Vaccine shortage a cause for concern

An increased demand for the Boostrix vaccination has resulted in some shortages, according to the Murrumbidgee Local Health District, but pregnant women, babies and children continue to have access to the pertussis vaccine.

NSW Health has sufficient supplies of Boostrix for government-funded programs and the new antenatal program and the State Vaccine Centre has stocks for babies and toddlers in NSW.

But the shortage of the booster shot for people outside these programs is causing concern for Wagga mother Jessica Murray whose son, Ben Tilyard, had whooping cough as a baby.

Ben, now six years old, showed his first signs at three weeks old with a cough.

He was coughing for hours at a time until he vomited or passed out.

“We suspected whooping cough but it was dismissed,” she said.

“The doctors were telling us it was nothing and whooping cough wasn’t around but it was at the start of this epidemic.

It was not until a visit to the pediatrician, where Ben stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated, that he was hospitalised.

Ben was put on oxygen at Wagga Base Hospital and isolated as they awaited test results for whooping cough.

The blood test was negative but the nasal swab confirmed Miss Murray’s suspicions.

The pediatrician called hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne to find an available spot for Ben, who required monitoring and treatment.

Ben was transferred to Sydney Children’s Hospital and spent two weeks in the isolation ward before returning to Wagga for another three weeks in hospital.

Ben still suffers respiratory problems and has epilepsy, which doctors said could have been caused by the prolonged periods with a lack of oxygen.

Miss Murray said the delayed diagnosis of Ben’s condition put other people, especially children and babies at risk.

“I still went to visit people because they said he was fine,” she said.

“Then I had to sit and make phone calls to everyone I came in contact with.”

The source of Ben’s whooping cough infection remains unknown and it is why Miss Murray is adamant people keep their whooping cough vaccinations current.

“Because people think it’s just a little cough, adults can have it and not realise they have something serious,” she said.

“That’s the problem with whooping cough.

“And that’s why boosters and vaccinations can help you.”