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Whooping cough vaccinations surge

Posted on December 7, 2009, 10:10am

Mount Gambier is experiencing a surge in demand for whooping cough vaccination as a spike in the outbreak of the serious respiratory infection continues.

City Council’s community health officer Christine Plunkett said an increase in the number of adult enquiries had been noticeable.

“Prospective grandparents have been presenting for the vaccination after being advised by their families of the risk to newborns from contact with anyone carrying the whooping cough disease,” Ms Plunkett said.

“It is good to see that adults are heeding medical advice and seeking vaccinations in the best interest of the next generation.”

SA Health issued a whooping cough alert in September, advising new parents and people in regular contact with children to consider a whooping cough booster.

Communicable Disease Control Branch director Dr Ann Koehler said whooping cough was a serious, but preventable disease most commonly carried by adults.

“Every three or four years we see a spike in the number of pertussis (whooping cough) cases,” she said.

“It’s all part of the natural infection cycle, and recent data would suggest South Australia is entering another period of increased infection.”

In 2004 an adult/adolescent version (Boosterix) was introduced and became part of the national immunisation schedule for students in Year 9.

This vaccination boosts the immunity of the vaccine given at two, four and six months of age and again at four years of age.

This same vaccine is also available to older adults at a fee for service at the civic centre on Watson Drive

Members of the public may receive the Boosterix vaccination at council public immunisation sessions held at Child and Youth Health, 5 Heriot Street, on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 9.30am and 11am and between 4.30pm and 5.45pm.

Workplace sessions can be arranged on request.

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