tdap

Tdap

The Tdap vaccine in pregnancy is a shot given (usually in the third trimester) to protect the baby from whooping cough (pertussis) by passing antibodies from mother to baby before birth.
This protection is temporary, it mainly reduces the risk and severity of illness for the first 1–2 months of life, helping bridge the baby until their first DTaP vaccine shot at 2 months.
Death Rates prior to the recommendation for Tdap in the U.S. averaged roughly 19 infant.
2025: 16 Deaths reported
2024: 10 Deaths reported

Insert, Warning, Precauthions and Adverse Reactions

Maternal Tdap vaccination can cause “Maternal blunting“, a reduced antibody response to the infant’s own DTaP doses. This occurs because maternal antibodies interfere with the infant’s immune system, potentially lowering vaccine effectiveness later in infancy.
The amount of aluminum in a Tdap vaccine is listed per 0.5 mL dose as approximately 1.5 mg of aluminum phosphate, which corresponds to about 0.33 mg (330 mcg) of elemental aluminum. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates aluminum exposure in parenteral nutrition, particularly in the context of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). The FDA recommends that aluminum exposure from TPN should not exceed 5 mcg/kg/day to reduce the risk of toxicity in newboens and infants. This guideline applies specifically to continuous intravenous exposure. This shot is administered intramuscularly. Only a fraction of the aluminum from an intramuscular injection enters the bloodstream in the first 24 hours, with estimates often cited in the range of about 1–3%.
3% of 330 mcg would be approximately 9.9 mcg entering the bloodstream which is still higher than 5 mcg.
Tdap contains inactivated Clostridium tetani which is a toxin.

This 20-year analysis of U.S. VAERS data (2005–2024) investigated the safety profile of the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, identifying no maternal deaths but highlighting several significant statistical “signals” regarding fetal outcomes. Using disproportionality analysis, researchers found that stillbirth (ROR 285.77, IC 8.01), preterm delivery (ROR 196.8, IC 7.51), and fetal death (ROR 140.83, IC 7.06) were reported at rates far exceeding those of other vaccines; specifically, these figures indicate that stillbirth was reported approximately 285 times more frequently, preterm delivery 196 times more frequently, and fetal death 140 times more frequently than expected compared to other reports in the database.
About 22% of significant reported events were pregnancy-specific. Six cases of chorioamnionitis were identified, though most had known obstetric risk factors, making a direct link to vaccination unclear.
The study also identified potential new signals, including reduced fetal movement (fetal hypokinesia) and urinary tract infections, which are not currently listed in product labeling.

Dr Humphrey’s Vitamin C protocol

Whooping cough is dangerous to very young children and potentially fatal to infants, who are at risk of choking. It is possible for an infant with whooping cough to die in their sleep, and infants with whooping cough need to be observed 24 hours a day and might need to have their airways cleared/suctioned regularly in a hospital setting.

The illness in children is caused by toxins produced by the bacteria responsible for whooping cough. Vitamin C is believed to act as a broad antitoxin, which may help the body clear these substances more quickly, especially when taken in high amounts, such as through intravenous administration.
Vitamin C is not presented as a cure for whooping cough itself. Rather, it may assist the body by helping eliminate bacteria and toxins, lessening the intensity of coughing as immunity develops, and thinning mucus that could otherwise obstruct an infant’s airway.
When giving vitamin C, the child should be awake rather than asleep. An initial daily amount for children is typically around 200–375 mg per kilogram of body weight, spread over 24 hours (for example, a 6 kg child would receive roughly 1200–2250 mg per day). During more severe coughing episodes, this amount may increase significantly, sometimes up to 1000 mg/kg/day. If symptoms become extreme—such as episodes of turning purple or gasping—more frequent and higher doses may be used.
Tolerance is often monitored through bowel changes. When the body can no longer absorb the full amount, loose stools may occur, indicating the upper limit has been reached. At that stage, the dosage can be reduced slightly and adjusted again if symptoms intensify. If this tolerance point is never reached, it may suggest the amount being given is still relatively low.
Vitamin C is generally continued throughout the recovery period, which may last for several months.
This approach can be used alongside medical care. Hospitals provide important support such as airway suctioning, oxygen delivery, monitoring for breathing interruptions, and emergency intervention if needed. Caregivers may use liquid or liposomal forms of vitamin C, often administered with a syringe, to deliver higher amounts more easily.
The full protocol and its rationale are described at https://drsuzanne.net/2017/10/sodium-ascorbate-vitamin-c-treatment-of-whooping-cough-suzanne-humphries-md/