By Lucy Waldron
Queensland is witnessing a dramatic surge in whooping cough cases, with Darling Downs Health reporting 755 cases this year.
From 1 January to 11 August 2024, a total of 7010 cases have been recorded across the state, a staggering increase compared to just 104 cases during the same period last year, marking a 70-fold rise.
Whooping cough, a cyclical disease that peaks every three to five years, has seen a significant spike compared to the last peak in 2019, when only 937 cases were reported for the same period.
Queensland’s Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services, and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman, warned that the surge in cases poses a serious threat to the state’s youngest and most vulnerable residents.
“The whooping cough vaccine is the best defense against this disease which can be life-threatening for young children,” Ms Fentiman said.
“This single action can dramatically reduce the risk of their baby contracting the potentially fatal disease.
“I want to urge all pregnant people to shield their babies by taking advantage of the free whooping cough vaccine during their pregnancy.”
Vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the risk of whooping cough and pregnant people are recommended to receive a whooping cough vaccine each pregnancy to reduce the risk of their baby becoming seriously ill with whooping cough.
Immunisation between weeks 20 and 32 of every pregnancy, offers crucial protection in the critical early months of life before babies can be vaccinated themselves, and is provided free under the national immunisation program.
According to the most recent Queensland Health data only 70.7 per cent of pregnant people in Queensland received a whooping cough vaccine in 2023.
Since 2020 when vaccination rates were 77.2 per cent, there has been a downward trend of pregnant people receiving a whooping cough vaccine.
The Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said while they encourage all Queenslanders to ensure their vaccinations are up to date, it is especially crucial for pregnant people to be immunised to protect themselves and their babies.
“We are committed to working closely with healthcare providers and expectant mothers to achieve high vaccination rates in this vulnerable group,” Dr Gerrard said.
The whooping cough vaccine is available for free under the National Immunisation Program during pregnancy, for children aged two, four, six and 18 months, and four years old, and for adolescents aged 11-13 years as part of the free Queensland School Immunisation Program.
Anyone under 20 who missed a childhood whooping cough vaccine can also access one for free.
In 2023, vaccination coverage for children was strong, with 92.72 per cent of one-year-olds, 91.47 per cent of two-year-olds, and 93.10 per cent of five-year-olds protected against whooping cough.
While these numbers are encouraging, it’s important to note that overall childhood vaccination rates have declined over the last few years. This decrease is also being seen nationally.
For more information and advice, please consult with your healthcare provider.
