Increasing whooping cough cases in Victoria

In Victoria, there has been 4 times more notified whooping cough (pertussis) cases in 2024 than in 2023. Many of these cases have been in young children and babies aged under 12 months, however, there has been an increase in reported cases in young people and older adults.

While vaccination remains one of the most effective measures in preventing whooping cough disease and its complications, protection provided by the vaccine reduces with age.

Booster doses are essential for maintaining immunity to whooping cough and to prevent the spread of disease within the community. Many babies catch whooping cough from adults and older children who might not know they are infected.

Who is at risk?

• Adults and older children who have not received whooping cough vaccination or booster doses, are at greater risk of whooping cough infection.
• Young babies aged less than 6 months of age who are too young to be fully immunised. The symptoms can be severe and whooping cough infection can be life threatening for this age group.

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that can cause severe disease. It is known for causing a cough, symptoms of which may be indistinguishable from other respiratory infections, especially in its early stages.

Whooping cough vaccination

Adult whooping cough vaccination is recommended for:

• household contacts and carers of infants less than 6 months of age at least 2 weeks before they have close contact with the infant if their last dose was more than 10 years ago
• people working with or caring for very young babies, and healthcare workers every 10 years
• people aged 65 years and over if they have not received whooping cough containing vaccine in the last 10 years. This is because whooping cough disease is associated with increased health complications in older people.

Whooping cough vaccines may be given on the same day as other vaccines, including shingles, pneumococcal, influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.

Check with your doctor or immunisation provider to see if you need a booster dose of vaccines containing whooping cough.

For more information about immunisation for whooping cough, visit the Better Health Channel website or the Australian Government Department of Health website.