Immunisation Coalition

07/11/2025

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory infection that can cause severe illness. It can be particularly harmful in babies and young infants.

This year, Australia has recorded over 21,000 cases, with 67% of cases occurring in people aged 25 years and under.

Without protection, whooping cough can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and death.

The safest and best protection against whooping cough is through immunisation. It is free for:
- Infants and young children under 5 years old
- Adolescents (booster in Year 7)
- During pregnancy (20–32 weeks and up to delivery)

The whooping cough vaccine is available under the National Immunisation Program.

It is also recommended for parents, grandparents, and caregivers of young children.

Speak to your GP, nurse immuniser, or participating pharmacy for further information particularly if you are aware there is a whooping cough outbreak in your area.

To learn more: https://immunisationcoalition.org.au/diseases/whooping-cough-2/

05/11/2025

The Immunisation Coalition is calling for the Meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine to be made free for all Australian children and adolescents.

MenB is a life-threatening bacterial infection that can cause meningococcal meningitis and septicemia. The mortality rate is high if not treated quickly.

Currently, only South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory fund the MenB vaccine through state programs — leaving families in other states to pay out of pocket costs.

This bacterial infection is preventable through immunisation.

Protect all Australian children and teenagers. It's time to take steps to fund a national immunisation program.

Learn more and share your thoughts in our short parent survey:

Protect against Meningococcal B — fast, serious, but preventable with vaccination. Learn who’s most at risk, how the disease spreads, and where free and state-funded vaccines are available across Australia. Early protection saves lives.

31/10/2025

Each year on World Influenza Day 1 November, we’re reminded that influenza is more than just a bad cold — it is a serious, contagious disease that can lead to complications, hospitalisation and even death.

In 2025, Australia had its worst flu season on record with over 412,000 confirmed cases. Despite this, many people continue to underestimate its severity and skip their annual vaccination.

It is recommended that Australians protect themselves and vaccinate against it. The flu vaccine is safe and an effective method of reducing symptoms. And it’s free for eligible Australians under the National Immunisation Program!

Protect yourself, visit your GP, nurse immuniser or participating pharmacy and ask about flu vaccination from April each year.

Learn more: https://www.immunisationcoalition.org.au/diseases/influenza

25/10/2025

Panel discussion on the functionality and future of the AIR, and how better practice systems integration can help identify individuals for immunisation at the 3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases Meeting.

25/10/2025

The final workshop of the day! Workshop 3 rounding out a productive day of discussion and learning at the 3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases Meeting.

25/10/2025

Group discussions on strategies to boost HPV and pertussis vaccination in Year 7 students at the 3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases Meeting.

25/10/2025

Catherine Keil at the 3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases Meeting: HPV vaccination is down to 78% and pertussis vaccination down to 85% in the Year 7 school program. We need to commit to programs and catch up programs that lift vaccination rates to minimise the spread of these diseases.

25/10/2025

Workshop 1 underway! Great discussions and collaboration at the 3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases Meeting.

25/10/2025

Making vaccination easier makes all the difference.

At the 3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases Meeting, Anna Theophilos, PSA National Vaccination Ambassador, highlighted findings from Liu et al., Nature Human Behaviour (2024) showing that reducing barriers—like offering walk-ins or bringing vaccines to where people are—significantly boosts uptake.

Access-type interventions can make people 1.5x more likely to be vaccinated.

25/10/2025

PSA National Vaccination Ambassador Anna Theophilos: “Influenza, pneumococcal, shingles and COVID-19 vaccination rates in the over 65s, is well below acceptable levels. It is important to vaccinate this population because of the decline in immune response with age to infectious pathogens.”

25/10/2025

David Laffan at the 3rd Primary Care Infectious Diseases Meeting: ‘Commonwealth Actions plan to support the NIS to be made available by year end’

25/10/2025

David Laffan says “the NIS implantation framework is being worked on and is going through due process, reviewed by jurisdictional immunisation coordinators soon and provided to government for review in Q1 2026.”