Vaccination against whooping cough

Synonyms in a broader sense

Medical: pertussis

English: pertussis

introduction

The whooping cough vaccination is recommended by the STIKO, the German vaccination commission, and is usually vaccinated as early as childhood.
Whooping cough vaccination in adulthood is also possible, especially women who want to become pregnant and who are not vaccinated should get vaccinated, as infection with whooping cough during pregnancy can be very dangerous for the child.
If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated against whooping cough, this can be done up to around the 8th month of pregnancy.

Read more on the topic: Vaccination during pregnancy

Usually vaccinations are given in early childhood with only a few months. The vaccine is usually given with a combination vaccination with tetanus and diphtheria so that the children do not have to be pricked too often. A combined vaccination with polio is also possible. The whooping cough component is a killed partial vaccine, this is better tolerated than the whole-germ vaccine and causes fewer side effects.

Children should be vaccinated three times in total, the first whooping cough vaccination is given at around two months of age and then again at 12 and 15 months of age.

The protection rate is then around 90%. The whooping cough vaccination will be refreshed at the age of 10 and 18 years. If you are not vaccinated and there are sick children around you, you should get the vaccination as soon as possible.

You might also be interested in the topic: Infantrix combination vaccine

Does a whoopee vaccination make sense?

The whooping cough vaccination makes sense, just like all other vaccinations recommended by the STIKO (permanent vaccination committee of the Robert Koch Institute). Vaccination prevents the spread of pathogens that can lead to death, especially in childhood. Vaccination is also advisable for adults because, if there is no immunization, they can be unwitting carriers of pathogens and can pass them on to children with inadequate immune protection. By avoiding the spread of pathogens, epidemics are prevented.

Illnesses that children survive can also cause consequential damage in children. Apart from vaccination reactions such as fever, reddening of the injection site and muscle pain, serious side effects such as allergic reactions after vaccinations have only rarely been observed. The vaccines have also been improved to the point that vaccine reactions are becoming rarer. It is therefore recommended to vaccinate every child after they have reached the age of two months according to the STIKO vaccination calendar. The pediatrician provides advice on vaccinations, and the vaccination calendar can of course also be viewed online.

You might also be interested in: Course of whooping cough

When should I be vaccinated against whooping cough?

It is recommended to vaccinate everyone against whooping cough. Become children after completion of the second month of life For the first time according to the STIKO (permanent vaccination committee of the Robert Koch Institute) vaccination calendar against Pertussis vaccinated by the pediatrician along with other infectious diseases. Then 3 more vaccinations take place after the 3rd month of life, the 4th month of life and the 11th to 14th month of life. Booster vaccinations are given between the ages of 5 and 6 and 9-17. Age. In adulthood will one-time booster vaccination administered. There should be at least 10 years between the vaccination and the last vaccination in childhood. If vaccinations are missed, they can be made up - even in adulthood. Due to the widespread vaccination in Germany, the disease occurs only rarely.

When is a refresher required?

The first booster of whooping cough vaccination takes place in children after successful basic vaccination (four vaccine doses at the age of 2-14 months) 5-6 years of age. The second booster vaccination takes place with 9-14 years of age, the last refreshment in childhood with 15-17 years of age. A last booster vaccination is required in adulthood, no earlier than 10 years after the last vaccination in childhood. Thereafter, lifelong protection should exist.

How often should whooping cough be vaccinated?

According to the STIKO (permanent vaccination committee of the Robert Koch Institute), the first vaccination should be given after the child is 2 months old. Then after the 3rd month, after the 4th month and after 11-14 months of life. Then the basic immunization is complete. This is followed by the booster vaccinations. These should be done for the first time between the ages of 5-6 and then between the ages of 9-14. Year of life and then again between the ages of 15 and 17 Age. In adulthood, a booster should be given again 10 years after the last booster vaccination. Thereafter, lifelong protection should exist.

Complications

As a side effect, everyone vaccination are available in approx. 30% of all cases one swelling and Redness at the puncture site. Usually the arm is vaccinated. A small lump can rarely form at the injection site; these symptoms usually subside within one to three days. In approx. 10% of all cases, patients complain about after vaccination flu-like Symptoms like Headache and body aches, such as fever and a general one malaise. Antipyretic drugs can be given to children, but this is usually not necessary. It can also cause mild stomach upset and diarrhea.

