Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination

Whooping cough can be very serious – especially for babies under 12 months old. To protect pēpi (babies), a vaccination should be given from 16 weeks of every pregnancy. Then pēpi need 3 doses when they are 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months old. Booster doses are also given at 4, 11, 45, and 65 years old.

Whooping cough

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a bacteria that causes breathing difficulties and severe coughing fits. The cough can go on for weeks or months which is why it’s sometimes called the ‘100 day cough’.

Having severe whooping cough can lead to pneumonia, seizures, and other neurological (brain) issues. More than half of babies under 12 months old who catch it need to go to hospital, and up to 1 in 50 of these babies die.

It’s very contagious. It can easily spread between family members by coughing and sneezing. It can also spread quickly around early education centres and schools.

Whooping cough is not under control in New Zealand, and when outbreaks occur, it affects thousands of people.

More about whooping cough (pertussis) – IMAC

When to get a whooping cough vaccine

Multiple whooping cough vaccinations are needed to protect you throughout your life.

Whooping cough vaccines are free for pregnant people and all children under 18 years old. They are also recommended at 45 and 65 years old.

During every pregnancy

Protecting your tamariki from whooping cough starts during pregnancy.

Whooping cough is particularly dangerous for babies – especially those who have not been vaccinated. More than half of babies under 12 months old who catch whooping cough need to go to hospital, and up to 1 in 50 of these babies die.

By getting immunised when you’re pregnant you’ll protect your pēpi until they can have their first immunisations when they’re 6 weeks old. This is because your immunity passes to your baby through the placenta.

It is most effective when given from 16-26 weeks of pregnancy, but is available and free from 13 weeks of every pregnancy. 

Other immunisations you need if you’re pregnant

6 weeks old

As babies get older, the immunity that crossed from the placenta gets weaker and so they need their own immunity from whooping cough as soon as possible.

When your pēpi turns 6 weeks old they should get the first of their 3 doses of the whooping cough vaccine.

3 months old

At 3 months old, a second dose of the whooping cough vaccine is due.

5 months old

At 5 months old, a third dose of the whooping cough vaccine is due.

4 years old

Protection against whooping cough weakens over time, so it’s important that tamariki have a booster when they turn 4 years old – before they start school.

From 11 years old

Another booster to help protect against whooping cough is recommended from 11 years old.

It’s available through some schools for students in Year 7 and is also free from your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider.

Rangatahi and adults

Certain people are recommended to have a whooping cough booster at least every 10 years.

This includes people who:

  • work with young children and vulnerable people
  • live with a newborn baby
  • are at higher risk of severe illness from whooping cough (for example those with chronic respiratory disease).

There may be a cost for these additional whooping cough boosters.

Older adults

Whooping cough boosters are recommended for adults at 45 and 65 years old.

It’s common for adult caregivers (such as grandparents and other close whānau) to have a whooping cough booster to help protect their moko.

Which vaccine is used

Protection against whooping cough is given in vaccines that also protect against other diseases.

  • Babies are given the diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, hep B, and hib vaccine.
  • 4 year olds are given the diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and polio vaccine.
  • Everyone aged 11 and over are given the tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough vaccine (Boostrix).

It’s not possible to separate these out – so you cannot have just a whooping cough vaccine.

Side effects and reactions

Side effects and reactions of each vaccine are listed on their pages.

Booking a whooping cough vaccination

Contact your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider to book a vaccination appointment.

Whooping cough vaccines are free for pregnant people and all children under 18 years old.

If you need to pay, it will cost between $40 and $90 depending on where you book.

You can search Healthpoint to see where Boostrix vaccines are given, and contact details are listed so you can find out how much they charge.

Find Boostrix sites near you – Healthpoint

If you do not have a doctor, Healthpoint has a list and map of vaccination sites that anyone can access. This includes pharmacies and doctors that take casual (not enrolled patients).

Vaccination sites that anyone can access – Healthpoint

Childhood immunisation sites that anyone can access – Healthpoint

If an immunisation has been missed – you can catch up

If any immunisations have been missed, it’s OK. You can catch up on most immunisations. For advice, talk to your doctor, nurse, or trusted healthcare professional.

Catching up on missed immunisations

Page last updated: 10 May 2023