Are your immunisations up to date?
It’s not just a baby thing. Even if you were immunised as a child, you may need booster doses to maintain immunity from certain diseases such as whooping cough.
So far this year there have been 221 cases of pertussis recorded in the Metro North Hospital and Health Service area.
Some vaccines are available free of charge through the 2015 Queensland Immunisation Schedule. You will have to pay for other vaccines with a prescription from your doctor.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is one of several vaccines that may be recommended for adults. Others include measles, tetanus, chickenpox and pneumococcal disease.
Adults with some medical conditions or in certain occupations may also have additional vaccination needs.
Queensland Health recommends you talk to your doctor or nurse immuniser before being vaccinated if you:
- Are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy
- have previously had a serious adverse event following immunisation
- have impaired immunity due to disease or treatment.
New parents should have an adult whooping cough immunisation as soon as possible after their baby is born, as newborns are at risk of serious complications if they contract whooping cough.
In Queensland, pregnant women can have a free whooping cough vaccine in their third trimester. Vaccination at this time gives the newborn baby extra protection from transfer of the mother’s antibodies.
Check your immunisation status with your GP and make sure you are up to date.
Find out more information about whooping cough (pertussis) signs and symptoms and vaccination.