Immunisations - Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis Vaccine (dTpa)
 

Hello,

I have got a job in syndey as a nurse I am going through the gruelling task of waiting for my registration :(
My future employers say that I need to be immunised against pertussis but this is not a vaccine that is regularly offered in the UK, i wondered if anyone else had this problem and if they managed to arrange for this jab before leaving

thank you in advance for any help

sam

Re: Immunisations - Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis Vaccine (dTpa)
 

It is possible to have the vaccination in the UK before leaving, info here. Alternatively, you can get it done when you get here. I had to have various vaccinations last year prior to clinical placements and I think that whooping cough was one of them.

Re: Immunisations - Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis Vaccine (dTpa)
 

Did you not have it as a child? It's given routinely in the triple vaccine in infancy (plus a pre school booster) unless it's withheld for medical reasons, or parental choice. I'm sure, as a nurse you'll know it's the whooping cough part of the vaccine, so I'm sorry if I'm telling you something you're already aware of.
If you're under around 45 you should have had it. Check with your gp and if you've not been immunised for some reason, you can have it free of charge.
You could also have a blood test to check your immunity status, if you're unsure.

Re: Immunisations - Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis Vaccine (dTpa)
 

The childhood whooping coffee vaccine wears off over time and so even if the OP has had it as a child she will need a new shot. The Aus government is providing free adult whooping cough vaccinations for all new parents, which is why I have had both the childhood and adult shots. If you can't get it done in the UK it is very easy to have done once in Australia. All GP's here stock them.

Re: Immunisations - Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis Vaccine (dTpa)
 

Both Mrs Wol and I got whooping cough a few months back but trying to get the doctors to accept it was difficult. Only when the tests came back positive did they believe us. It's almost an epidemic in parts of NSW yet it's only in the last few weeks that it's been publicised in surgeries.

Not a nice disease for adults - not for nothing is it called the 100-day cough.