​Public Health has issued the following information about whooping cough:

     KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT WHOOPING COUGH:

     The Fredericton area has been experiencing a whooping cough outbreak that began in January 2019.

          There are vaccines to help prevent whooping cough. Whooping cough vaccine is recommended for:

Babies & children

Preteens & teens

Pregnant women

Adults

         In the regional outbreak, almost all adults with whooping cough did not have their booster vaccine dose.

         Children get at least 5 vaccine doses to be fully protected against whooping cough disease.

         Whooping cough is also known as pertussis and “the 100 day cough.”

          Teenagers should receive a booster dose of Pertussis containing vaccine, usually in grade 7.

           Adults should receive one dose of Pertussis containing vaccine to maintain protection. 

           Pregnant women should receive  Pertussis containing vaccine  with every pregnancy,

            Children under one year can become very sick with whooping cough and develop complications that require a stay in hospital. Infants are   not old enough to          have all the whooping cough vaccine doses to be fully protected.

           Whooping cough gets its name from the “whoop” sound made when somebody with the disease gasps for air after a fit of coughing. 

          Talk with your or your child’s health care professional or public health if you have questions about whooping cough vaccines.

          Wash your hands often.

          Stay home from work and school if you are sick.

    Cover a cough, throw out soiled tissues.​

 You can find more information about this disease in the available Fact Sheet at:

http://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/CDC/FactSheets/Pertussisfactsheet.pdf

 NB Routine Immunization Schedule: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/pdf/en/CDC/Immunization/RoutineImmunizationSchedule.pdf