Confused about jabs

[NAR4]

If the Whooping Cough jab, whilst pregnant, offers protection to the baby when it is borne, then why not give all the babies immunisations to the mother when she is pregnant?

Also I thought breastfeeding passed on the mothers immunities. Does this mean if the baby is exclusively breastfed then the mother doesn't need to have the Whooping Cough vaccine when pregnant?

I'm not being argumentative, I just don't get it. Have read the threads about the Whooping Cough jab, but they don't answer these questions.

Does anyone know?

Can't answer the specific medical/vaccination queries - but how can you predict or say with 100% certainty during pregnancy that you are going to be able to exclusively breastfeed - you can't, so that argument could never have any validity...

I don't know about the whooping cough vaccine, but I do know that when you BF, you pass on your immunities to the baby while you are breastfeeding. However later on, the baby is vulnerable again.

For example, if I have had measles then while still BFing, my baby SHOULD be relatively well protected from measles. However, later on the baby/child will once again be vulnerable. Make sense?

Also, regarding whooping cough: I have never had it, so I could not pass on immunity to my baby through my breast milk - as I've never been exposed to it so don't have any antibodies.

I am neither pro- nor anti-vacc so I don't have an agenda here, just trying to answer your question

The above should read: I have never had it and have not been vaccinated against it so I could not pass on immunity to my baby through my breast milk - as I've never been exposed to it so don't have any antibodies.

My doctor said it is not certain that everyone retains Whooping cough immunity in adulthood as it is most important for children to get immunity and it is not as dangerous for adults.
He also said that as well as passing on immunity to my baby, the vaccine also stops me catching it int he few weeks before birth and passing it on to my baby. Most infections with Whooping cough are in adults as they only test for it after patient has been coughing for more than three weeks. It is only contagious for first three weeks so by the time you find out you have got it you have been spreading it around to everyone!

Whopping cough is most dangerous to newborns and is currently spreading in the UK. There have been a few newborn deaths from it this year.

The rest you're baby is relatively unlikely to catch in their first few weeks. Its a risk thing. The more likely something is to be dangerous to the baby the more it becomes a good idea to offer preventative medicine.

The antibodies passed through the placenta won't last long and the baby will still need vaccinating against whooping cough at 2 months. However, as babies have died prior to the 2 month vaccination, it's hoped that the level of immunity passed on by the mother in pregnancy will offer some protection before the 2 month jabs.

If the Whooping Cough jab, whilst pregnant, offers protection to the baby when it is borne, then why not give all the babies immunisations to the mother when she is pregnant?
BECAUSE THERE IS A PARTICULAR RISK FROM WHOOPING COUGH AT THE MOMENT AND NEWBORNS HAVE DIED FROM IT. THE BABY IS LIKELY NOT TO ENCOUNTER OTHER OF THE ILLNESSES PRIOR TO VACCINATING.

Also I thought breastfeeding passed on the mothers immunities. Does this mean if the baby is exclusively breastfed then the mother doesn't need to have the Whooping Cough vaccine when pregnant?
NO - THE MOTHER MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH IMMUNITY, HENCE THE NEED FOR THE INJECTION. THE IMMUNITY PASSES PRIMARILY FROM THE PLACENTA AT BIRTH, BUT SOME IS ALSO PASSED THROUGH BREASTFEEDING.

From my point of view, as there are no general side effects from having the vaccine, I cant see why not have it even if you think you it could be passed on from you. With our precious babies, always better to be safe than sorry.

Because the immunity offered via placental transfer while pregnant is not complete and doesn't last very long. The effect wanes by about 6-8 weeks. Also pertussis immunity is not shown to last into adulthood very well so many many of us will be unprotected, even if we had whooping cough jab and/or whooping cough itself as a child.

Thanks everyone for the info about adults still having immunity and catching it themselves etc. I have already booked to have the vaccine, just wanted to know some of the thinking behind it.

www.wp.dh.gov.uk/transparency/files/2012/09/Pertussis-teleconference-minute-to-committee-v4.pdf

Point 10 explains why the decision to vaccinate pregnant women. It makes about as much sense to me as any other reason.