Herd Immunity

What is Pertussis?

• "Whooping Cough"/"100 day cough"
• Caused by bacterium, Bordetella pertussis, which produces a toxin (pertussis toxin) that damages & paralyzes cilia in airways
• Incubation period = 5-10 days
• Symptoms:

Misinformation surrounding pertussis vaccine

• Claim: The pertussis vaccine is a live virus vaccine. The vaccine mandate is causing pertussis to increase because of "shedding" of the live virus.

• Pertussis is not caused by a virus

• DTaP vaccine is a toxoid vaccine (inactivated pertussis toxin)

Misinformation surrounding pertussis vaccine

• Claim: WV has a vaccine mandate to enter schools; therefore, the pertussis vaccine is not effective

Misinformation surrounding pertussis vaccine

• Claim: Pertussis is no longer a serious threat because we have antibiotics to treat it.

• Antibiotics are effective at killing the bacteria within the 1st 5 days of infection.
• Most people do not get antibiotic treatment at this time due to mild symptoms in first stage
• Antibiotics do not inactivate the toxin that leads to the damage of cilia in the airways

Importance of Herd Immunity

• Not everyone can receive all vaccines (age, immunocompromised, allergies)
• To protect the vulnerable, those who can should be vaccinated to achieve Herd Immunity
• Sufficient % of population is vaccinated to prevent spread of disease to vulnerable populations

Herd Immunity Part 1

• You will receive a card - do not share what you have
• "Infected" means you have pertussis
• "Uninfected" means you do not (and have not been vaccinated)
• Walk around room randomly. When I tell you to stop, whisper to the person closest to you what is on your card.
• If your classmate whispers "infected" you are now infected. You must whisper "infected from now on
• If your classmate whispers "uninfected", you will not change what was on your card. Your role will remain the same.

Herd Immunity Part 2

• You will receive a NEW card - do not share what you have
• "Infected" means you have pertussis
• "Uninfected" means you do not (and have not been vaccinated)
• "protected" means you are vaccinated (2 people are immunized)
• Walk around room randomly. When I tell you to stop, whisper to the person closest to you what is on your card.
• "Infected" classmates can only infect "uninfected" classmates
• If you become infected, you must whisper "infected" during the exchange
• "Protected" classmates cannot be infected - always whisper "protected"

Herd Immunity Part 3

• You will receive a NEW card - do not share what you have
• "Infected" means you have pertussis
• "Uninfected" means you do not (and have not been vaccinated)
• "protected" means you are vaccinated (80% are immunized)
• Walk around room randomly. When I tell you to stop, whisper to the person closest to you what is on your card.
• "Infected" classmates can only infect "uninfected" classmates
• If you become infected, you must whisper "infected" during the exchange
• "Protected" classmates cannot be infected - always whisper "protected"