Children, elderly targeted in immunisation changes

By ANGELA GREGORY

Changes to immunisation procedures will help protect babies dying from whooping cough and elderly women gardeners dying from tetanus.

The Ministry of Health has revised the country's immunisation schedule and from February 1 children aged 4 years will receive an extra immunisation against whooping cough.

The combined tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine will be the fifth booster against whooping cough.

At present four doses are recommended, at the ages of six weeks, three months, five months and 15 months.

Immunisation expert Dr Nikki Turner said the extra dose would protect children throughout their school years. That would further help protect babies in the family who were the most at risk of dying from whooping cough.

Dr Turner said New Zealand was at the end of a two-year epidemic, which had infected thousands and hospitalised hundreds.

The ministry would also recommend tetanus shots for people aged 45 and 65 years. Dr Turner said those at greatest risk from the deadly disease included women gardeners aged over 70. Injections were recommended at 10-year intervals.

Eight people died from tetanus between 1980 and 1992. Seven were aged over 70 and seven were women.

nzherald.co.nz/health