New figures show 514 cases of the highly contagious disease were reported here so far this year, up from 18 cases last year.
The bacterial illness, also known as pertussis, can be serious in young children.
Infants are at the highest risk of severe complications, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
There were just five cases here in 2021 and seven in 2022, but cycles of increased pertussis typically occur every five years.
“We last saw high numbers of cases in 2016 and 2017. Therefore, considering the impact of the pandemic, it is not unexpected to see this increase in 2024,” the HPSC said.
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“Similar increases are being seen across Europe. Since mid-2023, several EU countries have reported an increase in the number of pertussis cases notified.”
Among the 514 cases notified this year, most were in children.
The best way to protect against pertussis is vaccination
A total of 101 cases were in babies aged five months and younger who were too young to have received their first vaccination against the illness.
Another 87 cases were in children aged one to two; 53 were in children between five and nine years old; and 53 were in children aged 10 to 14.
The HSPC said that 153 of the 514 cases, nearly one in three, resulted in hospitalisation, including 68 of the 101 cases in infants.
“The best way to protect against pertussis is vaccination. In Ireland, pertussis-containing vaccines are offered as part of national immunisation programmes,” it said.
“Babies born before September 30, 2024 are offered the following childhood immunisation at two, four and six months of age by their GP.”
As part of the school immunisation programme, children are offered a booster in junior infants and another in first year of secondary school.
“As part of the new primary immunisation schedule, babies born on or after October 1, 2024 will be offered the above pertussis-containing vaccines, plus an additional six in one vaccine at thirteen months,” the HPSC said.
It said that vaccines offered as part of the national immunisation programme are available for free at GPs and through school immunisation teams.
If parents are worried their child has missed a pertussis vaccine, or unsure if their child is protected, they can check their vaccine records or speak to a GP.
