Whooping Cough Vax?

I was curious who has/hasnt had the whooping cough vaccination?

Friends of ours had a baby recently and anyone who hadnt had the vaccine wasnt allowed to hold bubs (i think until she was old enough to be vaccinated?) and was wondering if this was a little over the top or totally called for?

Im not sure what to do in regards to when i give birth, id hate to give my baby whooping cough, you see those posters everywhere saying a massive % of babies who have it have gotten it from a parent? :doh:

Any thoughts?

Hi Ammaki

At our hospital, new mums can have the shot before they head home with bub. Just remember to ask about it.

My DP and all the grandparents have had theirs so it's just me left!

I don't think you can have it while you are pg, but I would definitely get it done once bubs is born..whooping cough is horrible and considering there is an outbreak of it at the moment (or there was when DD was born, not sure if it is still going) I didn't want to take any chances. Baby can't get it until their 2 month vacs (which apparently they can now have as early as 6 weeks) so any 'extra' precautions you can take, I would be doing as IMO it's just not worth the risk.

We didn't have many visitors at first, our family all lives a fair distance from us and we didn't have any friends that came over, so weren't too worried about it being transmitted by family/friends. They do recommend that anyone who will be in close contact (and I would assume fairly regular contact) gets it done before baby arrives, so if there are any family members that would be seeing you & bub on a regular basis then it might be a good idea just to mention it to them.

anyone who has had a baby from jun 15 2009 can have it for free you just have to ask. Im not sure how long this is available for. the clinic practice nurse at my gp snuck me one cos i messed out bya month ;)

both parents are eligible for the free vaccine at birth...it runs out at the end of June this year..for other family members it is about $60 a shot........we are just doing all this now...grandparents getting theirs next week us when bubs is born.......

oh, call your council and ask about pricing for boostrix (adult whooping cough vaccine) its $37 at ours, so sounds like it varies a bit.

anyone who has a child under 1 or is a grandparent with regular contact or works with children is allowed to get BOOSTRIX for free under the National immunisation programme. it is also available free for teh over 65 as well

it is not reccomended you have it while pregnant but once you have had bub the hospital should offer this to you and is usually one fo teh questions they ask at booking in and can note it on your records.

also siblings of the baby are able to get the vax for free if they have not already had it under the NIP.

if you are unsure if any children have had it you can check via ACIR on teh medicare website only need your emdicare details and date of birth to find it out.

also if you can prove you are planning on becoming pregnant it is free. well we hjave been giving it for free lol

Oh awesome thanks guys, i think there will be a lot of people wanting to visit, might just have to mention to everyone to have it done lol.

Will ask my GP at my next appointment!

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anyone who has a child under 1 or is a grandparent with regular contact or works with children is allowed to get BOOSTRIX for free under the National immunisation programme. it is also available free for teh over 65 as well

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Thats only for NSW, where the epidemic is/started.

I know in Victoria its for new parents only, of babies born since 15 June, and has been extended to finish in June 2010

Hmm im in QLD & bubs is due in July?

I am in QLD too Ammaki and no one ever mentioned it to me.

OK - in Qld it is currently available free to parents. (My parents in Cairns tried a few months ago and couldn't get it for free as grandparents).

Here is qld health website - it says that this webpage is valid until August 2010.
Free whooping cough vaccine for new parents - Queensland Health

i was never offered it in hospital (melb) but went and got myself and my partner done afterwards.
i do think its a little bit over the top about not holding the baby for 2 months, but that being said, babies catch it generally from being in close contact with an adult (usually a parent)

Thanks Ali that page was really helpful! My mum and sisters are planning on staying with us for a little while around my due date so she will have to arrange that for them i think

i got an up[date through work from teh National immunisation programme and as far as i was aware that included all of australia, it had only been updated maybe 2 weeks ago if that.

so double check with your GP..

Here's the Victoria details:

http://www.health.vic.gov.au/__data/...ussis_prev.pdf

definitely not free for grandparents Australia wide....is discretionary state by state. I just rang the state health department and checked......

I will definately check it out with my GP, thanks kawa :D

that sucks,

i can never understand why its a national programme yet differs state to state.. lol

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. :rofl: I HATE NEEDLES.

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!).

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.

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.