Arne and Sylvie Lose Baby to Whooping Cough: "Unconscionable that there are people who refuse vaccines"
The Netherlands — Arne and Sylvie, a Dutch couple, are mourning the loss of their infant son to whooping cough, a disease that has made a resurgence due in part to vaccine hesitancy. The couple has spoken out, urging parents to vaccinate their children to prevent tragedies like theirs.
Their son, born in 2021, contracted pertussis, the medical term for whooping cough, at just six weeks old. Despite receiving intensive care, the baby passed away, leaving Arne and Sylvie devastated.
Whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial infection, is preventable through vaccination. The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) recommends that children receive five doses of the pertussis vaccine by the age of four.
However, vaccine hesitancy has led to a decline in vaccination rates, causing a spike in whooping cough cases. The RIVM reports that in 2021, there were 2,452 cases, a significant increase from the 678 cases in 2020.
"We want to warn parents about this disease," Arne told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad. "It’s unconscionable that there are people who refuse vaccinations. This could have been prevented."
The couple’s plea comes as the Netherlands grapples with a rise in preventable diseases. Along with whooping cough, measles cases have also been increasing.
Medical professionals urge parents to vaccinate their children, emphasizing that vaccines are safe and effective. "Vaccines protect not only your child but also vulnerable members of our community," says Dr. Pieter van den Hof, a pediatrician at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers.
Arne and Sylvie hope their tragedy will serve as a wake-up call. "We don’t want other parents to go through this," Sylvie said. "Please get your children vaccinated."
