Media release: Surge in whooping cough cases highlights need for improved immunisation access for mothers and infants

Whooping cough cases are on the rise in Aotearoa NZ. If we are to reduce the impact, we need to have an accountable antenatal immunisation system and do more to deliver immunisation support according to experts.

In the latest Briefing from the Public Health Communication Centre, University of Auckland Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) medical director Dr Nikki Turner and co-authors say that four immunisation events protect babies when they are most vulnerable to severe disease: maternal vaccination during pregnancy, and immunisation at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months.

“Alarmingly, it’s estimated that only about half of pregnant women/people who gave birth between December 2023 and February 2024 had received their pertussis immunisations, and this figure drops to less than a third for Māori,” says Dr Turner. 

Dr Turner says NZ is also underperforming in delivering on-time immunisations to infants. 

“These low immunisation rates leave NZ pēpi (infants) vulnerable to severe disease, especially if a national epidemic of pertussis occurs. Urgent action is required to increase immunisation coverage, particularly in pregnancy, to protect pēpi from severe disease and death.”

Co-author Dr Mamaeroa David says NZ’s inequitably low antenatal immunisation coverage is multi-factorial and likely perpetuated by health system barriers including people not having the same access to maternity care.

“To counter the barriers, NZ should convene a centrally-governed maternal immunisation system. This system should be centred on equity and Te Tiriti obligations to monitor and co-ordinate efforts to improve coverage,” says Dr David, senior Māori advisor and medical advisor for IMAC.

The Briefing also recommends ensuring that pregnant people are empowered to make informed decisions about immunisation with evidence-based information. 

"Also NZ research has shown that pregnant women would value being able to receive antenatal immunisations from their Lead Maternity Carer as part of routine antenatal appointments.”

The authors point out that while antenatal vaccination must be the absolute priority, it is important to follow this up with on-time immunisation throughout infancy. “Unfortunately, Māori and Pacific pēpi are less likely to receive timely immunisations despite being at greater risk of infectious disease,” says Dr Turner.  “We believe to improve access, immunisation should be available in multiple settings, including primary care, pharmacies, and non-clinical locations.”

“We must not forget that whooping cough is a highly infectious respiratory disease with very limited treatment options once symptoms have developed. Around half of pēpi under the age of 12 months who are diagnosed with pertussis are hospitalised.”