Australian States admit that adult whooping cough vaccination is not working.

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States ending free parent whooping

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http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/states-ending-free-parent-whooping-vaccine/story-e6frfku0-1226350174856

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 Chris

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,

Spokesperson

The Australian Vaccination Network, Inc.

Investigate before you vaccinate

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