Diptheria/Pertussis/Tetanus Vaccine Not Risk Free Nor Is It Effective

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E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER Vienna, Virginia www.nvic.org
BL Fisher Note:

In the 1980's, I recall Centers for Disease Control [CDC} officials claiming that the DPT vaccine never,ever caused brain inflammation and chronic neurological damage. New vaccine, same story.

Although real life clinical experience has now shown that the DPT vaccine caused more cases of acute brain inflammation and chronic neurological damage than does DTaP vaccine, the DTaP vaccine still can cause brain inflammation and chronic neurological damage in some individuals. DPT and DTaP share the same reaction symptoms and contraindications, in part because pertussis toxin is still present in DTaP although in a less biologically active form.

If the DTaP booster is mandated for universal use in teenagers, some of these teenagers will suffer brain inflammation and chronic neurological damage after receiving DTaP. However, apparently CDC officials will attempt to write off these unexplained events in previously healthy teenagers as "coincidental" to administration of DTaP vaccine.

www.suntimes.com/output/health/cst-nws-whoop12.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
July 12, 2004

New shot could go after whooping cough outbreak
BY JIM RITTER Health Reporter

A major drug company is seeking approval of a whooping cough booster vaccine designed to prevent the type of outbreak now hitting northern suburbs.

Children are supposed to get five whooping cough shots by age 6, but the vaccine wears off after five to 10 years.

As of last week, 107 whooping cough cases had been reported in northern Cook and Kane counties and southern Lake and McHenry counties.

The outbreak initially hit middle school kids, even though most had been vaccinated, and is spreading to family members. "We're seeing new cases every day," said Chuck Jennings of the Illinois Public Health Department.

The whooping cough vaccine is included in the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP) shot. The new booster, made by GlaxoSmithKline, would not require an additional shot. Rather, it would be combined with the tetanus-diphtheria booster and be given between ages 10 and 18. A spokeswoman declined to say how long the whooping cough booster would last, or how much it would cost.

Whooping cough is named for the whoops patients make while trying to breathe during violent coughing fits. Some people cough so hard they break their ribs or turn blue.

About 10,000 cases were reported last year, a 10-fold increase from 1976. Among diseases that can be prevented by vaccines, whooping cough is the only one that's increasing.

At least part of the increase might be from doctors doing a better job of diagnosing and reporting cases. It's also possible more whooping cough bacteria are circulating.

GlaxoSmithKline last week asked the Food and Drug Administration to approve its whooping cough booster.

The FDA generally takes 10 to 12 months to decide.

"It would be useful to have a booster available for adolescents and adults," Jennings said.

However, Barbara Loe Fisher of the National Vaccine Information Center cautioned that in rare cases, the DTaP vaccine has been linked to seizures and brain damage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said such reactions "are so rare it's hard to tell if they are caused by the vaccine."

THE DISEASE

Cause: Infection of respiratory tract by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. Coughing and sneezing spread the bacteria, which produce toxins that damage the lining of breathing passages.

Symptoms: Usually appear five to 10 days after exposure, but can take 21 days to develop. Begins like a common cold. After one to two weeks, cough becomes severe. Some patients experience persistent cough, rather than whooping-type cough. Can last 10 weeks or longer and be fatal in babies. Treatment: Antibiotics.

Vaccine: Included in DTaP shot given to children at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 months and between age 4 and 6. Illinois cases: 25 outbreaks in 18 counties last year, totaling 320 cases.

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