In today’s world, it’s astonishing that some parents still opt not to vaccinate their children against preventable diseases. One mother is bravely sharing distressing images of her baby suffering from whooping cough to remind everyone that vaccinating isn’t just a personal choice; it affects the entire community.
Jessica Lee from Ottawa, Canada, recently posted a poignant message on Facebook about the critical importance of herd immunity. She emphasizes that when parents decide against vaccinating for non-medical reasons, they’re not only jeopardizing their own children but also those around them.
“I hesitated to share this, but I think it’s essential for people to see the reality of not vaccinating,” Jessica writes. “My 6-week-old daughter, Mia, has been in the pediatric ICU since she was 6 weeks old (she’s now 10 weeks) battling whooping cough. She was on a ventilator for three weeks, and though she’s one of the luckier ones, others have endured months on a ventilator. We’re now facing at least two more months in the hospital.”
Mia was too young to receive her whooping cough vaccine—infants typically don’t get it until they are two months old in Canada, similar to the U.S. Jessica shares, “She has to relearn how to eat, and she’s experiencing severe withdrawals from the morphine and sedatives she was given while on the ventilator. It’s heartbreaking to watch your baby go through this.”
These images are tough to view, but they serve as a crucial reminder that vaccinations are a public health issue. There are individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to their age or health conditions. By immunizing ourselves and our children, we contribute to herd immunity, which protects those who are vulnerable.
Protecting Newborns Through Maternal Vaccination
For expectant mothers, there is a way to safeguard newborns against whooping cough prior to their vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that pregnant women receive the whooping cough vaccine (Tdap) during the third trimester of each pregnancy. This helps generate protective antibodies that will be passed on to the baby, offering them short-term protection from the disease. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated between the 27th and 36th week of pregnancy to maximize this protection.
Jessica concludes her heartfelt post with a plea: “Please vaccinate your kids. It’s unjust that my little girl is in the pediatric ICU, struggling to breathe from a disease that should not be a threat in this day and age.”
For more information about pregnancy, check out this excellent resource from the World Health Organization. And if you’re looking to explore other options for starting a family, consider checking out this insightful post about home insemination kits.
In summary, Jessica’s powerful message serves as a vital reminder of the importance of vaccinations not only for the health of our children but for everyone in our community. By protecting our own kids, we’re also safeguarding those who are unable to be vaccinated.