Nurses and pediatricians are asking for an extra dose against whooping cough because of its recurrence.
choking cough with a respiratory infection, which can be especially serious in the first months of life. The vast majority of children are well vaccinated with doses given at two, four and 11 months, and a booster dose at six years; therefore they are protected. Additionally, when pregnant women are vaccinated after 27 or 28 weeks of pregnancy, newborns are also protected until they are immunized with the first dose within two months.
But nurses and pediatricians are seeing an increase in cases, especially among children ages 10 or 12 and older. So both Andalusian Association of Family and Community Nurses (Asanec) How Primary pediatric care (Andapap) They are asking for an additional booster dose beyond what was already given at age six. Moreover, although childhood vaccination coverage in the Andalusian community is high – around 95% – health officials are urging people not to let down their guard when vaccinating pregnant women and children with the current four doses (two, four and 11 months) and six years. ) calendar of the Andalusian Health Service (SAS).
Cases diagnosed in Spain for the fifth week of 2024 (from January 29 to February 4 inclusive) will be 482According to the latest report from the National Center for Epidemiology Carlos III Health Institute Ministry of Health. From them, 128 from Andalusia. That is 26.5%. But it’s more than that. According to this document, compared to 38 cases reported in Spain in all of 2023in just five weeks of 2024 – from January 1 to February 4 – the accumulated figure has already amounted to 1606.
The person responsible for immunization in Asanetz is Eva AlmanAs a reminder, nine out of 10 hospitalizations occur in children under one year of age, with a higher percentage occurring in children under three months of age “due to serious complications and even mortality.” Given the increase in incidence in late childhood and early adolescence, Alman advocates “the importance of strengthening pertussis vaccination with a new dose, as recommended by various scientific societies,” given that “the immunity of the population exposed to this disease weakens with the receipt of a new dose of pertussis vaccination, recommended by various scientific societies.” time.”
Andapap Vice President Leonor Quezada, believes that this new booster could be administered at 14 years of age, along with the dose available at that age for tetanus and diphtheria. But he insists that in this recovery, it is “very important” that pregnant women are vaccinated and children follow their vaccination schedule.
He Manuel Baca, head of the pediatric department at the Quironsalud Malaga Hospital, also advocates a new booster shot around “age 12 or 14.” The specialist notes that the pathology can have serious pulmonary and cerebral consequences, especially in young children. But both he and Quesada agree that the increase in cases detected in recent months is not serious, especially because it occurs in older children, given that the youngest children are typically well immunized with vaccines. Regarding this relapse, Baca notes, “They are not serious, but the persistent cough makes the child’s daily activities difficult.” An Andapap spokesperson confirms: “These are mild symptoms, but they are annoying because they last a long time.” Professionals Maternity hospital Those surveyed confirm that the increase in cases is “not very significant in terms of severity.”
Rebound started showing up after the summer And in Malaga these are isolated cases –according to professionals –; “There are no outbreaks like in other autonomous communities.” For his part, Asanets notes that “despite the availability of vaccines of acceptable effectiveness and high vaccination coverage, outbreaks occur cyclically in countries with high rates of development.”
An Andapap spokesperson explains: “Whooping cough It is a serious disease in young children; Otherwise, it’s an indistinguishable cold, and then a cough that lasts for months.” The problem, although not serious, is annoying. Moreover, this is how the infection spreads.
Pathology at the initial stage is treated with antibiotics to stop this. When a cough is diagnosed in later stages, these drugs are also administered to prevent those infected from passing on the disease, but health workers say it is not possible to stop the cough until the infection clears. Asanek insists that vaccination is the best preventative measure for disease control: calendar children and pregnant women. “The vaccination is carried out after 27 or 28 weeks of pregnancy, since in this way the mother develops antibodies against the disease, which are transmitted to the fetus through the placenta and will protect him (the child) until he is vaccinated. “, he notes. Nurses Association.
Other additional measures Asanets advocates to indirectly protect infants and children include vaccinating health care workers, “especially those in direct contact with children, such as gynecologists, pediatricians, midwives, neonatologists and nurses pediatric intensive care units, pediatrics and obstetrics, as well as kindergarten teachers.”
“Sustained epidemic” since 2010
Andalusian Association of Family and Community Nurses (Asanec), indicates that in Spain whooping cough “has been in a sustained epidemic since 2010.” The organization recalls that, according to the Carlos III Institute, an average of 4,000 cases of the disease have been reported annually throughout the country since 2011, with a maximum peak between 2014 and 2019.
Moreover, in a report published National Epidemiological Center, which analyzes the period from 2005 to 2020, a total of 43,534 cases of this disease were registered, with 10,281 hospitalizations recorded (82.7% in children under three months of age). At a European level, an analysis carried out between 2010 and 2020 to understand the burden of whooping cough among adults over 50 years of age found that the disease follows similar trends to those seen in children zero to four years of age. “That is, it is growing,” Asanets said in a statement.