Proof pregnancy booster shot for whooping cough saves babies
THE pregnancy booster shot for whooping cough has reduced hospitalisations in babies by 94 per cent, a new study of NSW mothers and babies shows.
NSW
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THE science is in — The Sunday Telegraph can exclusively reveal the free whooping cough booster, which was introduced in 2015, has saved babies.
An Australia-first study of the program has shown the booster, which provides antibodies through the mother’s placenta to the unborn child, has reduced the chance of infants with the illness being hospitalised by 94 per cent.
Riley Hughes died in 2015, aged four weeks, from whooping cough. The Sunday Telegraph mounted a campaign calling on all states and territories to introduce the free pregnancy booster, which had been show to reduced deaths from whooping cough in the UK by 90 per cent.
The state government responded and began the program on April 1, 2015.
The NSW Health study, published in the journal Vaccine this month, included 234 infants from NSW, half of whom had contracted the highly contagious respiratory disease.
Babies are too young to be vaccinated before six weeks of age, leaving them vulnerable, however the pregnancy booster does provide some protection to babies in those early weeks the study has shown.
“In the off-chance that a baby of a vaccinated pregnant woman contracted the illness, the study found the baby was 94 per cent less likely to require hospitalisation compared with infants of mothers who were not vaccinated,” NSW Health’s Director of Communicable Diseases, Dr Vicky Sheppeard said.
Catherine Hughes said the results were amazing.
“This pregnancy vaccine is revolutionary, it’s such a lifesaving intervention and ever since Riley died we wanted this to happen. I’m impressed how effective it is. This is Riley’s legacy. Mums can protect their babies from this terrible disease,” Mrs Hughes said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the program, which has cost $6 million so far, had been a great success.
“Not a single child has died from whooping cough since the NSW Government introduced a free whooping cough vaccine for pregnant women,” Mr Hazzard said.
Toni McCaffery, whose month-old daughter Dana died of whooping cough in 2009 said she was thrilled with the results but had written to the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt asking for the booster to be added to the National Immunisation Program rather than being funded by the states.
“This research provides further proof that the maternal booster is saving lives,” she said.
On average, 1500 children under five years have had whooping cough in NSW each year since 2009. There have been four infant fatalities, the last in August 2014.
When Sophie Forsterling gave birth to her baby girl last Wednesday, she took comfort in the fact Mila was protected against whooping cough.
Mrs Fosterling, 32, had her pregnancy booster a few months back, providing Mila with antibodies against whooping cough which is deadly to newborns who are otherwise too young to be vaccinated.
“I was happy to have the booster to protect my baby because I know how deadly it is,” the Bondi mum of two said.
Carli Johnston and her fiance David Francis felt the same way. Ms Johnston had her pregnancy booster 20 weeks into her pregnancy and Mr Francis had a booster as well. Baby Mason, born last week, is protected.
“I’d do everything in my power to make sure he will not be at risk of anything that could harm him,” the Rose Bay mum said.