U.S. Whooping Cough outbreak worst in 70 years

[kimmy]

Where is this outbreak?

You might guess this would be in some poverty-stricken area where people may not have access to the same healthcare infrastructure that others do.

Or maybe you'd guess that it's in some area with a high immigrant population, where maybe people didn't receive vaccinations or perhaps even brought diseases with them.

Or perhaps you might guess it's the adherents of some fundamentalist church, like the recent Abbotsford measles outbreak.

But all of those guesses would be wrong. The whooping cough outbreak is in affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Whether it’s measles or pertussis, the local children statistically at the greatest risk for infection aren’t, as one might imagine, the least privileged — far from it. An examination by The Hollywood Reporter of immunization records submitted to the state by educational facilities suggests that wealthy Westside kids — particularly those attending exclusive, entertainment-industry-favored child care centers, preschools and kindergartens — are far more likely to get sick (and potentially infect their siblings and playmates) than other kids in L.A. The reason is at once painfully simple and utterly complex: More parents in this demographic are choosing not to vaccinate their children as medical experts advise. They express their noncompliance by submitting a form known as a personal belief exemption (PBE) instead of paperwork documenting a completed shot schedule.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/los-angeles-vaccination-rates/

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/10/29/map-shows-california-has-become-hotbed-for-whooping-cough-measles-group-blames-anti-vaxxers-vaccine-council-of-foreign-relations-california-department-of-public-health/

And the problem isn't poverty or lack of resources. It's stupidity. The blame lies with parents who get their science information from Facebook instead of from school, and their medical advice from Jenny McCarthy and Alicia Silverstone instead of their doctors. Thanks to Jenny and Alicia and Rob Schneider and other celebrity idiots, the young and gullible and stupid are now under the belief that vaccines will make your baby autistic, and that you can prevent your baby from getting sick by feeding him organic miso soup. As a result...

The region stretching from Malibu south to Marina del Rey and inland as far as La Cienega Boulevard (and including Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills) averaged a 9.1 percent PBE level among preschoolers for the 2013-14 school year — a 26 percent jump from two years earlier. By comparison, L.A. County at large measured 2.2 percent in that period. Many preschools in this area spiked far higher, including Kabbalah Children’s Academy in Beverly Hills (57 percent) and the Waldorf Early Childhood Center in Santa Monica (68 percent). According to World Health Organization data, such numbers are in line with immunization rates in developing countries like Chad and South Sudan.

Smack an anti-vaxxer upside the head today.

-k

[Argus]

We have the same issue in Canada. I have no tolerance for dumb people. As far as I'm concerned vaccinations should be mandatory without exception. You have a religious problem with vaccinations? Tough. You're a conspiracy nutjob who believes in Jenny Mccarthy? Too bad. All children should be vaccinated. Period. End of story.

[bush_cheney2004]

Sorry Canadians...Americans don't have to get vaccinated. It's a constitution thang.

Hell, I don't even think Canadians have to get vaccinated....damn vaxxers !

[WIP]

Sorry Canadians...Americans don't have to get vaccinated. It's a constitution thang.

And that's another amendment you would be smart to add to the Constitution!

[WIP]

As noted on the flu shot thread, there's a difference between how serious and lethal diseases should be dealt with, and ones like the flu virus, which is a minor inconvenience to the majority of people, and most only need to take precautions if they are going to be in close contact with people who are at-risk of serious illness from the flu.

But, when it comes to these kinds of diseases, parents shouldn't have an easy option to opt out of vaccinating their children, unless they can show the child will be at risk by the vaccine.....and I don't count any stupid thing that Jenny McCarthy has said in the last 10 years to qualify as evidence!

When the anti-vaccination campaign started up some years ago, there were a lot of medical experts warning that a lot diseases we no longer have to deal with....would be back with a vengeance, and this is one more example. Epidemiologists refer to the phenomena as Herd Immunity...where enough people have had the vaccination, so the odd antivaxxer can legitimately claim that 'I don't vaccinate my children and they're perfectly healthy.'

