Whooping Cough Vax?

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

I had mine today, i just asked at Z's 8wk needles through the council and they did it on the spot and it was free.

My arm is very achy which they say is normal... see the things we do for our children. I HATE NEEDLES.

[AndiE]

Hi Ammaki, I'm in Brissie and every midwife who saw us at the Mater strongly advised it due to the increase in whooping cough cases in SE Qld. It was free, although we had to have it done at the GPs. The Qld Health page may have something about it??

DH and I had the shots within a week of our bub being born - Dec 09. I was particularly aware of it after hearing of the little baby girl who died 12 months (I think) ago after contracting it as a newborn in Lismore NSW. Scared hell out of me.

My GP said bubs under two months who contract whooping cough are most at risk from serious complications. Worst case, it's fatal.

As for people handling your bub, I guess like anything - coughs, colds etc ... where possible, keep those people out of sneezing or coughing distance (or keep some tissues and antibacterial hand sanitiser handy!).

[AliB]

I posted to this thread a while ago and since then I had the bub so thought I'd add my experience.

I was at a Sydney private hospital, they didn't offer the injection as they don't have an outpatient section.

I went to the GP the day after and got the shot. The shot was free but I had to pay for the appointment (my GP doesn't bulk bill - but if you go to a bulk bill place the whole thing is free).

DP and both sets of grandparents have already had theirs.

A good friend in his 40's is being treated for suspected whooping cough right now (scarey in that he would have otherwise been an early visitor to see us and bub) and a friend's 3 year old has been suffering from it for weeks - poor little thing is quite ill.

[AndiE]

My GP said it was people in their 30s and upward who were mainly contracting whooping cough as the vaccine seems to wear off over time.

I don't particularly like the thought of my little cherubs getting the sniffles, let alone whooping cough ... chills down the spine stuff.