Immunisation Weekly Update:

1. Rising pertussis rates coincide with coverage drop in NSW
2. Childhood immunisation coverage data
3. Second season RSV doses for at-risk children
4. Providing information about vaccination to linguistically diverse communities 
5. Education

Rising pertussis rates coincide with coverage drop in NSW

New South Wales (NSW) is seeing a marked increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in early 2026, consistent with the significant national upsurge. This rise forms part of Australia’s substantial whooping cough resurgence, with more than 82,000 cases recorded nationally across 2024–2025.

As of 10 February 2026, NSW has already recorded 1,171 pertussis notifications through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). Concurrently, vaccination coverage continues to decline among infants aged 12 months and below, recorded in 2024 at 92.2% and 92.03% in NSW and Australia respectively.

Pertussis vaccination is funded under the NIP for:

• Children at 6 weeks, 4, 6 and 18 months, and 4 years of age

• Pregnant women between 20-32 weeks gestation

• Adolescents aged 11-13 years
  

Pertussis vaccination is recommended but not funded for:

• Adults aged 65 years and above.

• Adults aged 50 years and above who want to decrease their likelihood of infection or require a tetanus vaccination

• Healthcare workers

• Childcare workers

• Adult household contacts of infants and children

• Travellers

Childhood immunisation coverage data

The annualised childhood immunisation coverage data for the period from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025 has been published by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

One year old coverage rates

• CESPHN: 92.64%
• NSW: 91.65%
• Australia: 91.54%

Two year old coverage rates

• CESPHN: 90.33%
• NSW: 89.78%
• Australia: 89.57%

Five year old coverage rates

• CESPHN: 92.51%
• NSW: 93.27%
• Australia: 93.17%

Coverage rates at all three key age markets are below the national aspirational coverage target of 95%. A 95% coverage rate provides sufficient herd immunity to stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.

To explore how your practice can implement quality improvement initiatives to identify and vaccinate overdue children, contact immunisation@cesphn.com.au

Second season RSV doses for at-risk children

As we approach the start of peak respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season, it is important to be aware of children who may be eligible to receive the RSV-specific monoclonal antibody before their second RSV season

Young children aged 8 to <24 months who have certain risk conditions for severe RSV disease are recommended to receive Nirsevimab before their second or subsequent RSV season.  This is regardless of whether these at-risk children received a dose of RSV-specific monoclonal antibody in their first RSV season or were born to a mother who received RSV vaccine during pregnancy.

The dose of nirsevimab for an older infant or child is up to 4 times higher than the dose for a newborn. Please check the dosage and administration advice before vaccination.

For more information, visit the Immunisation Handbook.

Providing information about vaccination to linguistically diverse communities 

NSW Health has published factsheets for adolescent vaccinations translated into 27 languages to support immunisation providers in delivering clear and accessible information to their patients. These factsheets cover the following vaccines: 

• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (dTpa) vaccine 
• Hepatitis B vaccine 
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine   
• Meningococcal ACWY vaccine 
• Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine 
• Polio Vaccine 
• Varicella vaccine 

Education