A message from Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ

Kia ora koutou,

As you may have heard, health officials have declared a Pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak in New Zealand. We ask that you please share the attached information with your school community, whānau, and staff as soon as possible.

This is also a timely reminder to ensure your immunisation register is up to date. In the event of an outbreak, children who are not fully vaccinated may be required to stay home. This directive typically comes from the Medical Officer of Health and serves two purposes:

• To protect unvaccinated children, who are at greater risk of contracting the illness.

• To reduce the likelihood of the disease spreading to others in the community as unvaccinated children are also more likely to pass it on to others.

• If required, the Medical Officer of Health may request a copy of your kura's immunisation register.

• Whānau are encouraged to contact their GP to arrange vaccinations, adults can also book directly via Book My Vaccine - Vaccine Scheduling for an appointment at a pharmacy. The link to the vaccination schedule for the Boostrix vaccine is in the attached document.

Thank you for your assistance in keeping our communities safe and healthy.

Natasha Griffiths

Public health nurse

Community Health 4 Kids (CH4K)

National Public Health Service Te Manawa Taki

Bay of Plenty

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough is an infectious disease caused by bacteria and is spread through the community by coughing and sneezing, in the same way as colds and influenza. Young children, especially babies under six months, can become very ill from whooping cough.  Older children and adults get whooping cough too, which if not diagnosed and treated, may spread to young children.

What are the symptoms?

Whooping cough starts with a runny nose and dry cough. The cough gets worse over the next few weeks, often developing into very long coughing attacks. In babies and children these coughing attacks may end with a ‘whoop’ sound when breathing in, or end with vomiting.

What should be done to help prevent whooping cough?

• Immunisation is the best prevention - Parents should ensure that their children are up to date with their free routine childhood immunisations which include the immunisations against whooping cough. Children are further protected with booster vaccinations at four years and 11 years of age.

• Whooping cough immunisation is also recommended and free for women during pregnancy as this helps protect their baby from getting whooping cough when they are very young and before they can get their own routine immunisations starting at six weeks of age.

• A free dose of Pertussis vaccine (which also covers Tetanus and Diphtheria) is recommended for adults at age 45 and 65 years.

• Good hand hygiene is always beneficial, and it is important to remember to cover your cough and not to cough on, or near, babies.

If anyone has symptoms of whooping cough they should stay away from school and see their doctor for assessment and advice.

If a child or staff member is diagnosed with whooping cough by their GP they need to remain away from school until:

• They have completed two days of the antibiotic Azithromycin, or

• Five days of other appropriate antibiotics (including Erythromycin), or

• Three weeks from onset of cough if no antibiotics given.

Further information on whooping cough and immunisation:

• Whooping Cough (Pertussis) | Toi Te Ora Public Health

• Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination | NZ immunisations | Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ

• Whooping Cough | KidsHealth NZ