Whooping cough: Information for Aboriginal families

​​​​​The good thing about our mob is the closeness of family and community and get-togethers but the down side is that it means sickness like whooping cough (pertussis) can spread quickly.

The best ways to protect babies is to prevent the people around them from getting sick with whooping cough. Mums can also give bubs some protection by getting vaccinated in the third trimester of each pregnancy. Once bub is born, a vaccination can help protect them from whooping cough too.

Watch out for ​new coughs 

• ​​Watch out for new coughs in family members, especially if there is a baby in the house.
• Someone with a new cough could have whooping cough. Whooping cough starts like a cold with a blocked or runny nose, sore throat and a cough but turns into a bad cough that won't go away. The cough can be worse at night. 
• Babies can get really sick quickly. They can stop feeding properly and can even stop breathing if they catch whooping cough. 
  
• Adults can also get whooping cough and pass it on. 
• Anyone with a new cough should stay away from babies in case they pass it on. 
• Anyone with a new cough should get checked out by a doctor or at your Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) as soon as possible. 
• Your doctor can do a test for whooping cough and can give you medicine (antibiotics). This medicine can reduce the spread of whooping cough to other people. Your doctor can also give you more information about whooping cough. 
• ​You can still spread whooping cough for the three weeks you take medicine and you should still watch out for coughs and blocked or runny noses.​
  

Why is it importan​t to get babies vaccinated on time?

• Newborn babies are most at risk of getting really sick because they are so little. Please protect your newborn from whooping cough​ and speak to your doctor or AMS.
• Get babies vaccinated on time. This helps protect them against whooping cough.
• In the third trimester of every pregnancy get vaccinated to give your baby some short-term protection until they are old enough to get their own vaccinations at six weeks.
  

How do we p​revent other people from getting whooping cough?

• ​By preventing whooping cough in people who are around babies the most means babies are less likely to get sick from whooping cough.
  
• Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent whooping cough. Please talk to a doctor or AMS team and ask if you should get vaccinated.
• Older children can get whooping cough booster vaccines either from the doctor or AMS or through school based programs. 
  
• If you have been exposed to whooping cough recently in your household, then you may need antibiotics to protect yourself from developing whooping cough. 
  
• If you are concerned about your child’s health call your doctor or healthdirect ​​​​on1800 022 222​ for free 24-hour health advice. 
  
• If your child has difficulty breathing call Triple Zero (000) immediately – this is an emergency.  Older children get whooping cough booster vaccines (see immunisation) either from the doctor or AMS or