AHEAD of Whooping Cough Day tomorrow, TerryWhite Chemmart (TWC) has announced a five-year partnership with the Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA) to boost awareness on essential vaccines, with a particular emphasis on whooping cough (pertussis), as well as RSV, MMR, and influenza.
The partnership aims to educate Australians on the importance of timely vaccinations to protect children and vulnerable groups.
The IFA in 2023 launched Whooping Cough Day to spotlight the dangers of the highly contagious disease.
This year, TWC's nationwide network will participate, distributing critical information on whooping cough and promoting preventive steps, including vaccination.
Recent data highlights the urgency of this partnership.
Despite high vaccination rates among infants, there is a significant drop among adolescents and adults, leading to continued whooping cough transmission.
According to the Australian Immunisation Register, only 73.9% of adolescents received their booster in 2023, with rates even lower for Indigenous adolescents.
In adults, only one in five is up-to-date with vaccinations, a decline attributed to misinformation and vaccine fatigue following COVID-19.
As of this month, Australia has seen over 40,000 reported cases of whooping cough - an increase of nearly 38,000 compared to last year, according to the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard.
This spike underscores the need for expanded awareness and vaccination efforts to curb the disease's spread.
"This partnership reflects our mission to keep communities healthy, leveraging our extensive network and educational platforms to drive vaccine awareness," TWC Chief Pharmacist Brenton Hart said.
Catherine Hughes, founder of Light for Riley, also shared her perspective on the partnership.
"Whooping cough can affect anyone, and with TWC, we're amplifying its severity to a broader audience," Hughes said.
"This collaboration helps ensure that vulnerable community members receive crucial information on staying protected."
Hart added, "With Catherine Hughes and the IFA, we're better equipping our pharmacists to understand the impact of these diseases, and we look forward to deepening this work in the years to come."
The partnership between TWC and IFA represents a crucial step towards improving vaccination rates and ensuring community health - to book a vaccination, CLICK HERE.
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