Whooping cough cases are at a 35-year high, new data from the Federal Government’s Productivity Commission shows.
There were 82,513 whooping cough cases detected nationally in 2024 and 2025 — the largest since monitoring began in 1991.
Children aged between five and 14 represented roughly half of all cases.
The report also found the number of children who are fully immunised against whooping cough has decreased to a 10-year low.
Context
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes severe coughing fits.
In some cases, the infection can lead to serious health complications, including pneumonia, seizures, and brain damage.
Federal health officials recommend pertussis-containing vaccines for children at “2, 4, 6 and 18 months, and 4 years of age, and adolescents at 11–13 years of age”.
Vaccination of pregnant women is recommended during the third trimester.
Data
Australia experienced a major whooping cough outbreak in 2024-25, data from the Productivity Commission shows.
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The independent research and advisory body noted more than 57,000 cases were reported in 2024 alone.
While cases usually spike every six years, Health Minister Mark Butler said there’s been a “very big bounce” with a “huge” number of recent cases.
“Even early in 2026 we’re still seeing quite significant numbers of cases,”he said. Butler noted a global drop in childhood immunisation rates.
Vaccinations
The proportion of children who are fully immunised has decreased to a 10-year low.
National immunisation coverage of children aged between 12 months and five years old has dropped by an average of 2.6% since 2021, the report found.
The biggest decreases were recorded in babies aged 12 to 15 months, with immunisation coverage down 3.3% from 2020-21.
Response
GPs are “concerned about the reduction in the vaccine rates and that, potentially, having some impact [on increased whooping cough cases,]” RACGP President Michael Wright said.
The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) warns that “missing or delaying vaccinations risks serious disease.”
The NCIRS said “enhancing catch-up vaccination activities, addressing barriers to vaccination and optimising equity of access should be priorities across all age groups.“
