Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly infectious disease that is easily spread by coughing and sneezing.

Whooping cough can be very serious for babies and young children (especially those under one year old).

If they catch whopping cough, they:

• May not be able to feed or breathe properly

• Becomes ill and require hospitalisation

• Leads to complications such as pneumonia or even brain damage

What are the benefits of getting the whopping cough vaccine?

• It is a highly effective vaccine and is the best way to protect you and your loved ones from getting whopping cough.

• Protect vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and infants who are too young to get immunised. 

The whopping cough vaccine is FREE for:

• Pregnant women (from second trimester onward)

• People from the age of 45 and 65