Country to Coast, QLD is urging residents to get vaccinated for whooping cough (pertussis) to protect our youngest community members after a spike in cases 1432 reported across the Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and Central Queensland already this year, compared with only 19 for the same period in 2023*
We are creating awareness about Whooping cough symptoms, and encouraging vaccination as newborns cannot be vaccinated, it is vital that people around them are, as this is a common source of infection.
Clinical guidelines for whooping cough (pertussis) in Queensland are: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/disease-control/conditions/pertussis
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.
Adult booster doses are generally recommended every 10 years, however immunity following vaccination begins to wane after as little as 4 to 5 years so it’s important to speak to your GP about whether a booster dose should be considered earlier.
*Queensland Health Notifiable conditions annual reporting as at 8 September 2024:
Notifiable conditions annual reporting | Queensland Health
