Pertusis Vaccine

Pertusis vaccine is normally given as a combination vaccine with Diphtheria and tetanus vaccine. Pertusis is a serious disease that causes severe reactions in children and mild reactions in adults. It is caused by a micro organism called Bordella pertusis. It is also known as whooping cough. The disease affects the respiratory organs. It is highly contagious and dangerous. Yet it is a vaccine preventable disease. The vaccine is given as an intra muscular or sub cutaneous shot in the child’s arm or leg.

The vaccine should be started at child’s 2 months of age. It should be given as .4 cc as 3 separate doses. The second dose is given at child’s 4′Th month and the third in 6′TH month. The boosters are advised to give at child’s 18 months. Pertusis vaccine contains killed Bordella pertusis. The vaccine proved to very effective in preventing children. Although it is a vaccine preventable disease, it is not fully eradicated from the world. So adults are also recommended now to use the vaccine.

The combination vaccine DTP is proved to be safe and effective. There will be no side effects after receiving the vaccination. Mild fever, rash and soreness in the injection site are common. It will not last long. Recently high school students in London are vaccinated with Pertusis vaccine. As the disease is contagious, it will spread quickly. The treatment requires number of days in hospitalization. It may also cause brain damage and death.

The disease will not produce any symptoms in the initial stage. It will resemble common cold only. The best way to prevent them is vaccinating in the childhood itself. The combination vaccine in childhood id DTap and the booster for adults is TDap. Children who have mild or severe fever and cold must not be vaccinated with pertusis vaccine until the fever is cured completely. If any child has severe allergic reaction after receiving first dose should not receive the second dose.

Health workers and those who had close contacts with infants are recommended to get pertusis vaccine as a booster. Infectious diseases like whooping cough are common all over the world. Since it affects small kids more, the vaccine is made mandatory in most countries.

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