Prof. Andrey Chorbanov: The whooping cough vaccine is not for adults. It carries a risk of severe side effects – Focus

Prof. Dr. Andrey Chorbanov

Photo: BTA

One reason for the breakthrough in immunization coverage is the new trends in vaccine development and creation—the pressure to make them absolutely harmless and absolutely effective. The more harmless a vaccine is, the less immunogenic and less active it is.

This was explained to the BNR by the immunologist Prof. Dr. Andrey Chorbanov, MP from ITN. He worked on a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine early in his professional career.

The bacterium that enters the body in whooping cough begins to multiply and makes a large biomass in the respiratory tract. Babies are the most affected and vulnerable, because whooping cough mostly kills small babies, mainly from suffocation, Chorbanov pointed out.

“It’s only at a later stage that it starts releasing the pertussis toxin.”

The immunologist called the thesis on the immunization of pregnant women “free essays”.

In the program “Horizon do Obed” Prof. Chorbanov explained that in the past the vaccine against whooping cough was developed first with a whole bacterial cell firstand then based on pertussis toxin and cell components.

Mass immunization against whooping cough in our country began in the 1960s, only 1-2 years after the introduction of the vaccine in the West. Bulgaria has exceptional experience in the production of vaccines, especially bacterial vaccines, the specialist pointed out.

The causes of whooping cough in our country there are more than those concerning the vaccine itself, noted Prof. Chorbanov.

“I at least show a hundred families who refuse to vaccinate their children,” he said and added that this vaccine is one of the most tested, the most tested, the most proven over the years. The immunologist called the parents to observe the immunization calendarbecause “there are no improvisations in standard immunizations“.

Experience shows that such epidemics are local and cannot cover many peopleemphasized the specialist.

“Immunity does not increase. He is what he is. If you have a 1 liter bottle and you put it under the tap, no matter how much water you pour into it, it will hold 1 liter. People don’t need it unless they have a proven immune problem. In general, the population has no need. What should be done is caring for young babies“, commented Prof. Dr. Andrey Chorbanov.

“Parents bought everything at pharmacies, but this vaccine is not intended for the elderly and sometimes it can cause problems precisely because of the pertussis component,” warned the immunologist.

Using the standard diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine rather than the diphtheria-tetanus reimmunization, older people are at risk for very severe side effectsProf. Chorbanov explained.

Listen to the entire interview in the audio file.