself when sick. Don’t take your baby around sick people! Keep your children home when they are sick and try not to be around sick people at work! That’s how pertussis gets spread – people going to work and school and out in public with it. I think it’s a public health issue to realize vaccination is important, but so it limiting your young baby’s exposure to disease.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
No, I will not get vaccinated against pertussis. I have already contracted it as an adult (since my vaccinations have worn off) so I pass on immunity to it through my breastmilk. Since I breastfeed my children until they are three years old, they are immune to it that entire time.
I feel the same way about chicken pox and measles. I take full responsibility for my children’s health and have researched all the vaccinations and the dangers of the “cure” are often much scarier than those of the disease. So many young girls have died from the new HPV/cervical cancer vaccine, for example. I understand that Keri is scared, but she would do more for her baby’s health (and her own) to breastfeed him for an extended time.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
“So many young girls have died from the new HPV/cervical cancer vaccine, for example.”
Sources, please? I happen to be one of these “young girls” who received the HPV/cervical cancer vaccinations with no problems whatsoever and have now signifigantly lowered my chances of contracting a highly widespread sexually transmitted disease and cancer when I am older. I’d say the procedure went fairly well for me.
Honestly, I have zero tolerance for parents who choose not to vaccinate their children. Vaccinations are not for trivial little colds or coughs; they have virtually eliminated some of the most infectious illnesses in the world, such as whooping cough. By not vaccinating their children, parents assume that everyone else will do their part and could become responsible for bringing these deadly diseases back. I’ve actually read comments from parents saying that they don’t care about their unvaccinated kids coming into contact with other children because their kids are the only ones they care about. That has to be one of the most disgustingly self-centered statements I’ve ever heard. These “medical mommies” with zero training or experience in medicine who think they are smarter than their doctors need to check themselves, imo.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Lauren, you sound like you are a young girl and I hope you do the research on vaccines before you become a mother so you can make an informed decision. Check out http://www.nvic.org/ for starters. It’s a national website on vaccines that gives alot of facts about vaccines. I think vaccines have their place but they aren’t for everyone. Especially tiny babies who’s immune systems are so fragile. As for getting rid of disease, if you search online there are charts showing the decline of these diseases over time. They were already on a steady decline and had decreased by more than 90% in some cases BEFORE vaccines were ever introduced. (This is because as humans our hygiene levels and nutrition had increased.) Believe me, I used to think the same way as you do, but after having a baby and doing the research, I think her life is not worth risking by GIVING her vaccines now. Not by not giving them to her. If nothing else, try to increase your tolerance level by realizing many mothers and fathers choose to refuse vaccines, or delay or selectively vax, BECAUSE they love their child and have done the research and don’t blindly do what the government recommends. (Although, don’t get me wrong. Many parents research and decide to vaccinate. Which is fine. I just think everyone has the right to an informed COMPLETE picture before making such an important decision.) I’ve had 3 friends who babies were hurt by vaccines. (Fatally in one case.) And there are many more out there.
October 16th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
I was curious so I did a google search and found a myriad of articles about the new Gardasil vaccine. So far, there have been 3 deaths documented and at least 1600 cases of serious adverse side effects such as Guillain-Barre Syndrome. I’m naturally a skeptic of new vaccines and medicines because I’ve personally seen the negative effects they can have. My nephew received a meningitis vaccination a few years ago (around the age of 2) and couldn’t walk for 2 weeks! The doctors weren’t sure if he was going to end up permanently paralyzed. Needless to say, it was a very scary time but fortunately he recovered.
Recently my father was put on a new cholesterol medication (one which there are many TV commercials for here in the U.S.). Unfortunately my dad has now suffered some permanent nerve damage because of it and has difficulty walking for long periods of time. He was immediately taken off the drug. Sure enough, after my mom did some research, she found out that there have been many cases of people on this medication ending up with symptoms of Lou Gehrig’s Disease!!!
I am grateful for science and the wonderful advances that have been made. I will definitely have my children vaccinated some day; HOWEVER, I will not be one of those people who just jumps on the bandwagon of whatever the new, “trendy” drug or vaccine is. I have a degree in science and have studied enough to know that some of these things are not tested long-term. The bottom line is that companies want to make money, and they don’t really care about your well being. I won’t subject myself or my future children to something of which I’m not certain of the possible long-term consequences.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
I will not be getting the booster shot. My children have received DTaP vaccinations though on a delayed schedule due to some medical problems. Despite the vaccine my son, a 29wk preemie, came down with Pertusis when he was 5mos old. It was awful but he was never hospitalized. I know it could have been much worse. I also realize that the DTaP vaccine is far from 100% effective. I do think vaccines can be a blessing. They help prevent some pretty awful illness, however they do have their faults and I respect every parent’s personal decision about vaccinating. They are not without risks of their own.
October 17th, 2007 at 12:50 am
I support and believe in vaccines. I think me it’s sad that there have been so many stories made up about the HPV vaccine. If you don’t want to get it yourself..fine but don’t tell someone else not to get it..they may have a higher risk of getting cervical cancer than you do and this shot could potentially save their life.It seems to me that people are going on not valid research to go against vaccines.It bothers me when I see people discouraging people from getting a vaccine just cause they don’t support it.I believe in doing everything I can to make sure that my family and I will be healthy and if that involves shot..so be it.It wouldn’t shock me if people who are anti-vaccines cause such things as polio to come back full force
October 17th, 2007 at 4:29 am
Also the vaccines for infants contain thermosil another word for mercury that in it’s self would keep me away!Would you poision your child?
I also had whooping cough as a child and no side affects from the illness itself but there are a myriad from vaccines!
Like autisism and a vast array of learnig disabilties!Read up and be informed please we are talking about small little helpless bodies here!
