South Zone pertussis program expanded

Pregnant women in third trimester offered pertussis vaccine through appointment

SOUTH ZONE – Due to sustained high rates of pertussis in Alberta Health Services (AHS) South Zone, AHS is expanding the routine pertussis immunization program in the Zone – as of today – by offering pertussis vaccine to women in their third trimester of each pregnancy, regardless of previous pertussis immunization.

Offering vaccine to women in the third trimester of pregnancy is an important step in protecting infants, who are the most vulnerable to developing severe complications from pertussis.

“The rates of pertussis we’re seeing in the South Zone at this time suggest that there is a greater than normal risk of pertussis, especially for unimmunized individuals,” says South Zone Medical Officer of Health Karin Goodison. “Immunization is not only safe and protective for pregnant women, it provides immunity to their infants after birth, protecting these infants before they’re old enough to be immunized themselves.”

Women in South Zone who are 26 or more weeks pregnant are encouraged to contact their physician or local community health centre (public health) to book an appointment for this immunization. Patients should call ahead to confirm availability. Please note that pertussis vaccine will not be offered through influenza immunization clinics that are currently underway.

As always, AHS encourages all caregivers and family members of young infants to ensure they are up-to-date on all vaccines. Parents should also ensure their children are fully immunized, for their age, according to the routine childhood immunization schedule.

Pertussis is a bacterial infection that causes severe coughing that lasts for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage and even death.

Approximately two-thirds of pertussis cases confirmed to date in the South Zone involved individuals who were unimmunized or under-immunized for their age.

“We know that rates of pertussis immunization in South Zone are lower than other Zones of AHS,” says Goodison. “We all play a part in protecting each other. Please get immunized.”

For rates of pertussis disease and immunization of cases (by AHS Zone), please see the attached backgrounder.

For more information on pertussis disease, please visit http://immunizealberta.ca/i-need-know-more/diseases-covered/pertussis-whooping-cough.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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