Urgent call as whooping cough cases surge in Queensland.

Urgent Call as Whooping Cough Cases Surge

Pregnant people are being encouraged to protect themselves and their unborn baby by getting a free whooping cough vaccine. This year there have been more than 7,000 cases reported compared to just over 100 cases in the same period last year. A whooping cough vaccination during pregnancy is the best way to protect your baby from the disease. Queensland is currently experiencing a significant surge in whooping cough cases, posing a health risk to the community, particularly vulnerable infants.

In babies and infants, this highly contagious respiratory infection, also known as pertussis, can lead to severe complications, including hospitalisation and even death.

Whooping Cough Case Statistics

From 1 January to 11 August 2024, there were 7,010 cases reported, compared to just 104 cases in the same period last year, representing a staggering 70-fold increase in cases. Whooping cough is a cyclical disease that 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.

Importance of Vaccination

Vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the risk of whooping cough. 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 it is provided free under the national immunisation pro