Vaccinnation program expanded as diphtheria cases continue to rise

The Department of Health has expanded the vaccination program to include the Midwest regional and extended eligibility to all Aboriginal people across the state.

There have now been 170 cases reported across the Kimberley, Pilbara and Goldfields regions, predominantly among Aboriginal people.

Most cases have occurred in the Kimberley (135 cases), with additional cases reported in the Pilbara (31 cases) and the Goldfields (four cases). The department said there was now evidence of diphtheria transmission in the Midwest.

Of the 170 cases reported, 104 have involved cutaneous infections and 66 have involved respiratory infections, including two severe respiratory cases.

Director Communicable Disease Control Dr Paul Armstrong said respiratory infections were of the most concern.

“While most recent cases in Western Australia have involved skin infections, severe respiratory diphtheria can be life-threatening and can lead to complications.

“Our priority is to identify cases early, support affected communities, increase vaccination coverage and reduce the risk of further spread of the disease.

“Vaccination remains the best defence against severe illness due to diphtheria, which is why it is so important for people to ensure they are protected.”

The expanded vaccination program is already underway and focuses on catch-up vaccination for children and adolescents under the National Immunisation Program, alongside vaccination of eligible adults who have not received a diphtheria-containing vaccine in the past five years.

Almost 15,000 doses of diphtheria-containing vaccine, in addition to those funded under the National Immunisation Program, have been distributed across the outbreak-affected regions.

Doctors working across certain parts of WA have already been offered a diphtheria booster vaccines in an effort to protect safety.

The outbreak has been described as the biggest diphtheria outbreak seen in Australia in decades.

According to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, 420 cases have been recorded in Australia in 2026.

GPs are advised to follow up and offer vaccines to children and adolescents eligible under the National Immunisation Program, who are not up to date with their scheduled diphtheria-containing vaccines.

Diphtheria-containing vaccines are now available for people who have not received a diphtheria-containing vaccine in the past five years and who: 

• Are an Aboriginal person living anywhere in Western Australia
• Reside in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields or Midwest regions
• Have regular face-to-face contact with Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields or Midwest regions, including patient-facing healthcare workers and other frontline workers who work, but do not reside, in these regions.

A dedicated Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has been established to coordinate the outbreak response and support public health activities across affected regions, including case management, contact tracing, testing, treatment, vaccination and community engagement measures.