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Parents of Kids With Infectious Diseases Applauds Recommendation for Pertussis Immunization

Posted on: Thursday, 30 June 2005, 15:00 CDT

VANCOUVER, Wash., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases (PKIDs) supports the pertussis immunization recommendations to help ensure that more people are immunized against pertussis, or whooping cough, a highly contagious disease. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended universal booster vaccination for adolescents 11-18 years old.

"As pertussis continues to spread across the United States, these recommendations will encourage protection for a larger population," said Trish Parnell, executive director of the national non-profit organization. "Broader immunization may decrease the impact of the disease in those infected and its transmission to infants and children."

The committee also discussed pertussis in adults and introduced potential strategies for vaccination in this population. PKIDs looks forward to further ACIP discussion and recommendations for pertussis vaccination in adults in the near future.

In January of this year, Chauntell Veit gave pertussis to her newborn son, Geoffrey. His coughing spells became so severe that one day he stopped breathing. Her symptoms were so bad that she couldn't take care of him or his two older brothers. Ultimately, Geoffrey was hospitalized and both he and Chauntell required months of recuperation before they were fully recovered. "I want people to understand how important it is to protect against pertussis starting in infancy and throughout life," said Mrs. Veit. "I would not want anyone to suffer from this disease or see their baby gasping for breath."

Pertussis immunity from early childhood vaccinations wears off, leaving adolescents and adults susceptible to the disease. Today, these age groups make up two-thirds of all cases. Adults and adolescents may suffer from a severe and prolonged cough, vomiting and complications, as well as disrupted home and school routines. While some have relatively minor symptoms, anyone with pertussis can spread the infection to others, particularly infants who are too young to have been fully immunized. Infants are at higher risk for severe illness, complications and death, and 90 percent of unvaccinated children living with someone with pertussis will contract pertussis.(i)

Pertussis is the only vaccine-preventable disease on the rise in the United States, with the number of cases escalating in recent years. Preliminary data from the U.S. CDC indicate that there were nearly 19,000 reported cases of pertussis in 2004, a 63 percent increase over 2003 and the highest number of case reports in four decades. Among adults aged 20 years and older, the number of reported cases of pertussis nearly doubled to 5,365 cases in 2004 from 2,854 cases in 2003.(ii)

About PKIDs

PKIDs (Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases) is a national non-profit organization that supports families touched by chronic, viral infectious diseases including hepatitis B and C and HIV/AIDS. It also educates the public about effective disease prevention through the use of immunizations, standard precautions, handwashing and other strategies. PKIDs provides information about infectious disease prevention through its Web site (http://www.pkids.org/ ) and toll-free phone, (877) 55-PKIDS. An infectious disease prevention workshop, designed for all ages, is available at http://www.pkids.org/idw.htm .

(i) Offit, P; Bell, L. Vaccines: What Every Parent Should Know; 3rd Ed., 2003; 35. (ii) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases. Pertussis Disease Information. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/incidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/pertussis_t.htm. Accessed April 8, 2005. Contact: Trish Parnell (360) 695-0293

Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases

CONTACT: Trish Parnell, +1-360-695-0293, for Parents of Kids withInfectious Diseases

Web site: http://www.pkids.org/http://www.pkids.org/idw.htm

Source: PRNewswire

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