Grade 6 students across New Brunswick are being vaccinated in a new program aimed at curbing the high rate of whooping cough, while protecting against diptheria and tetanus.

Dr. Denis Allard, regional medical officer of health, says the province already has a vaccination program for older teens that seems to be working, and now wants to protect younger children.

"Although we were seeing some reduction in rates of whooping cough in the age group of 15, 16, 17, 18, for example, we were not really seeing the same thing happening in the 12, 13, 14 age group."

The New Brunswick Health Department reports whooping cough is on the rise among children 10 to 14.

The illness starts with a sore throat and mild fever, and progresses into severe coughing spells and choking episodes that can prevent breathing for several minutes. Whooping cough can last three weeks or several months.

Allard says a new vaccine called Adacel offers greater protection for younger children. 

"There's been a fairly long experience in Japan of more than 15 years with this vaccine, and really a very low rate of reactions of both local reaction as well as general reaction."

Allard says the vaccine is being administered at school clinics across the province. He says parents are under no obligation to have their children inoculated, but says it's a good idea.

"It is certainly a good measure that would certainly have a high degree of protection for the children against whooping cough even at that age group — it can have people suffer quite a bit."