The latest on whooping cough
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As a Mum-to-be I will be getting the whooping cough vaccine as soon as my baby is born. My husband will be getting the jab in the coming weeks and my parents are already vaccinated. It is one of those vaccines that I think is a must. And the science proves it.
Which is why I was really interested to read about research findings that the latest whooping cough vaccine is not quite as effective but has fewer side effects.
Key points:
- Whooping cough (pertussis) is a very serious, contagious respiratory, bacterial infection
- It is particularly serious in young children (who are at higher risk of contracting it) with one in 200 children who contract the illness dying from it
- Immunisation is the best way to prevent it. Babies (from 6 weeks of age), parents, grandparents and anyone who will be in close contact with your baby should be vaccinated to prevent infection and spread
- While the newer version of the vaccine is found to be less effective, children who have been vaccinated and contract the illness have milder and less serious symptoms and are less likely to end up in hospital
- The newer vaccine has less side effects
You can read more about the whooping cough research findings in this plain English article on ABC Online.
I caught whooping cough whilst a university lecturer in Brisbane. Universities are hot beds for whooping cough as so many students travel to countries without strong vaccination programs. Unfortunately, 7 years ago when I caught the disease, the universities that I worked for failed to alert lecturers and students of this danger and I hadn’t updated my vaccination since childhood. Whooping cough is also known as the “100 day cough” – a very accurate description in my case. The coughing was appalling – I broke my own ribs – TWICE! I passed out from coughing – 3 times. I lost my voice…. for 3 months! I’m a mature adult – I can’t imagine how a child or baby copes with the severity of this disease. Please people, if you haven’t had a vaccination since childhood, YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED. And if you get it, you could & probably will infect others, including children.
Thanks so much for sharing your story Janet. It certainly sounds shocking and as you say, if it was that severe for an adult, imagine what it would do to a child.