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July 07, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Killer Cough Carried by Teens”

Weekend Australian (www.theaustralian.news.com.au) (07/05/03) P. 3;

Videnieks, Monica 

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization wants the

Australian government to give booster shots for whooping cough to 15- to

17-year-olds on the grounds that they may infect babies with the disease,

and the group has rejected the idea of immunizing infants under the age of

six weeks.  The National Health and Medical Research Council is to consider

the options before making a recommendation later this year.  New research

shows that infants too young to be immunized are becoming infected with

pertussis, some by their parents and others by young adults with no

vaccination or a weakened immunity.  There are approximately 5,000 cases of

whooping cough in Australia each year.