Whooping Cough and Vaccinations - advice please?

[~clover~]

Hi hun
They are offering free whopping cough vaccines ATM. I think to everyone who wants it, but not 100% sure.
I was offered, along with my sister, DH, & parents when I last got my depo shot. I was led to believe it would be free for all of us.
We were going to all go back & do it, but haven't gotten around to it yet
Maybe when bubby is born ask if you can get it before you head home??

[rufalina]

My parents had one for free, and so did DH and I (pre pregnancy). In NSW at least they were offering this vaccine free to all parents / grandparents / carers / day care workers etc as there was big outbreak in Northern NSW. It is a nasty thing for babies...

My parents did it off the cuff, like your PIL, (mum works with kids) so I mentioned to to my PIL, just really brought it up in conversation, and I was not concerned either way if they got it, but I think they did. I think it cant hurt to mention it to close family... But like everything, if you are aware there is a potential risk (like visiting a sick person) then you can take precautions.

[NaeNae]

Thanks everyone,

I was planning on waiting until bubby was here before I got mine done - any excuse to get out of a needle for a little while longer

Does anyone know what is considered close regular contact. To me that would be every other day. I might shoot around an email in a few more weeks closer to date and just ask close friends and family members who we might see a bit more regularly to get their boosters done.

I am glad my PIL brought this up with me, my MIL cracked me up as she was soooo nervous to bring the subject up in case I had strong views to not vaccinate. So I am pretty grateful that they broached the subject, saves me asking them to have it done to

Thanks again

Nae x x x

[Snacks]

Hi Nae. As a pro-vaccer, I asked my parents and FIL to get the free booster. DH got one too and I got one a couple of days after she was born. They were all free (paid for by the NSW govt).
I would've asked SIL too except she'd already had whooping cough a couple of years ago.
I think your email to family members is a good idea.
To me, close regular contact would be the people who will be holding her on a fairly regular basis within the first 6 weeks - maybe weekly or a couple of times a week.

[*TripleJ*]

my bub has had the first vac but we didnt even get offered a booster must not be bad in vic or i have slack doctors

[NaeNae]

JwithJ - actually there have been quite a number of cases here in Vic. I think it was the RCH that said the numbers were up on this time last year (from my google researching). I would be chasing that next shot.

I also read that 42% of cases in babies were contracted through the parents I will be definitely getting that booster now I would feel horrible about passing such a horrid thing on to my baby.

Nae x x

[*TripleJ*]

just a quick how often are u supposed to get boosters?

[~clover~]

just a quick how often are u supposed to get boosters?

I think every 5 years?

[Jellyfish]

Me, DP, my parents, my brother and DP's parents all got it done (they had theirs done before the birth, I had mine done afterwards).

[mbear]

Should DH and I also get boosters?

Should I ask my parents to do it? If I ask parents do you then ask everyone who will be coming in contact with my baby to have it done?

YES, and YES...you should also get any girlfriends whom will be regularly seeing your newborn done too....

DH and i got our done at H's 8 week immunsiation shot...but looking back, mum (a nurse) wanted to give us the needle a week after H was born - we thought she was overreacting a bit...but since media coverage and looking further into it, its a very serious matter....