State Labor has congratulated Illawarra families for their unwavering support for vaccinations – with the region reporting fewer baby whooping cough cases than Sydney, Newcastle and the North Coast.  However, State Labor stressed that the community must remain vigilant as we gear up for winter.

Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord and Wollongong MP Paul Scully made the comments after a major whooping cough outbreak on the State’s North Coast where at least 21 people have been confirmed with whooping cough in the last four weeks.

NSW Health reports that there have been five confirmed cases in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Local Health District compared to Sydney with 71 cases and Newcastle at 19.

Link to data: http://www1.health.nsw.gov.au/IDD/#/PERT/periodandagegroup/%257B%2522prDisease%2522%253A%2522PERT%2522%252C%2522prLHD%2522%253A%2522X700%252CX710%252CX720%252CX730%252CX740%252CX750%252CX760%252CX770%252CX800%252CX810%252CX820%252CX830%252CX840%252CX850%252CX860%252CX910%2522%252C%2522prReportPeriod%2522%253A%25223%2522%252C%2522prStrain%2522%253A%2522Not%2520specified%2522%252C%2522prFrom%2522%253A%25221%252F2014%2522%252C%2522prTo%2522%253A%25223%252F2018%2522%257D

So far, State-wide this year – as of March 15 -   there have been 149 confirmed cases of babies (children under five) struck down with whooping cough in NSW.

Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a serious respiratory infection that causes a long coughing illness.  In babies, the infection can sometimes lead to pneumonia and occasionally, brain damage. Three babies have died from whooping cough in the last six years – and all were unvaccinated.

Mr Secord said he was extremely disappointed by the on-going failure of the Berejiklian Government to tackle the anti-vaxxer movement – but he was reassured by the strong response to vaccinations in the Illawarra.

Mr Scully said Woonona, Dapto and Port Kembla as well as Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong had some of the highest vaccination rates in NSW – and Australia.

“I am so proud of the families of the Illawarra. This is about protecting the next generation of children,” Mr Scully said.

“Anyone who has seen a baby struggling to breathe with whooping cough would immediately rush out to ensure their own child is vaccination. It is heart-wrenching.”

“Vaccination is a 20th century public health achievement. It saves lives. Sadly, large scale vaccinations have allowed a small fringe to become complacent about the welfare of our nation’s children – especially in regard to measles, whooping cough, mumps and other deadly diseases.”

Mr Secord said: “While the NSW and Federal governments have taken some steps in relation to this issue, there is still more work to be done and I want to see them go head-to-head against the anti-vaxxer movement.”

“In some parts of the state – such as the North Coast and Sydney’s northern beaches and Sydney’s east, vaccination rates have slipped to the levels of the developing world – but in the Illawarra, the community has responded wholeheartedly to the vaccination message.”