WA’s Telethon Kids Institute’s world-first nasal spray vaccine could save infants from deadly whooping cough

A new nasal spray has the potential to save babies too young to be jabbed from contracting deadly whooping cough.

Tiny babies could soon have much-needed protection from community transmission of the dangerous bacteria through a world-first nasal vaccine being trialled at WA’s Telethon Kids Institute.

Researchers in the global SUPER Study are investigating the efficacy of the spray in providing superior protection against whooping cough by preventing the bacteria from causing an infection in the first place and therefore halting the spread to vulnerable young babies.

Head of the Vaccine Trials Group at the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases based at Telethon Kids Institute at Perth Children’s Hospital, Professor Peter Richmond, said whooping cough, caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis, was an infection in the upper airway and lungs known for its severe, long-lasting cough.

“Our current whooping cough vaccines work by producing antibodies in the blood and while this has proven to be very effective in protecting people from getting seriously unwell, unfortunately we don’t yet have a vaccine with the ability to stop the infection from occurring or prevent the illness passing to others,” Professor Richmond said.

“Whooping cough can be extremely dangerous for babies under six months of age — each year in Australia we see deaths and over 200 hospitalisations in babies too young to be fully immunised.”

Professor Richmond said that while whooping cough was less likely to be life-threatening in older children, teenagers and adults, research had shown these age groups played a major role in transmitting the bacteria throughout the community.

“It is hoped that using a nasal spray vaccine could provide added protection by not only producing antibodies in the blood but also in the nose and throat — preventing the bacteria from developing an infection and therefore ending the spread to community members most at risk,” he said.

“This is an incredibly exciting step forward for vaccine research and the outcome could save hundreds of families worldwide from going through the devastating experience of losing a child to whooping cough.”

Eleven-year-old Cadence was just five days old when she took part in her first Telethon Kids whooping cough study, so she didn’t hesitate to sign up for the opportunity to participate in the latest groundbreaking research.

“It’s exciting to be the first SUPER Study participant in Australia,” the Perth Hills girl said.

“And I really enjoyed the chance to learn about medicine along the way.”

Telethon Kids Institute researchers are looking for healthy young people aged 6 – 17 to be part of 600 SUPER Study participants across Australia and the United Kingdom.

Recruitment is also under way at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide, Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne.

For more information about the SUPER Study or to sign up, please visit vaccine.telethonkids.org.au or email whoopingcough@telethonkids.org.au.