Parents urged to vaccinate after infant falls ill with pertussis

New Straits Times

22-07-2025

IPOH: Health authorities have issued a reminder for parents to ensure timely vaccinations for their infants following a confirmed case of whooping cough involving a two-month-old baby in the state.
State Health Committee Chairman A. Sivanesan said the baby, who had received only one dose of the DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine was diagnosed with pertussis earlier this month.
Sivanesan said the baby has since fully recovered after receiving antibiotic treatment.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects the lungs and airways.
It mainly threatens infants and young children, but can be prevented through routine childhood vaccinations.
Sivanesan said that the case should serve as a wake-up call to parents who are hesitant or delay their children's vaccinations.
"If the baby hadn't received at least one dose of the vaccine, the situation could have been far more dangerous.
"Some parents refuse vaccinations based on personal beliefs, but this puts their babies at risk. Don't take the risk.
Please get your children vaccinated," he told reporters here today.
He added that, as of July 9 this year, Perak has recorded 41 notifications of suspected pertussis cases, but only one has been confirmed positive.
"This marks a 96.6 per cent drop from the same period last year, when 29 confirmed cases and four outbreaks were reported in the state," he said.
He added that pertussis symptoms, often mistaken for a common cough, can persist for weeks and may lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, particularly in unvaccinated infants.
"If a child has been coughing for more than a week despite treatment, they must be taken to a clinic for further testing.
"We have the lab facilities. The problem is when we delay. If you only get one dose and miss the rest, who's responsible when something goes wrong?" he said.
He also stressed the importance of adhering to the national immunisation schedule, which includes pertussis shots at two, four, six, and 18 months (booster).
"There is no legal mandate requiring that all newborns be vaccinated. No mandatory requirement. So some parents refuse.
"The case mentioned earlier was treated with antibiotics and fully recovered. Four close contacts were identified, and all tested negative for pertussis," he said.
He also said that the current pertussis situation in Perak remained under control, with no deaths reported this year and all close contacts of the confirmed case testing negative.
If a child's cough lasts more than three days, parents should take them to a clinic for a check-up, he said.
Sivanesan also urged the public to practise proper cough etiquette, wear face masks when symptomatic, and seek medical attention if symptoms persist.