Whooping cough

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It is spread by droplets when an infected person coughs. It is a very serious (and sometimes fatal) disease for babies.

Vaccination during your pregnancy is the best way to protect your baby against whooping cough. The antibodies your body makes in response to vaccination cross the placenta and provide protection for your newborn baby until they can begin their own vaccinations which are recommended from six weeks of age.

The whooping cough vaccination is recommended during every pregnancy so that protection can be provided for each baby. The optimal recommendation for timing of the vaccination in pregnancy is a single dose to be administered between 20 and 32 weeks. However the vaccine can be given at any time from 20 weeks to the birth of your baby. The vaccine is a combination of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (dTpa) in a reduced dose that is suitable for pregnant women, but still effective.

It is important that you make an appointment to speak with your family doctor about whooping cough vaccination during your pregnancy.

Whooping Cough vaccination for family and friends

Fathers/partners and family carers such as grandparents and close relatives should, ideally, have the whooping cough vaccination at least two weeks before beginning close contact with your baby if they have not had the dTpa vaccination in the preceding 10 years. Ensure your other children are up to date with their vaccinations. Also, remember to keep your 

Influenza

Influenza, commonly known as flu, is a viral infection that is easily spread from person to person by droplets produced during coughing and sneezing or by direct contact with respiratory secretions. Influenza is different from a cold as symptoms develop suddenly and include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, coughing, sneezing and muscle aches, and usually last for about one week. Some people will develop serious complications, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and may need treatment in hospital. Influenza can be fatal.

Pregnant women have a higher risk of complications associated with influenza and you are therefore eligible for the government-funded influenza vaccine. The flu vaccine can be safely given at any time during your pregnancy and can not only protect you but provide ongoing protection to your newborn baby for the first six months after their birth.

The circulating strains of influenza virus change from year to year and the vaccine is updated accordingly. Therefore, you need to be vaccinated each year.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the most common cause of hospitalisation in infants and young children, with almost all children experiencing at least one RSV infection within the first two years of life.

RSV is a virus that causes both upper and lower respiratory tract infections. Children under one year of age are more likely to experience serious disease requiring hospitalisation.

Vaccination during pregnancy is the best way to protect your newborn baby from RSV. The vaccine approved for use with pregnant women is Abrysvo.

Abrysvo is an RSV vaccine that is recommended during pregnancy between 28 to 36 weeks gestation to provide protection to a newborn infant against severe RSV disease.

When a person receives Abrysvo during pregnancy, their immune system produces antibodies to RSV in the first few weeks after the injection. These antibodies are passed on to the baby and help protect them from RSV disease from the moment they are born.

If you have received the Abrysvo vaccine during pregnancy, majority of the time, your newborn baby will not require the RSV immunisation at birth.

For more information on recommended medicines for you baby please see Recommended medicines for your baby | Mater Mothers

For more information on Abrysvo and Nirsevimab please see  Queensland Paediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention Program | Queensland Health

Where to get your vaccination

Mater Pharmacy can provide vaccinations in-store at their Vulture Street pharmacy on Level 6, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane (opposite Chloe's Cafe). Book your vaccination appointment online.

Alternatively, you may wish to make an appointment with your general practitioner or preferred vaccination provider.


Further information

https://beta.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation

References

1.     Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (n.d.). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Immunisation Handbook. Retrieved November 29, 2024, from https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/contents/vaccine-preventable-diseases/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv

2.     Queensland Health. (n.d.). Paediatric RSV prevention program. Queensland Health Clinical Practice Guidelines. Retrieved November 29, 2024, from https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/diseases-infection/immunisation/paediatric-rsv-prevention-program/_recache

3.     Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (n.d.). Immunisation for pregnancy. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Retrieved November 29, 2024, from https://www.health.gov.au/topics/immunisation/when-to-get-vaccinated/immunisation-for-pregnancy

4.      Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (n.d.). Table: Vaccines that are routinely recommended in pregnancy (inactivated vaccines). Immunisation Handbook. Retrieved November 29, 2024, from https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/resources/tables/table-vaccines-that-are-routinely-recommended-in-pregnancy-inactivated-vaccines
 

 

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For urgent assessment at any stage of your pregnancy, please present to your nearest emergency centre or Mater Mothers’ 24/7 Pregnancy Assessment Centre in South Brisbane.

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