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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-08-19 Daily Xml
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Whooping Cough Vaccination

In reply to the Hon. J.S. LEE ().17 June 2025).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has advised:

Pertussis (whooping cough) epidemics generally occur every three to four years. The current spike is part of the natural cycle of the disease and is expected, even with our very strong immunisation programs. Both national and state governments are committed to managing normal spikes in disease rates.

Most hospitalisations and deaths from whooping cough occur in infants under six months, and, as such, significant measures are already in place to protect those most vulnerable to whooping cough disease, such as administering the first whooping cough vaccine from six weeks of age. This change was implemented due to outbreaks and a desire to provide earlier protection for infants, who are most vulnerable to severe complications from the disease and has been in place for over 10 years. Building on the early protection created by this first dose, the National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides further vaccinations to protect against whooping cough at four months, six months, 18 months and four years of age and again in adolescence (around 12 years of age) through the School Immunisation Program.

The vaccine is also funded and recommended in pregnancy from 20 weeks gestation to help protect the mother and newborn and it is funded as part of a 'catch-up' program for all Australians up to the age of 20 years and also for all refugees and humanitarian entrants aged 20 years and over.

A public awareness campaign was delivered in 2024 to raise awareness of whooping cough among the general public, and encourage pregnant women and parents/caregivers to get themselves and their children vaccinated against pertussis. Social media messaging aimed at parents/caregivers and pregnant women as part of this campaign reached more than 170,000 South Australians.

The South Australian government is proactively increasing access to immunisation services for the community. For example, we are implementing changes to support pharmacists to provide immunisation services and also implementing an RSV infant and maternal vaccination program through primary care and birthing hospitals—thereby ensuring ease of access to this important vaccine for pregnant women.

Every year, SA Health undertakes a comprehensive winter wellness campaign. This campaign highlights for the community the importance of immunisation and other key measures for the prevention and spread of respiratory disease, such as influenza, RSV, and whooping cough. A significant proportion of the campaign is also focused on educating health professionals about the importance of receiving vaccines and the promotion of immunisation to those they provide care for. SA Health regularly provides updates through professional newsletters and recently included a whooping cough article in the GP News update in August, which is read by more than 4,000 South Australian GPs.

SA Health constantly monitors and evaluates all infectious diseases and has the capacity to scale up public health measures as required. With regard to the current higher numbers of pertussis—this is expected, it is part of the natural cycle of the disease and occurs as a result of the fact that immunity to pertussis wanes over three to five years, regardless of whether this immunity was induced by actual pertussis illness or by vaccination. Whilst these regular peaks in disease numbers may be expected, SA Health continues to promote disease prevention advice to further reduce whooping cough disease. This includes providing advice for exclusion for people who are exposed to the disease for childcare, preschool, school and work. Prevention strategies that are also promoted include cough/sneeze etiquette and regular hand washing promotion.

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