A number of pharmacies throughout the Waikato region have started offering free pertussis (whooping cough) vaccinations to pregnant women.

It's a first for New Zealand and provides another avenue for pregnant women who are 28-38 weeks pregnant to receive the vaccination which is also available to them for free at general practices and health centres.

On the Coromandel, the three pharmacies offering free pertussis vaccinations are Pollen Street Pharmacy and Unichem Heather Moore's Pharmacy in Thames, and Unichem Stephenson's Pharmacy in Whitianga.

Recent information confirms the numbers of pertussis cases in the Waikato region amongst adults are again on the rise, but at present, only 20 per cent of pregnant women receive vaccination in the latter stages of pregnancy.

Waikato District Health Board primary and integrated health clinical director Dr Damian Tomic says the initiative significantly improves access and choice for pregnant women around pertussis vaccination and the board will be monitoring whether vaccination rates increase.

'All pertussis vaccinations given by pharmacies to pregnant women will be entered into the national immunisations register ensuring general practices are kept informed when their patients receive a vaccination.”

A recent report from the Child and Youth Mortality Committee highlighted the impact of pertussis on infants too young to have gained protection from their own vaccinations.

According to the report both mortality and morbidity rates are highest for those aged less than three-months, with seven of the eight deaths reported occurring in this age range.

Medical officer of health and public health physician Dr Felicity Dumble equally endorses the new initiative.

'This reinforces the importance of maternal booster doses of Boostrix vaccine (Tdap) in the third trimester of pregnancy to protect both mother and child. Pertussis vaccine is both safe and effective, and now funded, for women at 28-38 weeks gestation.

'It is important that all health professionals are aware of this and support and enable pregnant women to receive this free vaccine. This is particularly important for Maori and Pacific women as the mortality and morbidity rates are highest among Maori and Pacific infants.”

To view the full list of Waikato pharmacies offering the free pertussis vaccinations visit: www.midcpg.co.nz

For more information on Pertussis (Whooping Cough) visit the Waikato District Health Board's website at: www.waikatodhb.health.nz/pertussis