Allergic reactions are also possible, but very rare. The vaccination is usually well tolerated.

Would you like more information on the topic? Read: Side effects with vaccinations

Side effects

Every vaccination results in an immune reaction. This means that the immune system is activated and antibodies against the vaccine are produced. This is essential for the immunity achieved by the vaccine. Activation of the immune system can lead to so-called vaccination reactions. These include: reddening of the injection site, muscle pain at the injection site (often described as a feeling of sore muscles), and fever. These reactions usually occur within the first 72 hours after vaccination and are self-limiting. The vaccine reactions can last a few days, but they are neither contagious nor threatening.

You might also be interested in this topic: Vaccination side effects

Fever after a whooping cough shot

The fever after whooping cough vaccination is an expression of a Immune response on vaccination. If the fever rises rapidly, it can develop in children Febrile seizures come, but this is extremely rare and usually not threatening. The fever that may occur after vaccination can be treated symptomatically. Home remedies for a fever are cold calf compresses and a sufficient amount of water to drink. The fever can be medicated Paracetamol or Ibuprofen be lowered. It should be noted that the dosage of the medication depends on the weight of the child. You should therefore consult your pediatrician before administering this medication for the first time. Paracetamol is not approved for children under 3 kg, ibuprofen only from an age of over 3 months or from a weight of over 6 kg.

Can whooping cough occur despite vaccination?

As with any vaccination, there are also so-called whooping cough vaccinations "Vaccination failure". This is because some people do not make antibodies against the vaccine. In such cases, vaccination failure should always be considered in the case of a longer-lasting illness for which no explanation can be found, but which shows parts of the whooping cough symptoms. The patient should then be treated for whooping cough and the success of the therapy should be awaited. If the therapy works, there may be an infection with the whooping cough pathogen Bordatella pertussis getting closed.

Vaccination against whooping cough in adults

Vaccination against whooping cough in adults should be given at the Vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus unique in adulthood refreshed become. It should be ensured that the last childhood vaccination was at least 10 years ago. Unlike the vaccination against tetanus and diphtheria, the booster vaccination against whooping cough is only given once in adult life. The booster vaccination in adulthood ensures immunity to whooping cough of the vaccinated person and prevents the transmission of the disease to other people.

More information can be found here: Vaccination against diphtheria, Vaccination against tetanus

Vaccination against whooping cough before or during pregnancy

The vaccination against whooping cough (the causative agent is the bacterium Bordatella pertussis) during pregnancy can be done both before and during pregnancy. Since the vaccine is a Dead vaccine does not pose a threat to the fetus or embryo. In the case of a planned pregnancy, however, the vaccination status of the woman concerned should be checked by the family doctor before conception and, if necessary, updated.

The vaccination against whooping is particularly important for women who work a lot with children or are surrounded by them. These include, for example, kindergarten teachers, pediatric nurses or child minders. Failure to vaccinate can lead to an infection with the whooping cough virus (Bordatella pertussis) come. In adults, the infection is usually milder than in children and does not pose a major threat. The risk is that the infected adult will unknowingly pick up the pathogen Children transmitswho are not yet of vaccinable age (less than 2 months) or who do not yet have full vaccination protection. In children the disease is much more threatening than in adults and can be life-threatening for children, especially for babies.

Can I breastfeed after a whooping cough vaccination?

The whooping cough vaccine is a Dead vaccine. That is, the vaccine contains no active bacteria. The body forms antibodies against certain components of the bacterial shell. Breastfeeding is therefore safe. IgA antibodies are found in breast milk. These are antibodies against certain pathogens that give the breastfed child immunity without ever coming into contact with this pathogen. This ensures that newborns and infants who are not yet able to produce antibodies to the same extent as adults are protected from certain diseases.

Cost of vaccination against whooping cough

The whooping cough, too Pertussis called, is a serious disease. Whooping cough is transmitted via droplet infection. Since the course can be very bad, especially in children, and can even be fatal, the statutory health insurance pays for the vaccine against whooping cough in children and in adults. Vaccination will reduce the infection rate in the population and the number of infections will decrease. Vaccination protection not only protects the vaccinated but also the non-vaccinated people (children under 2 months, adults who are not able to be vaccinated).