Pertussis alert
The number of notified cases of pertussis (whooping cough) has increased sharply in Victoria, with a 48% increase occurring between December 2007 and December 2008. There have been 37 notified cases of Pertussis within BDDGP from January 1 to March 6 2009 1.
Babies are at risk from birth as no pertussis protection is passed from mother to newborn infant. Pertussis vaccination is offered as part of the National Immunisation Program for children at 2, 4, 6 months, at 4 years and in year 10 of secondary school (or 15 years of age). A child who has received less than three doses of a pertussis containing vaccine should be considered at risk of pertussis.
People become immune either through pertussis immunisation or by catching the disease itself, but protection is not life long and begins to wane after 6-10 years.
Please encourage those in the below groups to have an adult pertussis booster vaccine (combined with diphtheria and tetanus), providing they have previously completed a primary (childhood) course of vaccine:
- Adults before planning pregnancy or for both parents as soon as possible after birth
- Adults working with or caring for very young babies, especially health-care workers and child-care workers
Adults without primary course of pertussis vaccine
In response to queries regarding adults who have not received a primary course of pertussis vaccine, the Australian Immunisation Handbook (9th edition 2008) addresses this scenario.
There is a specific recommendation to give adolescent/adult formulation dTpa as the first dose of an adult primary course, specifically to provide pertussis immunity as early as possible:
If a 3-dose primary course of diphtheria/tetanus toxoids is given to an adolescent/adult without a previous history of having received pertussis containing vaccine, the preferred option is that dTpa replace the first dose of dT, to provide pertussis immunity as early as possible, with subsequent doses as dT.
Immunisation providers should check the detailed recommendations in the handbook and if they have any further queries they should contact the DHS immunisation program on 1300 882 008.
Advice on whooping cough for clinicians
1 http://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/downloads/daily_reports/statewide/rptDGPSummary.pdf
