Pertussis / Whooping cough booster for parents

[Doing my best]

It was on the news today that parents with babies born after 1st May will be eligble for a free vaccine from 1st aug for 6 months..

Parents targeted for whooping cough | The Courier-Mail

Just thought I would post for the benefit of qld parents that may want to go down that track.

[tenar]

Just saw this thread.

We got the vaccination (Dh and I) when DD was about 2 weeks old. We'd have gotten it earlier had we realised it was available to adults. My parents have had it too.

I've breastfed throughout, glad to know that she was getting some kind of protection from it from me through the milk. The GP did not suggest there was any possibility of problems from BFing after the vaccine, nor did I find such a suggestion when I read up on it. Maybe that advice is outdated? I've also expressed some milk during the 10-15 days after I had the shot, in case she gets it before she is fully protected, in which case she'll definitely be getting some of that antibody-loaded milk from the freezer, in case that helps some.

Babies can die of whooping cough. Wikipedia reckons the death rate in infants is "up to 3%". There is no way the possible side effects from the vaccine could be worse than that! Adults can have it with little or no symptoms, so even though DD has had her 2-month shots I still worry about the possibility that someone around us catches it, doesn't realise, and passes it to her before she is more protected.

[Life is Good]

Thanks for the info Heather. We have already paid for DH's, but it is good to know that mine will be free. For something that is so important and life-threatening, I am truly surpised that it has taken the QLD government so long to wake up and subsidise it!

There was an interesting segment on the Today show regarding WC. Nothing that I didn't know before, but it is really great that they are educating the masses about the risks to children. I have spoken to a number of people with and without kids and they stare at me blankly when I speak about the risks etc. So getting some mainstream info out there can only help.

Tenar, thanks for sharing your experiences. I also understand that even though they get their first WC vaccine at 2 months, it can take several more months until they are protected and, even then, it isn't a given that they won't contract it. The idea of passing on some antibodies via breastmilk is somewhat re-assuring...that is providing I am able to BF