This video shows chilling effects of whooping cough on babies
Waikato mum Stacey Illingworth is sharing footage of her baby’s struggle with whooping cough to help prevent other parents going through the same trauma.
Stacey and her daughter Sativah returned home to Te Aroha recently after spending five weeks in Waikato Hospital.
Because Sativah was too young to be fully immunised against whooping cough (pertussis), Ms Illingworth is encouraging all parents to be immunised, and try and avoid contact with anyone who is unwell, especially if they have a cough.
Video courtesy Waikato District Health Board.
www.waikatodhb.health.nz/whoopingcough
The Waikato District Health Board is offering free whooping cough vaccinations to women from 20 weeks of pregnancy up until to two weeks after the birth of their babies.
Several infants in the region have already fallen very ill after contracting the illness from family members.
Waikato DHB's Clare Colessays the outbreak is a national one, but the board feels so strongly about protecting babies it's funding the free vaccine.
Whooping cough is a very contagious illness which causes bouts of severe coughing.
The symptoms can last up to three months and can be especially severe in infants less than a year old.
