Whooping cough infant death sparks renewed push for vaccine at birth
27 March 2009
The recent death of a 4-week-old baby in NSW following complications of whooping cough has led to renewed calls for babies to receive the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine at birth.
Dr Nick Wood, clinical fellow at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), said vaccinating at birth would probably reduce the incidence of infant death from whooping cough. However, he said there still had been no large studies conducted to confirm effectiveness, despite previous calls for such research.
Dr Wood has previously presented data showing that infants vaccinated against whooping cough at birth and at one month were protected against the disease by the age of 2 months (Medical Observer, 26 September, 2008).
‘There have been studies showing that first priming dose was protective. That might be enough to stop babies getting really severe pertussis and dying,’ he said.
Research co-authored by NCIRS director Professor Peter McIntyre found vaccinating against whooping cough at birth was more cost-effective than first vaccination at one month, or vaccinating parents.
Last Reviewed: 27 March 2009
