Parents with a baby born since 15 June 2009 are eligible for a free
Bosotrix vaccine to guard against pertussis (whooping cough). The
Australian Government has recently announced an extension to this
program and this free vaccine is now available to eligible parents
until 30 June 2011.
Australia has experienced a sharp increase in pertussis
notifications since 2008. Babies are at risk because no protection
is passed from the mother to the newborn baby and they do not
develop sufficient pertussis protection until their three dose
course of pertussis containing vaccine is completed. Parents under
22 years of age may have been given Boostrix in Year 10 of
secondary school and if that is the case, do not require a further
dose at this time.
To find out more about receiving your free vaccine, please contact
the Nillumbik Community Health Service on 9430 9100 or speak to one
of the Immunisation Program staff members at your next visit. The
Victorian Government Health Department have produced a phamplet
Protect your baby from whooping cough (pertussis) and can
be downloaded from their website (link below).
