Boostrix

GSK have issued a letter to general practices outlining the changes. The appearance of the single dose packaging has already changed for privately purchased stock from Healthcare Logistics.

New Zealand is in the midst of a pertussis epidemic. PHARMAC recently sought feedback on a proposal to extend funded Boostrix® for pregnant women in addition to those aged 11 years as per the National Immunisation Schedule.

Considerations and commentary around this decision are available in the  PHARMAC media release.

The vaccine, Boostrix®, is available through general practice (GPs).

The District Health Board (DHB) will pay for the vaccine. However, providers may charge the patient a small vaccine administration fee. Please ask your GP about any vaccine administration cost.

Who is eligible?

• Only family/whānau of infants less than one year of age already receiving immunisations through the following services:
  • An outreach immunisation service
  • An open immunisation clinic
  • One of the following Very Low Cost Access primary health services:

The vaccine, Boostrix®, is available through general practice and clinics within the Waikato District Hospital.

Additional information and health professional resources and standing orders are available on the Waikato District Health Board Whooping cough webpage.

The vaccine, Boostrix®, is available through general practice within the Counties Manukau District:

CMDHB Resources

• Programme information
• Programme poster

 IMAC resources

• *NEW* Quick answers to frequent Tdap questions
• *UPDATED* Spacing of Tdap after a Td vaccine
• IMAC Pertussis webpage
• IMAC Boostrix® webpage
• New packaging for privately purchased Boostrix®
• Anna's pertussis story

The booster immunisation can be given anytime from 20 weeks of pregnancy to two weeks after delivery. 

For best protection of the newborn the booster immunisation would be given by the end of the 36th week of pregnancy (ideally between 31-33 weeks): 

• This allows time for the woman's immune system to produce protection against whooping cough, reducing the risk she will have the disease when the baby is actually delivered and for the subsequent year when the baby's risk of complications from whooping cough is highest.
• Circulating protection against whooping cough can also pass through the placenta into the baby and provide the baby with some of their own protection against the disease for a short period of time (this varies between mothers and babies).

However, after 36 weeks of pregnancy administering the booster immunisation:

• Will increase the woman's protection against whooping cough, reducing the risk that she will have the disease during the baby's first year of life when their risk of complications from whooping cough is highest.
• But may not allow enough time before delivery for the woman to produce whooping cough protection and for this protection to pass through the placenta into the baby.

However, after delivery of the baby administering the booster immunisation:

• Will increase the woman's protection against whooping cough, reducing the risk that she will have the disease during the baby's first year of life when their risk of complications from whooping cough is highest.

Babies less than one year of age, and particularly less than six months of age, have the highest risk of getting whooping cough (pertussis) and needing to be hospitalised. Reducing the risk that their mother and other household members will get whooping cough means they are less likely to get the disease too. Immunity against whooping cough decreases over time, 10-15 years after having the disease and 4-6 years after having the vaccine people can get whooping cough again. This means that it is always around and there are outbreaks every few years.

Boostrix® MUST be ordered from Healthcare Logistics for pregnant and post-partum women, whānau of new babies, carers of new babies, ECE staff and any other person who works with or is around new babies and young children.

The Boostrix® stock from ProPharma, routinely kept in the vaccine fridge for the 11 year old schedule immunisation, MUST NOT be used for any person who is not receiving the 11 year old schedule Boostrix® dose or receiving a catch up of this dose up to 16 years of age.

Vaccinators can claim the cost of the vaccine and administration by invoicing POAC.

Page updated: 7 November 2012