October 17th, 2007 at 8:47 am
All of my children were fully vaccinated against pertussis. But when my son was 4 years old- he developed a horrible cough (resistant to all medicines prescribed or over the counter). I had taken him to the pediatrician several times to be evaluated and they insisted there was nothing wrong with him- because he wasn’t coughing in their office (which is typical, I found out later, of pertussis)- we just needed to make sure there was moisture in the air in our home. I had read about pertussis early on in his illness and I had mentioned it to his doctors who shrugged it off. Eventually- and 12 weeks later- I gained the sympathetic ear of one of the doctors who agreed to order a pertussis test. Sure enough it came back positive. He admitted that in their practice, they were seeing a sudden rise in pertussis cases in children that had been previously vaccinated. My son had suffered through 12 weeks of pain,fevers, exhaustion, uncontrollable fits of coughing, choking, gasping(and subsequently vomiting). Despite what the DTAP pamphlet said about the rare possibility of contracting whooping cough after vaccination- and if contracted it would be a much milder version-ours was a full blown case and I believe that my son’s experience with pertussis led to the development of many other chronic upper respiratory ailments- which we eventually resorted to controlling with complimentary medicine under the care of a fully certified homeopath.
Our experience with pertussis happened four years ago and our pediatricians were still practicing under the belief that once vaccinated- children were always protected. Soon after our son was diagnosed- we were hearing more news from the media that children would need boosters when they reached the middle school years because the vaccines over time lost their effectiveness.
I just think that it needs to be known that even if fully vaccinated, there is still a chance of contracting the disease and it isn’t always a mild, easily managed case. Ours was a horrible drawn out experience.
October 17th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Shelly, Shelly, Shelly! Did you really have to go THERE with blaming AUTISM on vaccines? Come on now! Do you have children? How about children with autism? I do, on both counts, and have investigated (yes, as a MEDICAL PRO.) these claims, and if you would have looked before you leaped, you would see that autism has not been blamed on or vaccines. The coincidental timing of certain vaccines and the “outing” of autistic tendencies is just that, coincidental! Its so sad when people are so un-educated about disorders such as autism. The day that they can fully “blame” autism on one thing or another than I will gladly recant my comment!
October 17th, 2007 at 10:54 am
“Also the vaccines for infants contain thermosil”
No they don’t, anymore. And it’s thimerosal. Unless you think that vaccinations contain a high density arc and heat resistant material used in fire barriers.
“I also had whooping cough as a child and no side affects from the illness itself”
Well, my brother suffered no permanent effects from falling down the stairs, so maybe I’ll just get rid of the baby gate in my house and leave the door to the basement stairs open.
” but there are a myriad from vaccines!
Like autisism and a vast array of learnig disabilties!”
What is “autisism”? Oh, you mean autism. The condition for which rates are still going up in a population that is seeing fewer vaccinations currently.
“Read up and be informed please”
You first.
October 17th, 2007 at 11:27 am
I applaud CBB for publishing these comments.
Lauren, I agree with PP. There have been deaths reported with the new Gardasil vax. Reviews of statistics have shown 5 deaths, 51 girls disabled, and 2,207 adverse reactions reported in all. These have been reported in teh US. In Australia 7 girls were hospitalized after a school campaign for the vaccine. Go ahead and Google it, as the PP said she did. You’re going to find it out there.
Your choice to receive the vax is your own – but you cannot criticize young women and their parents who choose to wait and research further before getting it. It is their choice.
You are also incorrect that vaccines have eliminated infectious diseases “such as whooping cough” – this campaign in fact proves what doctors denied – whooping cough is alive, well, and killing babies – even though the DTaP vaccine and its predecessor the DPT vaccine have been around for decades.
Some diseases such as polio have seen a big decline since the advent of public vaccination campaigns.
But it is naive to blindly say that mothers who choose not to vaccinate are “intolerable.” On the contrary, mothers who have chosen not to vaccinate, to delay vaccination, and/or selectively vaccinate their children have spent countless hours pouring over research, considering it for their children, and searching their own hearts for what they believe is the right answer.
October 17th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
But Kristen where are they getting the information? I want to see some valid proof that vaccines are bad since a majority of people are not having the issues that you and others claim.
October 17th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Thank you Sheila! Its about time some of us call out the crazy comments! Way to go!
October 17th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
ITA Shiela!
I’m all for staggering vaccinations or breaking up vaccinations into non-combos (I plan not to give my son the bundled MMR shot, but will get him each shot separately), but I think it is so important to vaccinate.
There was just a deadly mumps outbreak in Chicago last year. It’s pretty sad when science comes up with a cure for a deadly disease and then people decide to risk their children’s health anyway. If people stop vaccinating, then polio, mumps, whooping cough, and a host of other deadly diseases will kill our kids. The risk of death from these things will be MUCH higher than the risk of autism if a large portion of the population decides to to vaccinate.
How insane would it be for you to loose a child to the same disease that killed a sibling of one of your great-grandparents??
October 18th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
My son who is now eight contracted pertussis when he was 6wks old, just 2wks shy of getting his first set of shots. He was hospitalized for a week and it was the worst time of my life. The way he would cough and cough and cough and then stop breathing was the scariest thing ever. While he was in the hospital, there was another infant there also who died the same week from pertussis. It can cause severe respiratory issues (he has severe respiratory allergies year-round), and we just had an episode where he was on 2 different allergy medications, steriods and an inhaler (he doesn’t have asthma) and he still had to sleep in my bed to make sure he didn’t stop breathing. When a child contracts pertussis, everyone that they come in contact with also has to take antibiotics. You always wonder if holding off to put them in daycare or keeping people from being around them could have made a difference.