http://billingsgazette.co...=hottopics

This is what happens when you don't get your children vaccinated. The other two diseases associated with this vaccine (DPT--diphtheria, pertussis, typhoid) are really, really nasty diseases with high mortality rates. So, if whooping cough comes back, are we going to see a return of the other two? I hope not.

I wonder if old folks like me should get a pertussis booster. Remind me to ask my health care provider on Monday.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-dtap.pdf yes here is the website. Please get it either at public health, your providers office or Albertsons

They rarely administer the DTP anymore; it is now DTaP with acellular Pertussis. It was designed to reduce severe vaccine reactions and give better immunity. My children are vaccine exempt, through VAIRS/VAERS.( they changed the name after our enrollment) I believe people should be free to make informed choices for their individual families, however, there comes a great responsibility with such freedoms that I see ignored by many of my non-vax peers.

My oldest son, who was fully vaccinated, but immuno-compromised, contracted Pertussis, and my daughter, who was in the reporting system after her first shot, got it also. It was a horrible illness that lasted months and required around-the-clock care. My daughter's care was considered mild, but my son was very sick.

I find that not vaccinating is almost trendy now, and without the research of fifteen years ago when I made the decision to delay vaccination.

If it has been a while, Amorette, I would go ask for a booster.

I just got my booster last week!

I am about the same age as you, Amorette. Last year when I started traveling back and forth to California for cancer care, they were having a whooping cough out break. I checked into it, and yes, found out I needed a booster after all these years. I went to County Health.

The immunization series given to children is for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, not typhoid. Adults previously vaccinated should have a Td booster every 10 years unless injured, then the interval is 5 years. This booster does not contain pertussis. Check with your healthcare provider for information about the necessity for a booster for pertussis.

Right. Tetanus. I knew that. Typhoid went away with improved sanitation. I was just doing Stardust recently and there had been a typhoid outbreak that caused several deaths.

Tetanus, however, is also a MUCHO nasty disease. Shudder.

If your children have medical reasons for NOT getting a vaccine, fine. I get annoyed with the autism idiots and the I don't have to because everybody else will idiots. I remember mumps, measles and rubella. I know about diphtheria, polio, typhoid, cholera, and any number of diseases we don't worry about any more but maybe should.

I'm going to schedule boosters on Monday. I get tetanus regularly. This time, I'll have them throw in some pertussis. And shingles. Need to get a shingles vaccination, too.

My son had pertussis at 4 months old. He had had one dose of vaccine already. He was one sick baby. My pediatrician kept telling me it was bronchitis. He would cough til his lips turned blue. My mom and grandma kept telling me it was whooping cough! Guess they knew what they were talking about. He ended up with pneumonia. About every 45 minutes around the clock I had to suction his throat with a bulb syringe. Had to tip his mattress up etc. Finally for his 6 months checkup I took him to a pediatrician in Miles City and was told he had pertussis. I was told that I had helped him make it through the worst of it. It took about 4 months for him to get over it. We were really lucky that he never had any severe complications from it. Therefore, I am a firm believer in vaccinations. Adults also need boosters. They used to think that once you had pertussis or the vaccination, you were immune for life but they have found out that is not so, so there are several adults that are getting whooping cough and just think it is a bad cough and spreading it to kids that aren't immunized or other adults.

Before anyone jumps on Amorette for her comments on vaccines/autism, they need to follow this link to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

http://jama.ama-assn.org/...es&x=0&y=0

We still get Typhoid shots in the military - especially before traveling to other parts of the world. It hasn't completely gone away.

Typhoid, malaria, tuberculosis, cholera, dengue fever. . . there are lots of diseases in places where sanitation is still a major issue and medical care is lacking. I LOVE modern medicine. Don't like the %#$@# insurance companies but love living in a era when whooping cough is rare and we haven't had a smallpox outbreak in quite a while.

Tetanus shots now contain pertussis. So if you get a tetanus booster it will contain the pertussis.

No one wants Shingles....I got a whopper of a case when I was 60 1/2 years old -- about 2 years ago. My doctor did not think I needed the vaccine. He was wrong. Anyone who is 60 really, really needs to look into this. It is a painful experience.

Just got an email from a friend in California. Turns out that awful bronchitis she had for the last several months was whooping cough. Since she has lupus (so there, Dr. House), it took her a long time to get over it. It was 'after the fact' tests that showed the culprit.

Calling the health nurse today!