Gangnam-gu Offers Free Pertussis Vaccination for Pregnant Women

First Implementation This Year... High Incidence and Strong Contagiousness Among Women and Children, Prevention Urged

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) has been providing free pertussis (Tdap) vaccinations since the 13th for pregnant women between 27 and 36 weeks in the district.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease with a high incidence rate among pregnant women with low immunity and young children, causing paroxysmal coughing and complications.

As the birth rate continues to decline and the number of elderly pregnant women increases, the district is actively encouraging infectious disease prevention by implementing the vaccination for the first time this year.

The vaccination target is pregnant women residing in Gangnam-gu according to resident registration who have never received a pertussis vaccination and are between 27 and 36 weeks pregnant; the vaccination is free of charge for one time only.

Those who wish to receive the vaccination should bring identification (resident registration certificate) and proof documents such as a maternity handbook and visit the vaccination room on the first floor of Gangnam-gu Health Center on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (excluding lunch break from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.).

For more details, inquiries can be made to the Health Promotion Division of the Health Center (☎3423-7222, 7225).

Yang Oh-seung, director of the Health Center, stated, “Pertussis is one of the most contagious diseases and can be transmitted to infants and young children who have no or low immunity, so early diagnosis and prevention are important,” and urged, “Please complete the vaccination in a timely manner for the healthy birth of both mother and child.”