Well, now we are reaching a point in some communities, where there are enough fanatic fundamentalists or antivaxxers to break down the protection of herd immunity, and prevent the disease from coming back and spreading. This is extremely dangerous in the U.S., where so many people don't have adequate access to healthcare. Just through claims of religious exemption and over-emphasis on personal rights, the entire community is put in danger, when the disease could be eliminated at such a low cost, compared to most other medical expenses.

[bush_cheney2004]

....Well, now we are reaching a point in some communities, where there are enough fanatic fundamentalists or antivaxxers to break down the protection of herd immunity, and prevent the disease from coming back and spreading. This is extremely dangerous in the U.S., where so many people don't have adequate access to healthcare. Just through claims of religious exemption and over-emphasis on personal rights, the entire community is put in danger, when the disease could be eliminated at such a low cost, compared to most other medical expenses.

Yes...a pity...yet Canada, unlike the U.S., doesn't even have a federal program to compensate victims and families when vaccinations cause permanent disability and/or death. Access to a wait list is not access to health care.

Edited January 2, 2015 by bush_cheney2004

[bush_cheney2004]

Now...the rest of the story on higher incidents of pertussis in the U.S. Turns out that the newer pertussis vaccine may not be as effective, contributing to more cases:

The Newer Vaccine Doesn't Last as Long

Before 1997, the whooping cough vaccine used in the U.S. was a type known as a "whole cell" vaccine. It used all parts of the bacteria that causes whooping cough, explains Litjen Tan, PhD, chief strategy officer of the Immunization Action Coalition.

The vaccine was effective, but it had side effects, including sore arms, crying, fussiness, anxiety, and occasional seizures.

The newer vaccine, known as an "acellular" vaccine, only contains parts of the whooping cough bacteria. It has fewer side effects than the old version, Tan says.

At first, "the data showed that acellular worked as well as whole cell," Tan says. "But as time went on, immunity just started waning in children who got the acellular vaccine."

In other words, the new vaccine doesn't seem to protect people as long as the old one. And as the protection of the vaccine wears off, the number of whooping cough cases may rise.

http://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/features/whooping-cough-rising-despite-new-vaccine

Edited January 2, 2015 by bush_cheney2004

[WestCoastRunner]

And the problem isn't poverty or lack of resources. It's stupidity. The blame lies with parents who get their science information from Facebook instead of from school, and their medical advice from Jenny McCarthy and Alicia Silverstone instead of their doctors. Thanks to Jenny and Alicia and Rob Schneider and other celebrity idiots, the young and gullible and stupid are now under the belief that vaccines will make your baby autistic, and that you can prevent your baby from getting sick by feeding him organic miso soup. As a result...

-k

It's not only celebrities. It can be tied back to religion as well. Here in BC, the Fraser Valley (bible thumping territory) had a high outbreak of measles because of the lack of immunizations.

[ReeferMadness]

Where is this outbreak?

You might guess this would be in some poverty-stricken area where people may not have access to the same healthcare infrastructure that others do.

Or maybe you'd guess that it's in some area with a high immigrant population, where maybe people didn't receive vaccinations or perhaps even brought diseases with them.

Or perhaps you might guess it's the adherents of some fundamentalist church, like the recent Abbotsford measles outbreak.

But all of those guesses would be wrong. The whooping cough outbreak is in affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/los-angeles-vaccination-rates/

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/10/29/map-shows-california-has-become-hotbed-for-whooping-cough-measles-group-blames-anti-vaxxers-vaccine-council-of-foreign-relations-california-department-of-public-health/

And the problem isn't poverty or lack of resources. It's stupidity. The blame lies with parents who get their science information from Facebook instead of from school, and their medical advice from Jenny McCarthy and Alicia Silverstone instead of their doctors. Thanks to Jenny and Alicia and Rob Schneider and other celebrity idiots, the young and gullible and stupid are now under the belief that vaccines will make your baby autistic, and that you can prevent your baby from getting sick by feeding him organic miso soup. As a result...

