Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Increase in whooping cough highlights the importance of vaccination
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
An increase in the number of cases of whooping cough in Wales has led Public Health Wales to call on parents to ensure their children receive all their vaccinations.
Between January and October 23rd this year, there have been 37 confirmed cases of whooping cough across Wales. This compares to a total of 14 confirmed cases in Wales during the whole of 2010.
Vaccination is the most important control measure in preventing this disease.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a serious illness, especially in the very young. The main symptoms are severe coughing fits which, in babies and children, are accompanied by the characteristic ?whoop? sound as the child gasps for breath after coughing. These symptoms commonly last for about six weeks.
Children are offered whooping cough vaccine at two, three and four months of age as part of the combined 5 in 1 vaccine. They should receive a booster at three years four months of age before they start school. It is important that children receive all these doses so that they can build up and keep high levels of immunity to the disease.
Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme, Public Health Wales, said: ?Whooping cough has peaks of incidence about every three to four years and the last peak was in 2008. Making sure children are up to date with their vaccinations is really important.
?Vaccination is very effective at preventing this serious disease. Not only does it stop them from catching the disease but it also prevents them from passing it on to younger brothers or sisters, who may be too young to have received a full course of vaccination. Whooping cough is particularly serious in young babies so it is important to get vaccinated on time.?
Anyone with concerns about their health should contact their GP or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.
More information about whooping cough is available from this website at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/43691
The latest information on vaccination uptake rates is available on the Public Health Wales Health Protection website at:
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgid=457&pid=54144
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
An increase in the number of cases of whooping cough in Wales has led Public Health Wales to call on parents to ensure their children receive all their vaccinations.
Between January and October 23rd this year, there have been 37 confirmed cases of whooping cough across Wales. This compares to a total of 14 confirmed cases in Wales during the whole of 2010.
Vaccination is the most important control measure in preventing this disease.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a serious illness, especially in the very young. The main symptoms are severe coughing fits which, in babies and children, are accompanied by the characteristic ?whoop? sound as the child gasps for breath after coughing. These symptoms commonly last for about six weeks.
Children are offered whooping cough vaccine at two, three and four months of age as part of the combined 5 in 1 vaccine. They should receive a booster at three years four months of age before they start school. It is important that children receive all these doses so that they can build up and keep high levels of immunity to the disease.
Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme, Public Health Wales, said: ?Whooping cough has peaks of incidence about every three to four years and the last peak was in 2008. Making sure children are up to date with their vaccinations is really important.
?Vaccination is very effective at preventing this serious disease. Not only does it stop them from catching the disease but it also prevents them from passing it on to younger brothers or sisters, who may be too young to have received a full course of vaccination. Whooping cough is particularly serious in young babies so it is important to get vaccinated on time.?
Anyone with concerns about their health should contact their GP or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.
More information about whooping cough is available from this website at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/43691
The latest information on vaccination uptake rates is available on the Public Health Wales Health Protection website at:
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/page.cfm?orgid=457&pid=54144