Adjournment: Whooping Cough Vaccine

Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) — (12 055) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health, and I ask: can the minister please provide an update on the positive impacts that the free whooping cough vaccination program is having on Yuroke residents? I know there is particular concern in the community on this matter because of media reports that the federal Turnbull Liberal government is preparing to dump the booster vaccine for teenagers and discontinue the Australian schools vaccination register. Despite these troubling signals, it was a proud moment when this government reinstated the free whooping cough vaccine for new and expectant parents in early 2015. Unsurprisingly, cases declined dramatically following the reintroduction of this vital program. The value of this program is clear for all to see, and I congratulate the minister and all involved. I know Yuroke residents would welcome a further update from the minister on this important matter.

Response:

I am pleased to update the Member for Yuroke on the Andrews Labor Government’s commitment to reinstate and expand the whooping cough vaccination for new and expectant parents. As the Member for Yuroke is aware, this important preventative health measure was cruelly cut by the former failed Coalition Government, with dire consequences for families in her community and our most vulnerable Victorians.

Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that affects the air passages and breathing. The disease causes severe coughing spasms. It can lead to complications such as haemorrhage, convulsions, pneumonia, encephalitis and death. Adults who contract pertussis usually have a milder form of the disease, with a prolonged cough.

In January 2015, soon after coming to government, the Premier announced that in keeping with the election commitment, the free whooping cough vaccine for expectant parents and parents of newborns would be reintroduced.

On Friday 24 April 2015 I announced that as a priority, and to protect newborn babies as quickly as possible, the Parent Whooping Cough Vaccine Program would be brought forward to start on 1 June 2015, a month ahead of the originally planned commencement date. As promised, free vaccines are now available to all expectant parents from 28 weeks gestation, and all parents of newborn babies less than six months of age. Parents will be eligible for the free vaccine from as soon as the expectant mother enters the third trimester, until the baby is six months of age.

The Andrews Labor Government is investing $8.2M over four years to reintroduce free whooping cough vaccine for expectant parents and parents of newborns. More than 80,000 Victorians are expected to be vaccinated against whooping cough each year with the reintroduction of this program.

This life saving program commenced on Monday 1 June 2015 and as at 31 December 2016, 198,200 doses of the whooping cough vaccine have been provided to Victorian families.

As at 31 December 2016, there have been 2,876 notified cases of whooping cough this year, representing a 39 per cent decrease on cases for the same time in 2015, with 4,726 cases in 2015 and 4607 for the same time in 2014. Of the overall cases year-to-date in 2016, there were 44 cases amongst children aged less than one year of age notified to the department, compared with 89 cases for the same time in 2015, representing a 51 per cent decrease.

Cutting this program cost lives and those who took this basic entitlement away should be ashamed. I thank the Member for Yuroke for advocating for the reintroduction of this vital health intervention. The Member for Yuroke understands that these vaccinations, provided free, are saving lives.

Hon Jill Hennessy MP, Minister for Health