Green Cross Health, the group behind Unichem and Life Pharmacies, has partnered with the Midlands Community Pharmacy Group to offer the vaccinations free to women who are 28-38 weeks pregnant in selected pharmacies throughout the Waikato region.
“This is a New Zealand first and provides another convenient option for pregnant mums to keep themselves and their little ones safe by vaccinating against what can be a highly infectious and severe illness. We encourage expectant mothers to get protected with a vaccination either at one of our participating pharmacies, or at their local GP or health centre,” says Green Cross Health Professional Services Manager, Alison Van Wyk.
The announcement comes on the back of recent information showing whooping cough is on the rise amongst adults in the Waikato region. Currently only 20 percent of pregnant women are getting the vaccine in the latter stages of pregnancy, exposing new born infants to significant risk should they come into contact with the disease.
Whooping cough has a high mortality rate among babies, with seven out of eight deaths from the disease occurring in infants under three months old.
Ms Van Wyk says the new initiative is aimed at helping families create a circle of protection around their newborn child as many babies come into contact with the disease from close family members such as siblings, parents and grandparents.
“It’s important that family members are aware of the risks and do what they can to keep their babies protected. We urge all those who will be in close contact with a new born to get vaccinated and to take responsibility for protecting our most vulnerable,” she says.
While the vaccine is not funded for family members, it can be accessed conveniently and affordably through selected pharmacies.
“We applaud the decision by the Waikato DHB to fund availability of the vaccine for women who are 28-38 weeks pregnant through community pharmacies who have trained vaccinators. This is all about convenience and access, as many pharmacies are open extended hours and weekends and no appointment is needed,” Ms Van Wyk says.
According to the latest Ministry of Health data there are on average 70 new cases of whooping cough per month in New Zealand. Statistics show Maori and Pacific infants have the highest mortality and morbidity rates.
At first, whooping cough symptoms can seem just like a normal cold, but this is also when the disease is at its most infectious making it easy to unwittingly spread the disease. It can remain infectious 3-4 weeks after the cough starts and can cause prolonged illness and damage long after the disease is gone.
All whooping cough vaccinations given by pharmacies to pregnant women will be entered into the national immunisations register. Ms Van Wyk says the success of the programme in the Waikato will be monitored closely and if uptake is positive, it may be appropriate for a more widespread roll-out to be considered.
Ends
Editor’s notes
Pharmacists at selected Unichem and Life Pharmacies are able to provide the whooping cough vaccine to adults 18 years and older.
If you are between 28-38 weeks pregnant you may qualify to get your whooping cough vaccine FREE at these pharmacies in the Waikato region.
| Pharmacy Name | Address 1 | Address 2 | City | Phone |
| Life Pharmacy Centre Place | Centre Place | 501 Victoria Street | HAMILTON | 07 834 2148 |
| Life Pharmacy Chartwell Square | Shop 123 | Westfield | HAMILTON | 07 8556024 |
| Life Pharmacy Matamata | 54 Arawa Street | MATAMATA | 07 881 9022 | |
| Life Pharmacy The Base | Shop R29 Te Awa | The Base Te Rapa | HAMILTON | 07 853 0205 |
| Unichem Beerescourt Pharmacy | 1365 Victoria Street | Beerescourt | HAMILTON | 07 838 2319 |
| Unichem Cambridge Pharmacy | 52 Victoria Street | CAMBRIDGE | 07 823 0700 | |
| Unichem Davies Corner Pharmacy | 29 Hukanui Road | Fairfield | HAMILTON | 07 855 5389 |
| Unichem Flagstaff Pharmacy | TLC Building | 1158 River Road | HAMILTON | 07 854 0445 |
| Unichem Glenview Pharmacy | 143 Ohaupo Road | Melville | HAMILTON | 07 843 6097 |
| Unichem Grey Street Pharmacy | 354 Grey Street | Hamilton East | HAMILTON | 07 856 6422 |
| Unichem Heather Moore's Pharmacy | 546 Pollen Street | THAMES | 07 868 6363 | |
| Unichem Leamington Pharmacy | 127 Shakespeare Street | Leamington | CAMBRIDGE | 07 827 7283 |
| Unichem Marshalls Pharmacy | 156 Teasdale Street | | TE AWAMUTU | 07 871 4918 |
| Unichem Morrinsville Pharmacy | 72 Studholme Street | | MORRINSVILLE | 07 889 8160 |
| Unichem Putaruru Pharmacy | 20 Princes Street | | PUTARURU | 07 883 7599 |
| Unichem Rototuna Pharmacy | 14-16 Rototuna Retail Centre | 44 Horsham Downs Road | HAMILTON | 07 854 6952 |
| Unichem Stephenson’s Pharmacy | 64 Albert Street | PO Box 56 | WHITIANGA | 07 866 5319 |
| Unichem Te Rapa Pharmacy | St Andrews Medical Centre | 26 Bryant Road | HAMILTON | 07 849 0848 |
What can happen to my baby?
Symptoms in babies can be serious and sometimes even life-threatening and can include:
• hospitalisation
• pneumonia
• death
• seizures
• brain damage
Facts about Whooping Cough
- Whooping cough can be very serious for babies and children – especially those under one year old. To protect your baby, get your free immunisation between 28-38 weeks of pregnancy and take your baby for their free immunisation when they’re 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months old.
- Immunity to whooping cough reduces over time and it is recommended that you are vaccinated every 10 years and during each pregnancy.
- Parents are the most likely source of whooping cough infection for vulnerable young babies.
- Adults who have the vaccination can help reduce exposure of young babies to whooping cough.
For more information please contact:
Debbie Yardley | Green Cross Health
021 470 773
debbie.yardley@greencrosshealth.co.nz