Immunise your family to protect against whooping cough
With the current national whooping cough epidemic , it ’ s important to check that you and your family are up-to-date with your immunisations , especially if you ’ re pregnant or have a baby .
Since November 2017 , across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts , there have been 255 cases of whooping cough notifi ed to the local Medical Offi cer of Health .
Whooping cough ( also called pertussis ) can be a serious disease . It is caused by a bacterium that is easily spread by coughing and sneezing .
“ Symptoms usually start with a runny nose and dry cough . The coughing gets worse and is followed , particularly in babies , by diffi culty breathing ( referred to as ‘ whooping ’), and sometimes vomiting ,” says Dr Phil Shoemack , Medical Offi cer of Health .
Babies under one year old are most at risk of serious complications from whooping cough . They are often unable to feed or breathe properly so become very ill and may need to be admitted to hospital . “ The illness is usually milder in adults many of whom don ’ t realise they have whooping cough . Adults are often responsible for spreading the illness
and anyone with a cough should , if possible , avoid contact with young babies ,” says Dr Shoemack .
On-time immunisation is the best way to help protect babies , children , pregnant women and adults from whooping cough . Protection for babies begins in pregnancy with free immunisation for pregnant women between 28 and 38 weeks of pregnancy . “ By getting immunised each pregnancy , you pass on your immunity to your baby . This helps protect them from birth until their fi rst immunisation at 6 weeks old ,” says Dr Shoemack .
“ It is really important that babies get their fi rst immunisation on time at 6 weeks . If immunisation is delayed your baby is more at risk of catching whooping cough from others ,” says Dr Shoemack . After the 6 week immunisation , further free childhood immunisations are required for ongoing protection .
Contact your family doctor to check whether you , your baby and other family members are up to date with whooping cough and other immunisations and make an appointment if needed .
For more information visit www . toiteora . govt . nz / whooping _ cough
Mumps outbreak – protect you and your family with immunisation
New Zealand is experiencing a mumps outbreak . Although the outbreak is focused on Auckland , most parts of the country have been affected . In the last month 17 mumps cases in the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts have been notifi ed to the local Medical Offi cer of Health .
“ Immunisation with the MMR vaccine is the best protection against mumps – and it also protects against measles and rubella ,” says Dr Phil Shoemack , Medical Offi cer of Health .
MMR is recommended and free for anyone born since 1 January 1969 and is routinely given to children at 15 months and 4 years of age .
“ We strongly recommend that everyone checks whether they have received two doses of MMR vaccine . If you ’ re not up to date , please visit your family doctor to get immunised . MMR is free for anyone who needs it ,” says Dr Shoemack .
Teenagers and young adults aged 12 to 29 are at greatest risk of catching mumps because , due to changes in our national immunisation schedule , they may not have been fully immunised as children . If you ’ re not sure whether you or your family are up to date with immunisations , contact your family doctor to check .
Mumps is very infectious and spreads from person to person by coughing and sneezing , or through contact with infected saliva , such as by sharing food and drink . Symptoms of mumps infection include fever , headache and swelling over the cheek or jaw area on one or both sides of the face . Symptoms usually appear 2 to 3 weeks after contact with someone who is infectious . It is usually a mild illness that lasts about one week , but it can have serious complications . If you think you have symptoms of mumps please stay at home and phone your family doctor , or Healthline on 0800 611 116 , for advice . For more information about mumps visit www . toiteora . govt . nz / mumps
Celebration for Bay man who supported many
A special birthday celebration was held at Tauranga Hospital recently marking the 90th birthday of local man Brian Albrecht and honouring his many years as a volunteer supporting people who ’ ve lost their voice .
More than 25 years ago Brian had his voice box removed ( Laryngectomy ) due to throat cancer . Back in the day he was a smoker , a time when the health consequences of smoking were not widely known . Since then he ’ s dedicated his life to educating people young and old on what they can do to stay healthy .
He ’ s gone into classroom and shown school children how his artifi cial larynx works while talking to them about the harmful realities of smoking .
Brian ’ s also supported many people in the Bay of Plenty without a voice
BOPDHB Speech and Language Therapy Team Leader Fiona Hewerdine celebrates Brian Albrecht ’ s 90th birthday and his voluntary services to helping others . through the support group “ Lost Cord ” for those who have also had their voice boxes removed or to help coach those who are about to lose their voice box . He shows them how to use a speaking valve or artifi cial larynx .
“ Brian ’ s featured in training videos , posters and the like , that we use to support people both before and after having their voice boxes removed . These materials are also used to educate the public that talking in lots of different ways is still great communication .
“ It ’ s such a major life changing event and the work Brian has done really has made a difference . Brian we salute you .” says BOPDHB Speech and Language Therapy Team Leader Fiona Hewerdine .
The Lost Cord support group meets in Tauranga four times a year . For more details contact Fiona Hewerdine on 07 579 8788