Authorities are urging pregnant people to vaccinate against the whooping cough as the cases in Logan’s Metro South health region top the state.
There have been more than 1560 cases detected in the region since 1 January this year.
State-wide there have been more than 7000 reported cases, compared to only 100 cases in the same period the year prior.
Waterford MP and health minister Shannon Fentiman said the highly contagious respiratory infection, also known as pertussis, posed “a serious threat to our youngest and most vulnerable” residents.
“We know vaccinations save lives,” she said.
“The whooping cough vaccine is the best defence against this disease which can be life-threatening for young children.
“Vaccination during pregnancy is an effective way to protect babies until they are old enough to be vaccinated.
“This single action can dramatically reduce the risk of their baby contracting the potentially fatal disease.
“I want to urge all pregnant people to shield their babies by taking advantage of the free whooping cough vaccine during their pregnancy.”
According to the most recent Queensland Health data, only 70.7 per cent of pregnant people in Queensland received a whooping cough vaccine in 2023.
Since 2020 when vaccination rates were 77.2 per cent, there has been a downward trend of pregnant women receiving the vaccine, which is free during pregnancy and for children aged two-18 months, four years and 11-13 years.
It is also free for anyone under 20 who missed the vaccine as a child.
