Purely as a result of the vaccine’s failure, Western Australia is experiencing a very alarming increase in whooping cough cases. Additionally, 63 diagnosed cases have been reported so far this year. The region is now home to the second-largest number of cases in the state, behind Perth. Public health experts point to two factors pulling this sudden spike: low vaccination rates among two year olds and more testing measures since COVID.
The biggest offender is the Kimberley region, which boasts some of the most shocking statistics in the country. When you adjust for their population size, it beats the rest of Western Australia in terms of number of cases. Whooping cough cases are already surging, even with the crucial winter months still ahead. If we don’t take immediate action to equip people with evidence-based prevention, this emerging public health crisis will only get worse.
Vaccination Rates and Community Impact
Country WA has the second-lowest vaccination rates for two-year-olds in the country, alarming public health officials. Dr. Pippa May, a health officer on the island, said the low vaccination rates have played a big role in the ongoing outbreak.
Dr. May explained, “Whooping cough is known to come in waves as our immunity from both natural infection and vaccination drops.” This cyclical pattern of whooping cough underscores the importance of getting vaccinated on time to help protect our communities.
For another health expert Jaya Dantas, vaccine equity is personal. “Vaccination is the best way for people to safeguard themselves against whooping cough,” she stated. Dantas spoke to the value of free, accessible vaccination initiatives. With initiatives like this one, vaccines will be in reach for every family, including those who would otherwise think twice due to cost.
“Free vaccination must be there … if there’s money involved, people hesitate, especially those who can’t afford it.” – Jaya Dantas
Contributing Factors to High Case Numbers
Dr. May says the recent increase in whooping cough cases can be explained by a number of factors. The younger median age of the Kimberley and the demographic composition of the region contribute. Further, she explained that vaccine misinformation is a big reason why some families are hesitant about getting their kids vaccinated.
“It’s easily spread from one person to another and through families, childcare centres, and schools,” Dr. May warned, stressing that high transmission rates pose risks, particularly to vulnerable populations.
Dr. May also mentioned that there is not “one single reason” for the high burden of whooping cough in the Kimberley. In fact, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities experience a disproportionate burden of vaccine preventable diseases compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, unfortunately, do experience a higher burden of vaccine-preventable diseases compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts.” – Department of Health
Importance of Timely Vaccination
Local health officials are working to stop the increase in whooping cough cases. Timely vaccination is a big part of their work. Dr. May strongly echoed this point, that vaccination in and of itself is not enough. It needs to be done on time! She added that pregnant people should be vaccinated with each pregnancy to protect their newborns.
The Department of Health jointly works with community clinics and Aboriginal medical services to ensure on-time immunizations are available for families. All of these efforts work to raise awareness and make vaccinations more accessible, both of which are crucial steps in reaching herd immunity.
“We work with the community clinics on the ground, including Aboriginal medical services, to work with families to get their babies immunised when immunisations are actually due.” – Department of Health
