It is too much to declare a whooping cough epidemic because none of the criteria have been met. The reason we are in this situation is that the new vaccine is not bad, with less side effects, but it is short-lived – for 4-5 years.
This was commented by Assoc. Dr. Atanas Mangarov, specialist in infectious diseases and pediatrician, at BNR.
“A significant disadvantage is that it cannot create group immunity because it does not give immunity to the mucous membranes. Vaccinated people get slightly sick, but they infect others. This vaccine was introduced in 2007-2010. The old vaccine is difficult to return. The only country in the EU that kept its cell vaccine for whooping cough is Poland, and the state provides it from the new one,” commented Assoc. Mangerov.
He shared that he currently has four children in the hospital, but three have unproven whooping cough. Since the beginning of March, there are 25-30 children with whooping cough.
“This is a dangerous disease for newborns, infants and up to 2 years of age. There is nothing human-like about whooping cough, there is no fever, just a cough and the attacks can last up to 10 minutes. They often end with a sudden prolonged gasping for breath with a specific sound like a whooping sound. In young children, it can cause respiratory arrest and hemorrhage in the brain. Coughing attacks increase intracranial pressure. And a child who coughs and has high lymphocytes, he most likely has whooping cough,” explained Assoc. Mangerov.
And he added:
“Pregnant women will now be vaccinated, and these antibodies in them will to some extent hinder the effect of the vaccine. In my opinion, it is best not to make hasty changes. For the time being, newborns should be isolated from large social contacts until they become vaccinated , not to collect the whole family when writing”.
Assoc. Mangerov commented that pregnant women, if they want to be vaccinated, can do so, “it is safe, but it is even better when they plan to become pregnant, to be vaccinated beforehand”.
“The antibodies remain and are transferred to the baby,” the doctor is emphatic.
Herd immunity will be created when whooping cough passes through the entire population, said Assoc. Mangerov.
