| Our household has many family and friends come through our door. Last month we had an unwelcome visitor. Pertussis/whooping cough got through what I thought was a safe and secure home. My Grandbaby June and I ended up with whooping cough. How does this happen? This along with other “childhood” diseases was something I thought was in our past. |
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| I had what I thought was an allergy or a cold. My cough worsened and I went to the clinic. They listened to my chest and sent me home with cough syrup to help me sleep. A few days later I was able to go and see my primary care doctor. I received an antibiotic for a sinus infection and a new cough syrup. I asked about my vaccinations and found out Grandpa and I both needed the whooping cough vaccine. I wasn’t given it at that time because I was sick. I didn’t make the connection nor did I ask the health care providers if they thought I had whooping cough. |
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| Baby June started having a cough and one evening while I was holding her, those trusting eyes looked at me in fear as she couldn’t catch her breath. It wasn’t a long episode but I will never forget her little baby face looking at me, like “Grandma, fix it.” I mentioned to June’s mom I thought she had whooping cough. She took her to see the doctor and she was diagnosed with whooping cough. |
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| I went to see my doctor because I knew I only had the Td and not the Tdap vaccination. I was diagnosed with whooping cough, and was told it was overlooked because adults don’t always have wheezing or the same “sounds” as babies and children. It was determined June probably caught it from me. |
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| My family was blessed to catch this soon enough to get June the treatment that she needs and she will be fine. She is doing much better now. As I look into that innocent face tears still silently fall from this grandma’s eyes. I hope no one has to feel the frustration, sadness, or guilt of bringing such a horrible thing to their child or grandchild. |
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| The Immunization Action Coalition thanks Ramona Town Rae for sharing her personal story and images; Thomas Weiser, MD, MPH, and Joe Law of the Portland Area Indian Health Service; and Amy Groom, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Health Advisor/Indian Health Service Immunization Program Manager. |
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| For more information, please visit the
Indian Health Services' pertussis page. |
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| Published 6/18/12 |
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| Disclaimer: The Immunization
Action Coalition (IAC) publishes
personal testimonies for the purpose
of making them available for our
readers' review.
Please note that information in the
testimonies may be outdated and may
not reflect the current immunization
schedule or recommendations. |
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