April 20, 2023
Drive on to get hapu mama immunised
A south Auckland health leader says a big drive is on to get hapu māma immunised against whooping cough.
Dr Andrew Connolly, the chief medical officer of health for Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Health, says so far about 50 percent of pregnant women but only 25 percent of pregnant Māori have had the shot.
Immunisation at that stage passes though the whenua/placenta to the pēpi, offering protection for its first year.
There’s concern pertussis or whooping cough is reaching epidemic levels, with three pēpi dying so far this year.
“These diseases are terribly dangerous and they are preventable. Coming into winter is a really good time for all of us to consider are we up to date with our vaccinations and things. These things like the pertussis vaccine for whooping cough have been around for many years so we know they’re extremely safe,” Dr Connolly says
People should also be getting flu jabs, covid boosters and other vaccines.