Victoria will reintroduce free whooping cough vaccines for expectant mothers and parents of newborns amid concern about the rise in cases of the disease.

The program was abolished by the previous Liberal government in 2012.

In the past 12 months there was a 58 per cent increase in known cases, from 2,926 in 2013 to 4,615 in 2014.

Under the program, parents would be eligible for the free vaccine as soon as the expectant mother enters the third trimester, up until the baby is six months old.

The announcement came after the National Centre for Immunisation and Research Vaccine Preventable Diseases found there had been an increase in whooping cough cases in young children across Australia.

What is whooping Cough? Whooping cough is a serious, contagious, respiratory infection that begins like a cold.

Whooping cough is a serious, contagious, respiratory infection that begins like a cold. A characteristic cough, or 'whoop', develops and can last for months, even after the person is no longer infected.

A characteristic cough, or 'whoop', develops and can last for months, even after the person is no longer infected. The 'whoop' is due to a deep breath at the end of a bout of coughing.

The 'whoop' is due to a deep breath at the end of a bout of coughing. Vomiting after coughing is common.

Vomiting after coughing is common. Whooping cough is particularly dangerous for babies less than six months of age.

Whooping cough is particularly dangerous for babies less than six months of age. One in every 200 babies who contract whooping cough will die

The study has led experts to conclude the protection given by the current vaccine may be wearing off.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said the program, which would cost up to $8.4 million over four years, would "save lives".

"Whooping cough is a significant challenge right across our state. We've seen in the last 12 months a massive increase in the number of cases," he said.

"It's a terrible condition, it can be a deadly condition, particularly in our smallest Victorians - those newborns who can't be vaccinated until they're six months old and don't have the anti-bodies, the inherent protection."

'No jab, no play' policy for child care

Mr Andrews said vaccinating parents was a common sense way to protect babies from the disease.

"There is no doubt this decision will save lives, getting rid of the free vaccinations was the wrong thing to do," he said.

"No parent should be making a conscious decision not to get vaccinated themselves, that puts their newborn at risk... and other children, indeed all Victorians, at risk.

"The weight of evidence tells you that we ought to be vaccinating all of our kids at all the milestones, whether it's for whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella."

The Premier said there was a worldwide shortage of the vaccine and the Government would start the tender process to procure it immediately.

Mr Andrews said the Government was also developing a "no jab, no play" policy, where unvaccinated children would not be able to be enrolled in child care.