The following is fromChildren’s Health Defense.
A long-promoted practice requiring family members to be vaccinated before visiting newborns — known ascocooning— is drawing renewed scrutiny.
The approach wasintroduced in 2004toprotect infantstoo young to be vaccinated, particularly againstwhooping cough.
However, federal health officials have acknowledged limitations. The CDC has said the strategy is costly, difficult to implement and has uncertain effectiveness, and previously described it as insufficient to prevent illness in newborns.
Despite that, theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)continues to promote cocooning and recommends it not only for whooping cough, but also for illnesses such as flu and RSV.
The AAP also advises that visitors be up to date on vaccines before seeing a newborn and even provides sample messages families can send to enforce the policy.
Some physicians dispute the approach.
They argue certain vaccines, including those for pertussis, may not prevent transmission and could allow asymptomatic spread.
“The current vaccine does not prevent infection … and it does not prevent transmitting the infection.”— Dr. Paul Thomas
Critics say this could undermine the goal of protecting infants and raise questions about requiring vaccination for visitors.
Source: Sharyl Attkisson
