Whooping cough vaccination

[familygirl]

Hi,

I'm in the third trimester. My obstetrician said to get the booster vaccination after I have had the baby. I would have been vaccinated as a child but there is a booster shot available at no cost to parents and other care providers. My obstetrician said he wouldn't recommend getting the booster shot whilst pregnant.

But I would ask your dr.

[Saffi]

Totally agree with familygirl. I asked my GP about it and I can't get one while pregnant, but was advised as soon as possible afterwards to get the shot. That goes for dads and other caregivers too.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

yep, you have it when you have given birth. but they recommend the dad and grandparents to get it ASAP. in QLD it isnt free and it isnt under the PBS which sux. even if you had it as a child it tends to wear off after about 10 years or so, so there is the need for the booster shot.

[storm]

We've just had ours. My OB/GP rang us & asked us to come in & have it done.

[Schmickers]

There is currently an epidemic going on in the North Coast of NSW, which is why there is a big drive on at the moment to vaccinate, in particular older adults and parents. The reason is that immunity to pertussis (the whooping cough bacteria) wanes over time.

That said, there are a few things to keep in mind. Whooping cough requires a period of close contact to spread - it isn't spread through casual contact and it won't spread from members of the public. It usually spreads through households because of the amount of close, intimate contact. Our paediatrician (the one we see of the girls, not the ones I work with ) has never seen a case with less than a few hours of close contact.

Having said that, it is also worth keeping in mind that the most infectious period of whooping cough is the first week, before the cough even starts. It starts with cold and flu-like symptoms, so it can be very hard to police contact in family members.

Best of luck with your decision.

[SophieRose]

Thanks so much girls.
I'm getting DP, his parents and my parents to get the shot.
Basically anyone who is going to be spending alot of time with Peanut.
My little sisters and brother are 17, 10, 6, and 4. Should i talk to my mum about possibly getting their booster shots done too?

[Schmickers]

You could consider it with the 17 year old. The others are probably young enough to still have their immunity from their childhood courses.