Whooping cough vaccine: when to get it

The vaccine protects against pertussis, also called whooping cough. Keeping doses up to date helps reduce the chance of infection and helps protect people who may become seriously unwell, especially young babies.

Protection is built through a planned series rather than a single dose that covers every stage of life. Children are offered doses as part of routine immunisation, and later doses may be offered to maintain protection. Check the child’s vaccination record if you are unsure which doses have already been received.

Vaccination in pregnancy can help provide protection for a newborn in the early period before the baby is due for routine vaccines. A maternity clinician can explain the recommended timing for the current pregnancy and whether there are any reasons to adjust the plan.

Arrange vaccination through your usual clinic, a child health service, or the service named in your local immunisation programme. Take any available immunisation record so the clinician can identify missed or overdue doses and decide on a suitable catch-up plan.

Tell the vaccinator about a previous serious allergic reaction after a vaccine, a current significant illness, or medicines and health conditions that affect your immune system. Mild symptoms such as a runny nose do not always require postponing an appointment, but the clinician can assess you on the day.

Seek urgent medical assessment for a baby or child with difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, blue or grey lips, severe drowsiness, poor feeding, or signs of dehydration. These symptoms need prompt attention whether vaccination is up to date or not.

Contact a clinician promptly if you or someone at home has a worsening cough with repeated coughing bouts, vomiting after coughing, or fever and feels unwell. Whooping cough can present with a persistent cough, and early assessment helps guide testing, treatment, and advice about close contacts.

Ask which whooping cough doses are recommended for you or your child, whether any previous doses need to be recorded, and where they can be given. During pregnancy, ask about timing in relation to your due date and other vaccines. If there is a household cough illness, ask whether testing or antibiotic treatment is appropriate and what precautions are needed around babies.