Editorial: Booster shot will prevent whooping cough spread

Linda Hall, Assistant Editor, Hawke's Bay Today.

I was amazed to learn yesterday that there was a national outbreak of whooping cough.

I would have thought that any national health issue would have been right in my face. According to Hawke's Bay DHB paediatrician and medical director Phil Moore, outbreaks of the disease tended to occur once every four years.

In the year up to December 2017 there were 101 cases reported in Hawke's Bay, 16 more than the year before and it was expected that this year even more cases would present.

Although there have been no deaths in Hawke's Bay from whooping cough in the past 20 years, Mr Moore said it can make babies very sick.

But here's the thing: vaccinations can stop it. Starship paediatrician Dr Anusha Ganeshalingham said on television yesterday that all adults should get a booster shot.

She said whooping cough is highly contagious and it can kill babies.

Babies can't get their vaccinations until they are six weeks old so from birth until that time they are very vulnerable.

She also said that most adults wouldn't realise how easy it is to transmit the disease — all it takes is one sneeze or a cough in the wrong direction.

I certainly didn't realise and no I haven't had a booster shot. If you can't remember having one in the past 10 years chances are you haven't had one.

I know a couple of people who are pregnant at the moment and most likely they have had the immunisation which protects their babies but I don't want to take the risk of making any baby sick. I'll be making an appointment with my doctor.