Whooping cough

[age.s]

Apparently instances of whooping cough are rising sharply. 38606 cases were reported in 2011, compared to just 4863 in 2007.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...g-cough-epidemic/story-e6frg8h6-1226337795424

2 people have been diagnosed at work, my boss is one of them and the other is a staff member of mine. Given it's a highly contagious disease I'm feeling pretty vulnerable. I don't have young children, but I'm getting married in September and would rather not be hacking and spluttering my way through the vows.

I feel ok at the moment, no worse than normal (if a little tired), but I hear the virus has an incubation period. I guess the question is whether or not anything can be done during that period to ward it off or should I just be bracing myself?

 

[Thomas]

You can go and get a vaccination for it. I did last year because my wife is a teacher and is exposed to kids whose parents don't believe in vaccinations.

 

[gUt]

idiot hippies prefer disease

 

[Cliffhanger]

They vaccinated us against it when I was at school.

 

[age.s]

They vaccinated us against it when I was at school.

The vaccination only lasts 5-10 years apparently. I was vaccinated as a child as well.

I guess it couldn't hurt to get vaccinated, but is it likely to do anything if I've already got the virus (but not yet showing symptoms)?

 

[AlwaysGreen]

If you've received the full regime of vaccinations from infancy to teenage years you should be covered. A blood test will tell you if you have sufficient antibodies and then from there decide on the booster.

Responsible immunization nurses and GPs don't just whack you with a vaccine, they'll do bloods beforehand.

 

[bazza]

The vaccination against whooping cough is also included in a tetanus shot. I think it lasts for 7 years if you have had one of those recently.
The vaccination is bulk billed just have to give them a good reason

 

[Mong]

The Government has stopped funding the whooping cough vaccination so get in quick if your GP still has any left. I got the last one at my GP on Wednesday. Includes tetanus as you say though.

 

[Spot On]

Yeah for some reason many people in Australia have an issue with vaccinating their children against disease. Don't like to see their kids protected from illness???? Get vaccinated, Case closed.

 

[Thomas]

Yeah for some reason many people in Australia have an issue with vaccinating their children against disease. Don't like to see their kids protected from illness???? Get vaccinated, Case closed.

It's not just Australia. It's happening around the world. There was a fair bit of misinformation about vaccinations causing autism going around a few years ago and a lot of parents believed it. It has since been proven false and the "doctor" who wrote the article has been slammed.

 

[gUt]

His name is Andrew Wakefield and he's a simple criminal. He and the idiot celebrities who think they know better than medical science have killed many people.

 

[Thomas]

Yeah, that's the merkin.

Pfft, science! What has it ever done for us!?

 

[Spot On]

It's not just Australia. It's happening around the world. There was a fair bit of misinformation about vaccinations causing autism going around a few years ago and a lot of parents believed it. It has since been proven false and the "doctor" who wrote the article has been slammed.

Apparently the North Coast of NSW has one of the lowest rates of immunisation against whooping cough in the developed World.

 

[cleary89]

Had this girl in my class, half hour late to school every day and mums like 45 mins late to pick her up in the arvo.

Found out she had been diagnosed with whooping cough on a wednesday and was sent to school thursday, friday and monday until it clicked it was her with it. f**k some parents are drop kicks. I had a cold at the time too so was shitting myself.

 

[Thomas]

Apparently the North Coast of NSW has one of the lowest rates of immunisation against whooping cough in the developed World.

Indeed. A good friend of mine lives in Mullumbimby and was completely terrified raising her 3 boys there.

 

[joshie]

I got it in 2009. It was terrible.