Do you want to see the wiggly little newborn? Important info inside for family and friends.

California just announced the whooping cough epidemic this week.*


There have been pockets of whooping cough in our area, but now it's grown into an official epidemic.  This makes my PSA a little easier.

On doctor's orders, we are not to let the baby be around anyone who has not been vaccinated for whooping cough/pertussis until he has his own immunity by 2.5 months, even if the person is currently symptom-free.  She also highly recommends the flu shot, but we're not gonna push that since it's not as life-threatening.

This is kind of a sticky situation, since our little shark baby is due Oct 10th and will be vulnerable through Thanksgiving and Christmas, the most social time of the year!  I'll be making the rounds sometime in August, asking everyone individually what their vaccination status/plan is so I can be better prepared for navigating the holidays.

How can you tell if you're up to date on the vaccination?  

If you've had the Tdap or anything with the word pertussis in it within the last 10 years, you're good to go!

If not, the Tdap is should be provided for free through insurance, or without insurance can be found more expensively at pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS (prices vary quite a bit between companies).  The vaccine takes 2 weeks to produce immunity. 

What if I'm anti-vaccine?

I realize this can be a very sensitive subject to people who can't or won't vaccinate.  The options recommended are that you can wait until after the holidays to meet the baby, or we can find other ways for you to see him.  Webcam, Facetime, video, or photos? 

 

The latest action shot.

What are your vaccination plans?  Can I add you to my list of 13 friends and family who are already vaccinated and planning to visit with the baby over the holidays? 



*I like having an actual link to point to, so it seems more legit and less like I'm just a bitchy bitch-face.