Let’s get vaccinated

Whooping Cough Vaccine (also known as pertussis)

The whooping cough vaccine is offered to pregnant women to help protect their baby against whooping cough (also known as pertussis). Getting the vaccine will protect your baby from birth, before they start their routine childhood immunisations.

It’s important you get the whooping cough vaccine as soon as possible from week 16 of your pregnancy. This will protect you against whooping cough, and protect your baby from getting it in their first weeks of life.

Immunisation is recommended as soon as possible from week 16 of your pregnancy. Having the vaccine after 32 weeks won’t give your baby the same level of protection. Talk to your midwife, practice nurse or GP and make an appointment to get immunised as soon as possible after week 16 of your pregnancy.

The whooping cough vaccine is recommended every time you’re pregnant, even if you’ve had the vaccine before.