Safer Pregnancies: Health Ministry Launches Whooping Cough Vaccine

By next year, pregnant women all over the country will receive the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) vaccine. It's an initiative by the Health Ministry to prevent the spread of pertussis or whooping cough. Health Minister, Dr Zaliha Mustafa said that all pregnant women, including non-citizens, will be given a dose of the vaccine. It will be given to those that are in their second or third trimester of pregnancy, which is between the 13th to 36th of pregnancy. Pregnant women can get the Tdap vaccine at the ministry's premier health facilities nationwide. Dr Zaliha said that the new initiative involves an annual allocation of RM25 million. This would cover an estimated of 500 thousand pregnant women nationwide every year. The Purpose of the Vaccine This vaccine will give protection to foetus until the baby is born. It will protect the babies until they can complete the three primary doses of pertussis vaccine at the age of five months. Babies below five months are at the highest risk of contracting pertussis. They are also at a higher risk to experience other complications like pneumonia, encephalopathy, and even death. A baby's body can only reach an optimal level of protection when the baby has received the three doses of pertussis vaccine. According to Dr Zaliha, there are 173 cases of pertussis comprised of babies under five months old. Out of the 173 cases, there are 19 fatality cases. With the Tdap vaccine, the antibodies of the mum are transferred to the baby in the womb. This can prevent the infection of pertussis among babies below five months. Potential Side Effects Like many other vaccines, the Tdap is no exception when it comes to side effects. However, the side effects of the Tdap vaccines are usually mild, according to Healthline and they go away on their own. Some of the mild side effects may include: mild pain, redness or swelling at the injection site fatigue body aches headache nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea mild fever injected arm swelling However, there are also some reported severe and rare side effects of the vaccine, that would include: severe swelling, pain or bleeding at injection site very high fever signs of allergic reaction If this happens when you get the shot, do seek medical attention. Remember to Get Vaccinated, Mums! When the Health Ministry gets the supply of the vaccines, don't forget to get the vaccine if you are pregnant. The free vaccination drive will be available sometime next year and information regarding it will be posted from time to time. Keep following us on Motherhood for the latest updates, mummies! Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner. For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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