Whoopng cough epidemic: Get infants vaccinated on time, expert says

An immunisation leader says New Zealand has a long way to go in its latest epidemic.

Yesterday health agencies declared a whooping cough epidemic after 263 cases were confirmed in the last month, and have warned vaccination rates are too low.

Immunisation Advisory Centre founder Nikki Turner told Saturday Morning there was no quick fix, but people should get vaccinated now.

"The epidemic is probably going to continue long and slow. It's going to last 12, probably 18 months," she said.

"What we need to do is to protect as many most vulnerable people as possible from it.

"It's highly infectious, it's way more infectious than Covid," Turner said.

"If you're standing in a room you can spread it to everyone"

"You can get vaccinated now and the protection will kick in in about two weeks," she said

The priority should be vaccinating young people with little airways who are at the highest risk of severe infection, she said.

"Lets try and get all our infants vaccinated on time, starting at six weeks of age. If we delay, we're leaving our infants at risk."

Adults should also be wary, she said.

"If you do get a cough that is... paroxysmal (intermittent attacks of uncontrollable coughing), then go and talk to your doctor, to your healthcare professional and get some antibiotics to try and reduce its effects."

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