Health officials say low immunization coverage in some communities is partly due to misinformation spread and discriminiation during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

This comes as Vanuatu faces a whooping cough (pertussis) outbreak, with 88 confirmed cases on Tanna and one suspected case on Efate.

National Immunization Coordinator at the Ministry of Health (MOH), Samson Arnitalu, said the outbreak is not caused by shortage of vaccines but because many parents have not ensured their children receive all required doses.

He clarified that there is no new whooping cough vaccine similar to that of the COVID-19 rollout. Instead, protection comes from the Pentavalent vaccine, which has long been part of the country’s routine immunization program.

The Pentavalent vaccine protects children against whooping cough and several other diseases. Babies receive it in three doses at 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks of age will fully  strengthen their immune system.

“Pentavalent is one of the vaccines given when a child is born. At six weeks, the child gets the first dose, then later at 10 weeks, and the final dose at 14 weeks,” Mr. Arnitalu explained.

However, he said many mothers skipped these vaccinations after hearing negative talk about COVID-19 vaccines, which has led to low community coverage and made outbreaks more likely.

“Many people discriminate the COVID-19 vaccine. As a result, mothers stopped taking their children for routine vaccinations, and our national immunity dropped, which has now led to the whooping cough outbreak,” he said.

Mr. Arnitalu confirmed the last outbreak of whooping cough was at least than 10 years ago, before the Pentavalent vaccine was introduced. With low coverage again today, cases are spreading quickly, especially in Tafea Province with low coverage of immunization that led to 3 deaths as results of no vaccination.

He urged the public, community leaders, and parents to listen to health authorities and ensure children are fully vaccinated to prevent further spread of the disease.