Whooping Cough Vaccine

Service Description

Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory infection that can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and sometimes death. It is typically spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing respiratory droplets. Whooping cough usually begins with cold-like symptoms including sneezing, mild dry cough, fever and a runny nose. This can develop into a cough with a distinctive ‘whooping’ sound when breathing in, which can last up to three months. It is highly recommended for infants, children, and adolescents with boosters needed for adults. It is also crucial for pregnant women in each pregnancy to protect newborns and for others who have close contact with infants, like family members, grandparents, and caregivers. Who is recommended to receive a whooping cough vaccination? • Infants, children and adolescents • Routine booster vaccination of adults, including those in high-risk groups or in contact with a special risk group, such as o Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding o Healthcare workers o Early childhood educators and carers o People in close contact with infants o People who have missed doses of pertussis-containing vaccine. FREE Whooping Cough Vaccination The Australian Government’s National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides free whooping cough vaccines to the following eligible Medicare card holders: • Children aged 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 4 years (not available in pharmacy) • Adolescents aged 12-13 years through school-based vaccination programs • Pregnant women (ideally between 20-32 weeks of pregnancy) • People under 20 years old and refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age can get a free catch-up vaccination Side Effects Side effects are generally mild and can include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, fever, or irritability. Serious reactions are rare. Compared to older vaccines, modern whooping cough vaccines are less likely to cause significant side effects. Pertussis vaccines should not be given to people who have had: • anaphylaxis after a previous dose of any pertussis-containing vaccine • anaphylaxis after any component of a pertussis-containing vaccine