The National Immunisation Program provides free vaccines for a range of conditions, but some illnesses require routine injections or booster shots, which can come at additional cost.

For instance, while the state government will provide free vaccines for the meningococcal strains A, C, W and Y, anyone wanting further protection from the meningococcal B strain will be required to pay more than $230 for the injections.

Further, immunity provided by the combined diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough injections decreases after a number of years, and additional vaccines to boost immunity are recommended.

Public Health director Mark Veitch said whooping cough occurs in cycles, with peak cycles occurring about every five years.

According to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, the last cycle in Tasmania occurred in 2012 with 1277 cases, followed by 522 in 2013, and a significant drop to 68 the following year.

It appears the state is due for another cycle, with numbers slightly increasing over the last two years,  and in 2018 there have been 55 notified cases of whooping cough so far.

Immunisation Coalition chief executive Kim Sampson said it would like to see more people utilise the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

“One of the best things we can do for our community is to generate protection.  This happens when a majority of people are vaccinated, which stops the diseases spreading to the most vulnerable in our community,” he said.

The high-risk groups for meningococcal were infants and children under age five, and teenagers in the 15 to 19 age groups, with those aged 20 to 24 also benefiting from the vaccine.

“These are the groups where our efforts should be focused.  Older adults are generally at less risk,” Mr Sampson said.

The coalition supports routine vaccinations against the life-threatening meningococcal disease, with vaccines available for five types of the disease.

“We have vaccination programs for the ACWY strains across Australia and will soon know whether the government will pay for 15 to 19-year-olds across Australia,” he said.

“All state-funded programs will soon finish, so federal takeover funding is important.”

Mr Veitch said the public health service was in the process of extending its free A,C,W, and Y meningococcal vaccinations, to all those aged between six weeks and 20 years.

Infants aged 12 months already receive free vaccines for the A,C,W and Y strains. 

He said anyone else wanting to protect themselves against the A,C,W, and Y strains, or meningococcal B diseases, should access vaccines privately through their GP.

All adults who wished to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with whooping cough should get the pertussis booster injections, Mr Sampson said.

He said it was particularly important for those with underlying medical conditions to be vaccinated.

“There has been an emergence of an anti-vaccination movement in Australia, particularly in certain parts of the country,” Mr Sampson said.

“The outbreaks of pertussis have occurred in areas where the anti-vaccination movement is the strongest.

“The government has been trying to address the problem through programs such as ‘no jab - no pay’ and ‘no jab - no play’.”

Mr Veitch said whooping cough was usually present in the Tasmanian community, but at relatively low levels, which was the current situation around the state.

“Whooping cough occurs in cycles, and periods when cases are much more common occur every five years or so,” the Public Health director said.

“Adults, particularly those whose work, family or social activities have them in contact with babies should discuss the needed for a pertussis booster with their GP.”

Mr Sampson said when an outbreak of varicella occurred, public health authorities examined risk factors before deciding which groups needed vaccination.

Mr Veitch said there are many types of varicella illnesses, and many mild cases may not always be notified.

“The national immunisation program reduced the incidence and severity of chicken-pox, but has not eliminated this previously very common infection,” Mr Veitch said. 

Mr Sampson recommended that adults aged over 60 should be vaccinated against shingles, and that two shingles zoster vaccines were currently registered for use in Australia for people aged 50 and over.

Influenza is an infection of the respiratory system, which is known to cause pneumonia. Mr Sampson said in the very old and the very young, pneumonia required hospitalisation and also lead to death.

“It also has the ability to seriously exacerbate other medical conditions, particularly affecting people with heart conditions, diabetes, kidney disease and neurodegenerative diseases,” he said.

Mr Veitch said the influenza vaccine was still available, and the flu season was far from over.

“Winter is here and flu illness will probably increase in the coming weeks,” he said. 

“So anyone who wishes to get flu vaccine should seek it as soon as possible from their provider.”