- From 1 June 2015 the Department of Health & Human Services is funding pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine for all pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation. This provides two-for-one protection with the mother passing antibodies to the baby in utero.
- The following groups will become eligible for free pertussis vaccine from 1 June 2015:
- pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation during every pregnancy
- partners of women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant if the partner has not received a pertussis booster in the last ten years
- parents/guardians of babies born on or after 1 June 2015, if their baby is under six months of age and they have not received a pertussis booster in the last ten years.
- Prepare to implement the new pertussis program from 1 June 2015.
- Continue to offer government funded influenza vaccine to pregnant women during any trimester of pregnancy.
- The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women should receive the highest priority for seasonal influenza immunisations. This recommendation is based on “compelling evidence of a substantial risk of severe disease in pregnant women, the evidence that vaccination is effective against severe disease, and the evidence supporting secondary protection of infants under 6 months, in whom disease burden is also high”.
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists strongly supports routine influenza vaccination of pregnant women at any time during pregnancy.
- Unfortunately, many pregnant women are missing out on the benefits of influenza vaccination. Recent Australian research indicates the most common reason for not being vaccinated was that it was not recommended to them by their health care provider.