Twenty-one Auckland schools have had cases of whooping cough in the past month, RNZ reported on 3 November, after the school holidays. It said 37 cases had been reported in Auckland in the past three weeks.
Lavinia Perumal, Health NZ's clinical director of public health for the northern region, told RNZ that cases in schools and early childhood centres had risen from four in September. She said the situation was not at epidemic or outbreak levels, but public health teams were monitoring it closely.
Mount Albert Grammar, which has more than 3700 students, told parents on Monday night that it was one of the schools with a notified case, RNZ reported. The school passed on a letter from Health NZ saying there was a small chance students or teachers had been infected. The risk was low, the letter said, but anyone with symptoms should stay home, and people should take care if they have a baby or an immunocompromised person at home.
Why babies are the main concern
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, causes severe coughing fits and can make breathing difficult. Health NZ says the cough can last weeks or months, which is why it is sometimes called the "100 day cough". It spreads easily through coughing and sneezing, including within families and at schools and early childhood centres.
Perumal told RNZ symptoms can be mild but can also include a severe cough and difficulty breathing, and that the disease is particularly dangerous for babies. Health NZ says more than half of babies under 12 months who catch it need hospital care, and up to 1 in 50 of those babies die.
RNZ noted that the biggest outbreak this year was in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and central North Island lakes in January and February, with 132 cases over six weeks. Health NZ's vaccine page says whooping cough is not under control in New Zealand and that, when outbreaks occur, thousands of people are affected.
Perumal told RNZ that when public health staff are notified of a case, they assess who else is at risk, including vulnerable people in the same household. In some cases those people can be offered preventive antibiotics.
The free vaccine schedule
Health NZ says whooping cough vaccines are free for pregnant women, all children under 18, and some adults at 45 and 65. Protection from the vaccine weakens over time, so the schedule includes boosters:
- Every pregnancy. Free from 13 weeks, and most effective from 16 weeks. Health NZ says the mother's immunity passes to the baby through the placenta and protects them until their first doses.
- Babies. Three doses, at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months.
- Age 4. A booster before starting school.
- From age 11. A booster, available through some schools for Year 7 students and free from a doctor, nurse or other health provider.
- Adults. Health NZ recommends a booster at least every 10 years for people who work with young children or vulnerable people, live with a newborn, or have a higher risk of severe illness, such as chronic respiratory disease. A free dose is offered to some people from 45 (if they have had fewer than four tetanus doses in their life) and to everyone from 65 (if it has been more than 10 years since their last tetanus and diphtheria or tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough vaccine).
People who are not eligible for a free dose can pay. Health NZ puts the cost at between $40 and $90 depending on where you book.
The vaccine is given as part of combined shots, so you cannot have whooping cough protection on its own, Health NZ says.
Booking
For people aged 11 and over, Health NZ says vaccinations can be booked online or by phone on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday). For children aged 10 and under, book directly with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. If you are not enrolled with a GP, our guide on how to enrol with a GP explains the steps.
Perumal told RNZ that anyone who is unwell with symptoms that could be whooping cough should get advice from a health professional. Anyone unsure whether their child's boosters are up to date can ask their GP or nurse to check the immunisation record.
