I'm in NSW and was able to get it for free. Uni told me to get it, because I *could* (but unlikely) be exposed to whooping cough through working with kids when I do my pracs. I got the combination one that also includes diptheria and tetanus. I just went to my GP and asked for it and he had it there in the fridge and gave it to me on the spot, for free.
There not really too much information on the effects of the vaccine on your baby when you aare pregnant (i mention this because there are actually some vaccines you can get when pregnant in certain circumstances)... But do get it asap after baby is born if you are worried about not being immune to it. Its not a problem to get it when breastfeeding.
Whooping cough is very infectious, you can be infectious before you know you have it. There was a whooping cough outbreak last year within the day care my daughter goes to... she luckily didnt get sick - she's been immunised. However each of the kids there that got whooping cough werent immunised.
Jitterbug, I will definitely ask my OB about it tomorrow. As it stands, I have the chemist holding 3 boosters for me to collect tomorrow afternoon. I will check with them too if there is a cheaper/free alternative at the baby clinics.
Heather, I am well aware of the shortage That is why DH only got his shot this past Friday and not 2 months ago! Fortunately I have found a chemist that has a fairly decent stash of the boosters and am getting it through them. With regards to how contagious it is, I have also heard that it is only necessary for parents or high risk adults to get it. Unfortunately, this doesn't appear to be the case as some of the outbreaks (as Karina has said) have been quite significant in terms of severity and spread.
You are right that at $72 a pop, it is hardly something that you can force on people. Fortunately DH's family know how crazy I can get and have already joked that they had better get it done if they ever want to see their grandson. I laughed it off, but secretly I am really glad that they have got the message and are taking it seriously
Also, just so you know, you cannot get the WC vaccine/booster just on its own. It is always bundled with the other disease vaccines/boosters. Well that is what my GP said, anyway. Looking forward hearing from you on FB
Kim, there is something to be said for a Federal Medical Budget! I don't know why they cannot legislate this stuff across the board...after all, we are a single country with countrywide medical issues!
Karina, thanks for the info. I have heard how rapidly it can spread and the fact that it can have such a long incubation period means that isolating and containing outbreaks is near impossible. I imagine that is why there is such a shortage of the booster.
Harrison is fully immunised against WC but he still contracted it. Obviously it would have been more severe had he not been immunised. Apparently the immunisation isn't guaranteed to work properly on everyone which is worrying, but I still will be making people get it... better to be safe than sorry I think.
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That is why DH only got his shot this past Friday and not 2 months ago! Fortunately I have found a chemist that has a fairly decent stash of the boosters and am getting it through them. With regards to how contagious it is, I have also heard that it is only necessary for parents or high risk adults to get it. Unfortunately, this doesn't appear to be the case as some of the outbreaks (as Karina has said) have been quite significant in terms of severity and spread.
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