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Saarbrücken Taking into account the growing number of whooping cough cases across the country, the Saarland Ministry of Health called for vaccination against the disease. It is our shared responsibility to prevent the spread of whooping cough, Saarland Health Minister Magnus Jung (SPD) said today.
So far this year, 69 cases have been recorded in Saarland. There have been nearly 6,600 cases reported across Germany since the start of the year. According to the information, young children and the elderly are particularly affected, but adults can also become seriously ill.
As vaccines can only be administered at two months of age, we recommend that STIKO (Standing Committee on Vaccination) expressly recommends that all pregnant women receive vaccination against pertussis. The goal is to protect newborns until they can be vaccinated themselves. So far, pregnant women have rarely taken advantage of the offer, they said.
In Germany, three vaccines are recommended for newborns aged two, four and eleven months. According to the ministry’s recommendation, adults should check their vaccination status. A booster vaccination against whooping cough (pertussis) is recommended every ten years.
According to information, whooping cough usually starts with mild cold symptoms, such as a runny nose or cough. This is followed by the typical strong dry cough, which may be accompanied by shortness of breath and vomiting after coughing attacks. The disease is particularly dangerous for children, in whom the disease can be fatal. © dpa/aerzteblatt.de