A Warning...

I was reading an article today that got me thinking.  It was all about the death of a newborn, just a couple weeks old, from whooping cough.  Pertussis.  When I was young, three of our little ones got it and it was the most awful thing you ever heard in your life.  The constant coughing that turned into a huge whoop to try to catch their breath was terrible to hear.  But, I had no idea that they could have died from it.  Thankfully, they were older than the baby I read about and lived through it.  But I will never forget the sounds.  I don't think they even recall it as anything more than they were sick.

It was what made me make sure that MY kids were vaccinated against anything that was available.  They got all their shots plus the polio vaccines.  I didn't want to hear MY kids suffering from whooping cough or anything else that could be prevented.  

However, I didn't know that the vaccines only last about 10 years or so.  Even adults that have had the vaccine are no longer immune and are also able to carry the virus and pass it along with just one breath.  I now understand why they have the one advertisement about how even the mothers of babies can give the pertussis virus to their most precious little one.  I have decided to discuss this with my doctor since the Princess is pregnant and *I* don't want to think about ME being someone that might pass that on to a little one.
 
  Hell, I don't even want to think about the possibility that there might be a lot of unvaccinated kids at Chewlee's school.  One breath is all it takes if someone is carrying the virus.  It could create a terrible crisis in an area like ours where we have a lot of farms that use migrant workers during the summer.  Those workers often stay on and their children attend our schools.   Somehow, I can only pray that those children were vaccinated.  There is supposed to be proof provided in order for them to attend school but who knows?  How can you be sure?  Did they get ALL the shots?  

I pray you never hear a child or even an adult that is suffering from pertussis.  Children die from it.  Adults with compromised immune systems die from it.  Get a booster from your doctor.  Don't take chances that you don't need to take.  We get flu and pneumonia shots.  Add the pertussis one to your list.  You only need to take the booster once in 10 years.  That's not a tough one.

Love you all.  Take care of yourselves and those you love.  Make sure your hugs don't pass along more than your love.  **Wink**