Protect Yourself and Our Most Vulnerable from Whooping Cough
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious and serious respiratory infection. It is characterised by uncontrollable, violent coughing fits that often make it hard to breathe. For babies, whooping cough can be life-threatening. Vaccination is the best line of defence.
What is Whooping Cough?
Caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, whooping cough can lead to severe complications in infants, including pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death. While it can affect people of all ages, it poses the greatest risk to newborns who are too young to be fully vaccinated.
Why Get Vaccinated?
The whooping cough vaccine is critical for protecting infants. Immunity can fade over time, so booster shots are essential for adults to prevent them from catching the disease and spreading it to vulnerable babies. This is often administered as a combination vaccine that also protects against diphtheria and tetanus (dTpa).
Who Should Get the Whooping Cough Vaccine?
A booster is strongly recommended for:
- Pregnant Women: The ideal time is between 20 and 32 weeks of each pregnancy. This allows protective antibodies to pass to the baby before birth.
- Parents, Grandparents, and Carers: Anyone who will be in close contact with an infant up to 12 months should be up-to-date with their vaccination at least 2 weeks prior to coming into contact with an infant.
- Adults who haven't had a booster in the last 10 years.
The whooping cough combination vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for:
- Children aged 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months and 4 years
- Adolescents aged 12-13 years through school-based vaccination programs
- Pregnant women (ideally between 20-32 weeks)
Book Your Whooping Cough Booster
Help create a protective cocoon for the newest members of our community. Schedule your whooping cough vaccination with us today.