VACCINATION PROGRAM TARGETS WHOOPING COUGH

ACT Health Minister, Katy Gallagher MLA, said today that the targeted Adult Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccination Program will be extended until the 30th of June 2010.

"The program was implemented in April 2009 as a prudent response to an increase in Whooping Cough notifications in the ACT in late 2008 and early 2009," Ms Gallagher said.

"The program offers free Pertussis vaccine to parents of babies less than 12months of age, and to grandparents who have regular contact," she said.

"Since the beginning of the program nearly 11,000 doses of the vaccine have been distributed to immunisation providers in the ACT and 1,748 new mothers have received the vaccination through hospital maternity units.

"The main objective of the targeted vaccination program is to protect infants who are too young to be fully immunised against whooping cough as they are the most likely to suffer serious complications from the disease. Most babies catch whooping cough from their parents or close care givers, such as grandparents.
"The program was initially set to run as a three month pilot, however, following evaluation, it will now be extended until the middle of next year.

"Parents and grandparents are urged to see their GP to obtain this free vaccine as this will help protect their young babies during a vulnerable time," Ms Gallagher said.

The Minister said data indicated that this program may have already prevented some infants from contracting the disease. Although there had been three cases of Pertussis in infants in the eight months since the targeted vaccination program began, this was a marked decrease from the four children who suffered the disease in the three months prior to its commencement. There had also been a decrease in the incidence of the disease in children less than 10 years of age.

Unlike some diseases, immunity from Pertussis is not transferred by breast feeding. This is also a timely reminder for parents to vaccinate their children at the recommended ages starting when the baby is two months old.

Kathryn Roberts on 6205 0242 or 0402 399 907 or email her at kathryn.roberts@act.gov.au