Fears vaccine misunderstanding will lead to whooping cough outbreak
Fears misunderstanding will lead to whooping cough outbreak
Health experts fear widespread misunderstanding of the whooping cough vaccine will lead to an outbreak of the dreaded disease.
Health SA said far too few South Australians are getting the jabs, putting the most vulnerable in the community at risk.
SA Health chief medical officer Professor Paddy Phillips said the vaccine is only 60 to 80 per cent effective, but it also reduces the severity of the disease.
A common misconception among adults is how long a whooping cough vaccine lasts.
“Whooping cough, you need it every five to 10 years,” Prof Philips said.
Those in contact with newborns need one every five years because it can be lethal for babies.
Experts say whooping cough is a disease that will never be eradicated, but its resurgence in the past ten years show people have not learnt the lessons of the past.
“We’re expecting to have an increase in cases over the next couple of years because the immunity that people have got is wearing off,” Dr Phillips said.
If you are due for your vaccination, speak to you doctor.
