Why Your Child Needs to Be Vaccinated as Recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
A mother from the United States shares her experience:
On November 30th, when Smith (name changed) was just 15 days old, he developed a cough that quickly worsened into fits where he seemed to struggle to breathe. We rushed him to the ER, where he tested negative for RSV, influenza, and COVID-19. After being observed for two hours and showing no further symptoms, we were sent home with advice to use hot shower steam to help alleviate the cough and to monitor him closely. His cough remained unchanged, with no additional symptoms, for the next week.
The following weekend, my husband and kids offered to watch Smith so I could rest, which led to a decrease in his nursing sessions. On Sunday, December 1st, Smith became fussier, likely due to extra gas in his belly. This seemed to exacerbate his cough, making it more frequent and intense. We took him to a walk-in clinic for evaluation. Since his only observable symptom was the cough, we were given the same advice and sent home.
By Monday, Smith seemed sleepier, so I began prioritizing shorter, more consistent feeding intervals. However, by Monday night into Tuesday morning, his condition took a turn for the worse. He struggled to nurse, coughed harder and longer, and began having prolonged episodes of not breathing. On Tuesday, I took him to the pediatrician, who immediately transferred us to the ER with the possibility of being transported to Bismarck.
Smith’s last good feeding was that evening at the ER. Once we reached Sanford Health in Bismarck, his condition remained precarious, and he refused to nurse. Eventually, we were able to get him to drink pumped milk from a bottle on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. Over the next few days, he gradually increased both the frequency and quantity of milk. By Saturday, he was drinking 4 oz at a time. That night, he began nursing again.
Smith’s condition showed marked improvement from Friday afternoon into Saturday, with fewer breathing episodes. By Sunday, he was able to recover on his own from any minor episodes. By Monday evening, he was fully off oxygen and nursing well again.
(He has two other siblings who are not immunized.)
Why Vaccination is Crucial
This harrowing experience highlights the importance of vaccination. Preventable diseases like whooping cough can pose serious risks to infants, especially those too young to be fully vaccinated. Vaccinations as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) help protect children from these dangerous diseases, ensuring their health and safety.