Smack an anti-vaxxer upside the head today.

-k

The anti-vaxxers come out of the same school of thought as climate change deniers. These days, if you don't like what the experts are telling you, you can always find a doctor or a scientist who will tell you what you want to hear. Truth is now a consumer choice.

Welcome to the internet age.

[bush_cheney2004]

I'll bet all those Thalidimide babies wished their parents had access to internet wackos.

Thalidomide became available in "sample tablet form" in Canada in late 1959. It was licensed for prescription use on April 1, 1961. Although thalidomide was withdrawn from the West German and United Kingdom markets by December 2, 1961, it remained legally available in Canada until March 2, 1962, a full three months later. Incredulously thalidomide was still available in some Canadian pharmacies until mid-May 1962.

[ReeferMadness]

It's not only celebrities. It can be tied back to religion as well. Here in BC, the Fraser Valley (bible thumping territory) had a high outbreak of measles because of the lack of immunizations.

It isn't just religion, either. There is an entire sub-culture that has essentially immunized itself to scientific knowledge. They'll believe what they want to believe and they'll find an expert to validate whatever that is. I know several people who don't believe in "conventional medicine" and their minds are made up. You can't argue with them. The second child's allergies showed up around the time that she was immunized so the third child got no immunizations.

In fairness, the medical industry hasn't done itself any favours. Many doctors are little more than pill pushers. Overuse of antibiotics has been ridiculous. Many treatments are toxic, ineffective or have side effects worse than the original ailment.

[TimG]

It isn't just religion, either. There is an entire sub-culture that has essentially immunized itself to scientific knowledge. They'll believe what they want to believe and they'll find an expert to validate whatever that is.

It is more than a subculture. I would say that the vast majority of people are prone to irrational fears when it comes to things they don't understand. We see from fear of vaccines, nuclear, fracking, to non-organic foods. All fears that have some scientific basis yet adherents grossly exaggerate the risks and cling tightly to the "experts" that validate their views and ignore all others (usually by claiming the others are mouthpieces for some "evil" corporation). Edited January 3, 2015 by TimG

[kimmy]

It's not only celebrities. It can be tied back to religion as well. Here in BC, the Fraser Valley (bible thumping territory) had a high outbreak of measles because of the lack of immunizations.

Yeah, and I specifically mentioned the Abbotsford measles outbreak earlier in the thread.

Call it "the bigotry of low expectations", I guess. I don't expect much from religious kooks, be they Saudi-educated Muslims, or Hasidic Jews, or the Abbotsford branch of the Dutch Reformed Church of Latter-Day Snake Handlers or whichever the hell those guys were. They're beyond hope. Tards gonna tard. There's no hope for them.

But I expected better from young educated people. If you've got access to the best education we can provide and all the scientific knowledge mankind has produced, and you've got the power of the internet to provide access to unlimited information, and you use all of these incredible resources to make Jenny McCarthy and Rob Schneider and the frickin "Food Babe" into your personal medical gurus, then you're a pathetic person and you deserve shame and derision and a swift kick in the crotch.

-k

[Shady]

What's going on with mumps too? The NHL is getting hit hard by that.

[Wilber]

Now...the rest of the story on higher incidents of pertussis in the U.S. Turns out that the newer pertussis vaccine may not be as effective, contributing to more cases:

The Newer Vaccine Doesn't Last as Long

Before 1997, the whooping cough vaccine used in the U.S. was a type known as a "whole cell" vaccine. It used all parts of the bacteria that causes whooping cough, explains Litjen Tan, PhD, chief strategy officer of the Immunization Action Coalition.

The vaccine was effective, but it had side effects, including sore arms, crying, fussiness, anxiety, and occasional seizures.

That still doesn't explain the outbreak being more severe in demographics that are more wealthy and privileged.

The newer vaccine, known as an "acellular" vaccine, only contains parts of the whooping cough bacteria. It has fewer side effects than the old version, Tan says.

At first, "the data showed that acellular worked as well as whole cell," Tan says. "But as time went on, immunity just started waning in children who got the acellular vaccine."

