Today, the National Department of Health has rolled out their stricter new guidelines surrounding whooping cough, with pregnant women now being advised to not wait, and receive the vaccination at 20 weeks.
According to Dr Nicola Spurrier - South Australia's Health’s Acting Chief Medical Officer - the reason for the change in guidelines is due to research showing that the vaccination during pregnancy can reduce the risk the illness in babies by 90%.
Symptoms of whooping cough include; raised temperatures, runny nose, sneezing, uncontrollable coughing that has a 'whoop' sound, vomiting.