Australians heading to some of the country’s most popular holiday destinations this Christmas are being urged to check their whooping cough vaccinations.
Medical experts are warning the highly contagious disease could spread rapidly during the busy summer period.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Whooping cough warning for holiday hotspots
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New data has identified communities stretching from Byron Bay to Noosa as potential hotspots, with vaccination rates up to 35 per cent below the national average.
GP Dr Zac Turner told Sunrise the influx of visitors, combined with lower vaccination rates in some communities, could create the perfect conditions for the disease to spread.
“Popular holiday spots often have less of a vaccination rate and some of these places can actually swell by two or three or four times the population,” he said.
Most vulnerable community members at risk
He warned the mix of holidaymakers could put some of the most vulnerable members of the community at greater risk.
“Often it is people like grandparents, people over 65, young people on holidays, kids going to school, and infants which are the people who are the most vulnerable to getting whooping cough and needing this vaccine,” he said.
Turner said the disease was particularly dangerous for newborn babies, who are unable to receive their first whooping cough vaccination until about six weeks of age.
He urged anyone who would be spending time around young children to consider a booster if they had not been vaccinated in the past decade.
He also urged pregnant women to stay up to date with their vaccinations, stressing the importance of receiving a new booster during every pregnancy.
“For every pregnant woman, it’s important that with each child you get those booster shots between 20 weeks and 32 weeks,” he said.
How to recognise the highly contagious infection
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects the lungs and airways.
It typically begins with cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, sneezing and a mild cough, before developing into severe bouts of coughing that can last for weeks or even months.
The coughing fits can be particularly dangerous for babies, who may struggle to breathe, stop breathing temporarily or develop serious complications such as pneumonia.
Vaccination is the best line of defence
Turner warned previous infection or vaccination does not necessarily mean people remain protected indefinitely, with immunity declining over time.
He said people who were unsure when they last received a booster should consider speaking to their doctor, particularly if they were planning to spend time with newborns, pregnant women or people with weakened immune system.
“It’s $30 to $45 for these vaccines. Go and get one, and you can make sure that you can keep safe,” he said.
