As school returns today, NSW doctors are reminding parents to fully immunise their children.

National Health Performance Authority statistics reveal south-western Sydney has the nation’s second highest number of children aged five and under not fully immunised, although the region meets the NSW target of 92 per cent immunised.

Western Sydney has the highest number of children under five years of age (3,594) not fully vaccinated.

NSW has seen a rise in whooping cough cases from 118 in April, 2014 to 493 in December, 2014.

Parents must provide evidence of their child’s complete immunisation history in order to enrol them in primary school. Children must receive two booster needles protecting them against whooping cough and measles between the ages of three and four.

To obtain a child’s immunisation history statement, parents can contact the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) on 1800 653 809.