article_snippet: Information supplied by HealthDirect.gov.au .
article_snippet: Data recorded on immunisation rates across Australia on the Department of Health's website shows, in 2012, WA had the lowest vaccination rates for whooping cough and for immunisation overall.
article_snippet: In WA 91 per cent of children were immunised against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis by 12 months of age and 90.2 per cent were fully immunised.
article_snippet: In 2013, the Department of Health said that despite a long-standing immunisation program, 'pertussis remains highly prevalent in Australia and the least well controlled of all vaccine-preventable diseases'. '
article_snippet: Epidemics occur every 3 to 4 years.
article_snippet: In unvaccinated populations, Epidemics can be very large.
article_snippet: In vaccinated populations, outbreaks are smaller, with greatly reduced mortality and morbidity, and may continue to occur every 3 to 4 years or be more widely spaced,' the department's notifiable disease report said.
highlights_snippet: In Australia it is the least well controlled of all vaccine-preventable diseases .