The first adult formulation combined diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (acellular pertussis) vaccine to be registered in New Zealand will be available from December 2001.
Environmental Science and Research data indicates that since the beginning of the current epidemic in 1999, there have been over 6000 recorded whooping cough cases, 458 hospitalisations and one death. Whooping cough is not often recognised in adults, and this can lead to accidental transmission to infants.
At the request of the Ministry of Health, a combined diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and inactivated polio vaccine (DTaP-IPV) has also been made available.
