States admit that adult whooping cough vaccination is not working.

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States ending free parent whooping vaccine

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PARENTS across Australia will no longer receive free whooping cough vaccinations because it is not effective in protecting newborns from the

potentially deadly illness, a parliamentary committee has heard.

Since 2009 all states and territories except Tasmania have at some stage introduced the free parental vaccination program in an effort to shield infants from the illness.Whooping cough, a highly infectious airborne bacterial disease, can kill if complications cause lack of oxygen to the brain.It

is most serious in babies under a year old, with newborns susceptible as they are unable to be vaccinated until they are at least four months old.But at a n Parliamentary Accounts and Estimates Committee hearing on Tuesday, Department of Health divisional executive director Brook said states were abandoning the "cocooning" program

from June 30.He said the national Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) had determined vaccinating parents was not effective in protecting newborns, after two pharmaceutical manufacturers

made submissions to the PBAC."The PBAC, which is totally independent and very expert, has determined that there is no clinical effectiveness of this strategy," Professor Brook said.He said this had made it clear the cocooning strategy should not be continued."So

all jurisdictions who have been in this program will be effectively ceasing the cocooning strategy as of the end of June this year."In

the same hearing, n Health Minister said the initial decision to fund free parental vaccination was made "in light of

the best evidence that we had at that time".But asked by Labor MP Jill Hennessy if the government was "taking a massive gamble" withdrawing the free parental vaccine, given that whooping cough can kill babies, Mr supported the decision to now withdraw it."I

make decisions of this type on the basis of the evidence that's put to me by the department and by clinical experts," Mr said."There

has been a national committee meet to look at this and to make decisions on the basis of the best scientific evidence available ... the

evidence is that the strategy has not been effective."

Meryl Dorey,SpokespersonThe Australian Vaccination Network, Inc.Investigate before you vaccinateEditor,Living Wisdom MagazineFamily, Health, EnvironmentPO Box 177BANGALOW NSW 2479AUSTRALIAhttp://www.avn.org.auhttp://www.living-wisdom.comPhone: 02 6687 1699 FAX 02 6687 2032skype: ivmmagFreedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them -- and then, the opportunity to choose. - C. MillsThe authority of any governing institution must stop at its citizen's skin. - Gloria SteinemWe rely on the help and support of our members and subscribers to continue offering our services freely and without prejudice.Please consider helping us by joining the AVN as a member. Go to http://www.avn.org.au to become a member or donate to support our work.We also sell books, videos and DVDs on vaccination and other health issues. Go to http://shop.avn.org.au/ for more details.