Pregnant women in Queensland are being urged to obtain a free whooping cough vaccine as cases skyrocket across the state.
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the state was currently experiencing a significant surge in whooping cough cases, posing a health risk to the community, particularly vulnerable infants.
Minister Fentiman said from January 1 to August 11 this year there were 7010 cases reported, compared to just 104 cases in the same period last year, representing a “staggering 70-fold increase in cases”.
“In babies and infants this highly contagious respiratory infection, also known as pertussis, can lead to severe complications, including hospitalisation and even death,” she said.
Minister Fentiman said whooping cough was a cyclical disease which peaks every three to five years.
“During the last peak in 2019, there were only 937 cases of whooping cough reported for the same period.”
She said vaccination was the most effective way to reduce the risk of whooping cough and pregnant people were 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.”
Minister Fentiman said according to the most recent Queensland Health data only 70.7 percent 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 women receiving a whooping cough vaccine.
“The whooping cough vaccine is available for free under the National Immunisation Program during pregnancy, for children aged 2, 4, 6, and 18 months, and 4 years old, and for adolescents aged 11-13 years as part of the free Queensland School Immunisation Program.”
She said anyone under 20 who missed a childhood whooping cough vaccine could also access one for free.
Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said whooping cough was particularly severe in infants under 6 months of age and could be life-threatening.
“While we encourage all Queenslanders to ensure their vaccinations are up to date, it is especially crucial for pregnant women to be immunised to protect themselves and their babies.”
