Free whooping cough vaccines are now available for eligible parents. From June 1, all women more than 28 weeks’ pregnant, and their partners, and all parents and guardians of newborn babies under six months’ old, are eligible for free vaccination. The state government-funded program was reinstated this year in response to a spike in whooping cough cases. As of April 20, the number of whooping cough cases across all ages in Victoria was 1776, compared with 917 at the same time last year. The vaccine will be provided by GPs, maternity hospitals, obstetricians and councils. The free pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine also protects against diphtheria and tetanus. Both Whittlesea and Hume councils hold day and evening immunisation sessions at venues across the municipalities. Call your council to find out more.
