Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly infectious disease that is spread by coughing and sneezing. It’s a serious infection that causes a long coughing illness and can be life threatening.

Whooping cough can be very serious for babies and children – especially those under 1 year old. If babies catch whooping cough, they:

• may not be able to feed or breathe properly.

• may become so ill they need to go to hospital.

• could end up with serious complications such as pneumonia and brain damage.

People with whooping cough are infectious from 6 days after exposure to the bacteria, when symptoms are like a normal cold, to 3 weeks after the ‘whooping’ cough begins – unless they are treated with antibiotics.

Many babies catch whooping cough from their older siblings or parents – often before they’re old enough to be vaccinated.

To protect your baby, get your free immunisation during pregnancy with us and take your baby for their free immunisations at your medical centre when they are 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months old.

You may be eligible for a free vaccine against tetanus once you are 45 years and again at 65 years. Please check with us if you are eligible.