By The Canadian Press

Vancouver Island mom urges vaccination as her sick baby girl suffers in hospital

Jun 21, 2016 | 12:21 PM

VICTORIA — A Vancouver Island mother whose baby is hospitalized with whooping cough says her sick daughter is proof that children who are not vaccinated can harm others.

Annie Mae Braiden says her 10-week-old girl has been in the pediatric intensive care unit for more than a month after contracting the disease and needed to be on a ventilator for weeks. 

In an emotional entry on Facebook, Braiden told her story and showed photos of the tiny girl to warn about what happens when parents refuse to vaccinate their own children.

Jeff Bishop, a pediatrician who is treating Isabelle at Victoria General Hospital, says whooping cough is incredibly infectious and spreads easily through contact with anyone who is inadequately vaccinated.

Bishop says he has noticed over the last year that the hospital has treated more children with whooping cough than usual, and says there have been some deaths during the past five years.

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He says immunization can be an emotional topic for parents but extensive research shows the benefits of vaccinations far outweighs the risks.