Who is at risk from Whooping Cough (Pertussis)?
Those most at risk of serious complications from Whooping Cough (Pertussis) are infants under 12 months of age.
- Around half the babies who catch pertussis before the age of 12 months require hospitalisation and 1-2 in 100 of those hospitalised die from pertussis infection
- Severe coughing can temporarily stop the oxygen supply to the brain (hypoxia)
- In around 2 in 1,000 children pertussis leads to permanent brain damage, paralysis, deafness or blindness
- Secondary infections such as pneumonia and ear infections can also occur
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Vaccination
- Getting the Pertussis vaccination during pregnancy will protect your new-born infant against whooping cough for those early months before the new-born gets protection from their own immunisation events
- Pregnant women are eligible for a free vaccine, it is recommended from week 16 of pregnancy
- The Whooping Cough vaccine is included and funded for all children within the National Immunisation Schedule, and also at 45years and 65years
- The vaccine is also recommended for family members/friends who are likely to spend time with the newborn (this is not funded)
- Infants who do not receive on-time doses of pertussis-containing vaccines at the scheduled times of 6 weeks, 3 months, and 5 months are around 5x more likely to be hospitalised with pertussis than those babies who are vaccinated on time
- Please call to discuss with one of our nurses whether you should receive the vaccine