A shocking revelation has come to light: Australian hospitals are missing a critical chance to curb the nation's worst whooping cough epidemic. The reason? They're sticking to outdated tetanus vaccines, ignoring national guidelines that could help protect against this highly contagious disease.
The Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA) has sounded the alarm, revealing that most hospitals are not following recommended practices. Instead of using the combined diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (dTpa) vaccine for adults, a whopping 401 out of 469 hospitals continue to stock the older and less effective diphtheria-tetanus (dT) vaccine. This cheaper option leaves patients vulnerable to whooping cough, a disease that can be deadly, especially for infants and older adults.
But here's where it gets controversial: the IFA estimates that over a million Australians aged 50 and above have received tetanus protection without the added safeguard against whooping cough. And this is despite the combined vaccine being only a few dollars more expensive per dose.
Catherine HughesAM, founder of the IFA and a mother who lost her 32-day-old son Riley to whooping cough, speaks out: "It's unacceptable that so many vaccines used in Australian hospitals lack protection against whooping cough. We have national recommendations in place, yet they're being ignored. This is a missed opportunity to improve immunisation rates and reduce the impact of a dangerous disease."
The IFA's Whooping Cough Report Card highlights the urgency of the situation, featuring commentary from leading vaccination and infectious diseases experts. Professor Nicholas Wood, a paediatrician and vaccine expert, expresses his concern: "Whooping cough outbreaks can persist for months, even years. Australia is currently experiencing a record-breaking epidemic, so it's vital that we vaccinate pregnant women to protect the youngest infants."
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is more contagious than influenza or COVID-19, with the potential to spread to up to 17 people from a single case. Spring and summer are peak seasons for this disease, which causes severe coughing fits and breathing difficulties. It's often referred to as the "100-day cough" due to its prolonged and debilitating nature.
School-age children bear the brunt of whooping cough cases, with nearly 40% of all Australian cases in 2025 occurring in those aged 5 to 14 years. The World Health Organization recommends a pertussis booster every 10 years as a safe and effective way to maintain protection.
Australia has seen almost 80,000 cases of pertussis in the past two years, the highest ever recorded, resulting in five deaths, including two babies under 12 months and three adults over 65 years.
The report also highlights the top and bottom performers in terms of pertussis vaccination coverage for one-year-olds. The ACT leads the way with 95.32%, followed by Western NSW and Northern Sydney, while the North Coast of NSW and the Gold Coast lag behind.
Despite national recommendations, research published in Vaccines in October shows that only 3% of 730,000 Australian adults seen by primary care doctors were up to date with their pertussis vaccination. Professor Raina MacIntyre, head of Global Biosecurity at the Kirby Institute, emphasizes the importance of vaccinating adults: "Adults are a significant part of the massive pertussis epidemic in Australia. Vaccination of adults is crucial to finding a solution."
The IFA and health experts are calling for immediate action to address these vaccination gaps. They recommend replacing all remaining dT vaccines with the combined dTpa in hospitals and emergency departments, expanding access to adult boosters, and introducing maternal immunisation targets to protect newborns.
"We have the means to prevent whooping cough. Let's make the most of every opportunity to use these vaccines," urges Ms Hughes.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think hospitals should prioritize using the combined vaccine to protect against whooping cough? Share your opinions in the comments below!
