Increase in pertussis cases in 2024
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a serious illness, especially in young children. Young infants are at highest risk of severe complications.
There have been 514 cases of pertussis in 2024 in Ireland including 402 confirmed, 59 probable and 53 possible cases. This is compared with very low numbers in recent years due to the pandemic (2021 – 5 cases, 2022 – 7 cases, 2023 – 18 cases).
Cycles of increased pertussis typically occur every five years. We last saw high numbers of cases in 2016 and 2017. Therefore, considering the impact of the pandemic, it is not unexpected to see this increase in 2024. Similar increases are being seen across Europe. Since mid-2023, several EU countries have reported an increase in the number of pertussis cases notified. This increase has continued into 2024, and some countries have reported pertussis-related deaths. As of 12th September, the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported there have been 12,200 laboratory confirmed pertussis cases between January and July 2024. In Northern Ireland, between 1st January 2024 to 22nd September, there have been 2,949 confirmed pertussis cases.
Amongst the 514 cases notified in Ireland to date in 2024, children predominate with:
- 101 cases (20%) in the 0–5 month age group (i.e. too young to have received their full three dose primary immunisation course)
- 87 cases (17 %) aged 1-2 years, 53 cases (10%) aged 5-9 years and 53 (10%) aged 10-14 years
One hundred and fifty three of the 514 cases (30%) were hospitalised including 68 of the 101 cases (67%) in infants aged 0-5 months.
The best way to protect against pertussis is vaccination. In Ireland, pertussis containing vaccines are offered as part of national immunisation programmes.
Babies born before the 30th of September 2024 are offered the following:
- Childhood immunisation at 2, 4, and 6 months of age at your GP (6 in 1 vaccine)
- As part of the school immunisation programme children are offered:
- Booster 1 (4 in 1) in Junior Infants
- Booster 2 (Tdap) in first year of secondary school
As part of the new primary immunisation schedule, babies born on or after 1 Oct 2024 will be offered the above pertussis containing vaccines plus an additional 6 in 1 vaccine at 13 months.
Vaccines offered as part of national immunisations are available for free at GPs and through school immunisation teams. If your child has missed a pertussis vaccine dose or are unsure if they are protected, check their vaccine records or speak to your GP practice about getting vaccinated.
In addition, in Ireland, pertussis vaccine is recommended during each pregnancy. The vaccine is recommended between 16 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and is available at your GP.
Getting the vaccine means pregnant women will be protected against whooping cough, and this vital immunity passes to the baby in utero, and will protect their newborn baby from birth during their earliest, most vulnerable months before they can be vaccinated themselves.
Information on immunisation is available from the National Immunisation Office website at www.immunisation.ie