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NSW Health Alert

Pertussis (Whooping cough) alert

• Pertussis (Whooping Cough) - Information for GPs [27 March 2024]

There has been a significant rise in Pertussis cases in NSW after circulating at very low levels during the pandemic. Immunisation continues to be the single best intervention to prevent pertussis.

The pertussis vaccine is funded in combination vaccines under the NSW immunisation schedule:

• Children at the 6-week, 4-month, 6-month, 18-month and 4-year schedule points,
• Adolescents in Year 7 at school
• All pregnant women

The Australian Immunisation Handbook additionally recommends pertussis vaccines for the following groups at a maximum 10 yearly interval:

• As a routine booster in adults
• Healthcare workers
• Early childhood educators and carers
• People in close contact with infants

Pertussis (whooping cough) The Immunisation Handbook (online)

NSW Health has comprehensive information for GPs and other health care workers about whooping cough (pertussis). General practitioners and other healthcare workers