Pertussis, also known as whooping cough is a violent and highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Known for its uncontrollable cough and the characteristic “whooping” sound caused when those infected need to take deep breaths after a coughing fit, the best way to protect against it is by getting vaccinated. Pertussis can infect people of all ages but is most serious and even deadly for infants under a year old. There are two type of vaccines in the United States to protect against whooping cough: DTaP (administered to those under seven) and Tdap (for adolescences and adults). Both of these vaccines also provide protection against tetanus and diphtheria.
These current vaccines have been widely used since 2000 and target three specific antigens in the pertussis bacterium. They were widely effective in Australia until the epidemic that lasted from 2008 to 2012 where there were reportedly more than 140,000 cases. It was then that revealed the rise of evolving, vaccine resistant strains. Despite Australia’s high vaccination rates, the head researcher, Dr. Laurence Luu, has found that the strains are evolving to improve their survival regardless of whether a person was vaccinated or not by producing more nutrient-binding and transport proteins, and fewer immunogenic proteins which are not targeted by the vaccine.
The vaccine should work by exposing the body’s immune system to tiny amount of proteins found on the bacteria which allows for the formation of antibodies. Regardless of the new strains developing, it is still extremely important for everyone to be vaccinated if possible. This goes across the board so not just vaccinated for pertussis but all those recommended and available because having some kind of protection is better than having none at all. Currently, there is a large debate on whether or not religious exemption from vaccines should be allowed, and most states have determined that religious exemption is not a valid reason for not vaccinating children. I believe this is the right outcome given that by not vaccinating your children, you are not helping them out regarding their health in the long run and also putting those around in danger.
jill and micro 