Whooping Cough in Western Australia

A. The number of people who have been diagnosed with whooping cough:

B. FREE Adult whooping cough vaccination program:

Australia is currently experiencing an epidemic of whooping cough. In light of this, some states and territories are offering free adult whooping cough vaccinations for certain groups who have close contact with newborns.

1. WHO:  new parents, grandparents and  household carers of babies under 6 months of age
2. WHERE: GP clinics, maternity hospitals (mother only), community health and metropolitan local government immunisation clinics. The vaccine can be administered to fathers, grandparents and close household carers two (2) weeks before the birth of the baby to initiate an immune response.
3. WHEN: program runs until the end of 2011. (EXTENDED to 30 June 2012)

Please refer to the State Health Department website for up-to-date program information.

A single booster dose of adult whooping cough vaccine is recommended for all adults planning a pregnancy, for both parents as soon as possible after delivery of an infant, grandparents, healthcare and childcare workers.²

C. Local media articles on whooping cough

• Whooping cough vaccine boost
• Whooping cough scare
• Free vaccinations after whooping cough outbreak in Perth