In other words, the new vaccine doesn't seem to protect people as long as the old one. And as the protection of the vaccine wears off, the number of whooping cough cases may rise.

http://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/features/whooping-cough-rising-despite-new-vaccine

That doesn't explain the outbrake being more severe in demographics that are more wealthy and privileged.

Edited January 3, 2015 by Wilber

[Michael Hardner]

I'll bet all those Thalidimide babies wished their parents had access to internet wackos.

You've got it wrong, it wasn't internet wackos that would have saved the Canadians but the good old FDA:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide

I'm surprised you chose that angle vs. your tried-and-true Canadian chauvinism angle.

[GostHacked]

Whooping cough vaccine is not working as expected.

http://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/features/whooping-cough-rising-despite-new-vaccine

More than 48,000 Americans had whooping cough in 2012 -- a 50-year high. The disease, also known as pertussis, brings on fits of coughing that can last for weeks in adults and older kids. For babies, especially very young ones, the symptoms can be life-threatening.

What's behind the increase in whooping cough? Experts aren't sure, but they have some theories:

The newer pertussis vaccine does not protect against disease for as long as the previous version.

Parents who don't let their kids get vaccines may be creating more opportunities for whooping cough outbreaks.

Even vaccinated people may still be carriers and spread whooping cough without realizing it.

The Newer Vaccine Doesn't Last as Long

Before 1997, the whooping cough vaccine used in the U.S. was a type known as a "whole cell" vaccine. It used all parts of the bacteria that causes whooping cough, explains Litjen Tan, PhD, chief strategy officer of the Immunization Action Coalition.

The vaccine was effective, but it had side effects, including sore arms, crying, fussiness, anxiety, and occasional seizures.

Over 87% who got the whooping cough vaccine were vaccinated.

[kimmy]

That the vaccine isn't 100% effective makes herd immunity even more important.

-k

[TimG]

But I expected better from young educated people. If you've got access to the best education we can provide and all the scientific knowledge mankind has produced

Your focus is too narrow because you think people are particularly idiotic when it comes to this issue but if you compare it to other issues from non-organic food to nuclear to fracking you will see that the same irrational fear of "technology/science" drives the thinking of many people - even the educated ones that should know better. Edited January 3, 2015 by TimG

[GostHacked]

That the vaccine isn't 100% effective makes herd immunity even more important.

-k

It's not even 20% effective. If the herd is vaccinated but it does not work, there is no immunity.

[kimmy]

It's not even 20% effective. If the herd is vaccinated but it does not work, there is no immunity.

That's all nonsense.

-k

[bush_cheney2004]

You've got it wrong, it wasn't internet wackos that would have saved the Canadians but the good old FDA:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide

I'm surprised you chose that angle vs. your tried-and-true Canadian chauvinism angle.

I don't understand....the FDA's jurisdiction is the United States, not Canada. We just let Canadians work there.

[bush_cheney2004]

That's all nonsense.

Agreed...it is nonsense to expect herd immunity when the current pertussis vaccine is not as effective as before. It is stupid to blame "anti-vaxxers" when the actual vaccine sucks.

[Argus]

It's not even 20% effective. If the herd is vaccinated but it does not work, there is no immunity.

Since the childhood whooping cough vaccine (called DTaP) has been used since the 1990s and almost every child gets it, we have study results on long-term protection. In general, DTaP vaccines are effective for 8 or 9 out of 10 children who receive them. Among children who get all 5 doses of DTaP vaccine on schedule, effectiveness is very high within the year following the 5^th dose — nearly all children (98 out of 100) are fully protected. There is a modest decrease in effectiveness in each following year. About 7 out of 10 of children are fully protected 5 years after getting their last dose of DTaP vaccine and the other 3 are protected against serious disease.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/pregnant/whooping-cough/vacc-effectiveness.html

[Argus]

It is stupid to blame "anti-vaxxers" when the actual vaccine sucks.

No, it's entirely reasonable to blame stupid anti vaxxers. The vaccine itself is fine.