The current outbreak of whooping cough in Wellington has prompted Plunket to restate the importance of immunisation.

“Immunisation is a vitally important a tool to protect New Zealand families and communities. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from the many childhood diseases that can affect New Zealand families today,” says Plunket clinical advisor Allison Jamieson.

Allison says these diseases can have serious complications and are often spread by family members or friends.

“Immunisation has a profoundly positive effect not only on the individual but on the whole of the population thereby improving community immunity from disease.

“Immunisation is a free, proven way that parents can protect their children against 11 serious diseases, including whooping cough. It is never too late to catch up, even if a child has fallen behind on the immunisation schedule,” she says.

If parents are not sure when their child is due for immunisation they can check the immunisation schedule at www.plunket.org.nz or call their doctor.

The Immunisation Advisory Centre also offers information and advice about immunisation and preventing the spread of infection through its toll-free line 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863) and website.

Plunket is one of many community groups that give immunisation information to parents and caregivers. For more information about immunisation you can talk to a Plunket nurse or call PlunketLine on 0800 933 922 (24 hours 7 days)

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For more information contact
Nikki Hooper
Plunket External Communications Executive
021 405 842
Nikki.hooper@plunket.org.nz

About whooping cough (Pertussis)

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection spread by droplets from coughing and sneezing. While often less severe in older children and adults, can be very severe in babies. Around half of infants less than 1 year old who catch whooping cough have to be hospitalised.

Infected older children and adults often pass the infection on to babies - often before they are old enough to be vaccinated. Toxins from bacteria block the airways and infants have coughing spasms, struggle to breathe, vomit and often develop pneumonia. Whooping cough can last up to 3 months.

Those most at risk are infants under one year of age. On-time immunisation for infants is the best prevention.

The vaccine is funded for all infants aged 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months, with booster doses given to children at 4 and 11 years.

As young infants are most severely at risk it is important to start the immunisation at 6 weeks of age and complete the first 3 doses on time to build the maximum protection. Delaying whooping cough immunisation by 30 days at any point for children under 2 increases five-fold the chances of being hospitalised.

Pertussis vaccine is given as an injection in combination with other vaccines: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, hepatitis B and Hib.

For more information:

http://www.plunket.org.nz/your-child/illness/health-conditions/diseases-we-immunise-against/

http://www.health.govt.nz/yourhealth-topics/children/immunisation/diseases-and-vaccines/whooping-cough

http://www.immune.org.nz/

Tags: vaccination immunisation Allison Jamieson whooping cough 0 Comments 14 February 2012