Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccine

The best way to prevent pertussis (whooping cough) among infants, children, teens, and adults is to get vaccinated. Also, keep infants and other people at increased risk for whooping cough complications away from infected people.

There are pertussis vaccines for children, preteens, teens, and adults. The childhood vaccine is called DTaP, and the pertussis booster vaccine for preteens, teens, and adults is called Tdap. These are combination vaccines that protect against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

Getting vaccinated against pertussis is especially important for children, preteens, and pregnant women.

DTaP

For Infants and Children

Children should get five doses of DTaP vaccine, one dose at each of the following ages:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 15 through 18 months
• 4 through 6 years

DTaP vaccine may be given at the same visit as other vaccines. DTaP is not licensed for anyone over the age of six. Children older than six, preteens, teens, and adults may get a similar vaccine, Tdap.

Tdap

For Preteens, Teens, and Adults

• Tdap is a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine given to preteens, teens, and adults. It can be given after exposure to tetanus under some circumstances in place of one of the Td (tetanus and diphtheria vaccine) shots you would get every 10 years. Tdap is especially important for pregnant women.
• Preteens and teens 11 through 18 years old (preferably at 11-12 years old) should receive a single dose of Tdap.
• Adults 19 years or older who did not receive Tdap as a preteen or teen should also receive a single dose of Tdap.
• Pregnant women should receive a dose of Tdap during each pregnancy. The shot is recommended during the 27th through 36th week of pregnancy, preferably during the earlier part of this time period. This helps to maximize the amount of protective antibodies passed to the baby. These antibodies help protect newborns right after birth and until babies are old enough to get their own DTaP vaccine at two months of age. However, the vaccine can be safely given at any time during pregnancy if needed.
• New mothers who have never gotten Tdap should get a dose as soon as possible after delivery.
• Tdap should also be given to kids 7 through 10 years old who are not fully immunized against pertussis.
• Tdap can be given no matter when Td (tetanus and diphtheria vaccine) was last received.

Last reviewed: April 2015

What is Pertussis (Whooping Cough)?

Pertussis, a respiratory illness commonly known as whooping cough, is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria. Pertussis is found only in humans and is spread from person-to-person. People with pertussis usually spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria.

Symptoms of pertussis usually develop within seven to ten days after being exposed, but sometimes not for as long as six weeks. Pertussis can cause severe coughing spells, vomiting, and disturbed sleep. It can lead to weight loss, incontinence, rib fractures, and passing out from violent coughing. Although you are often exhausted after a coughing fit, you usually appear fairly well in-between. Coughing fits generally become more common and severe as the illness continues, and can occur more often at night. The illness can be milder (less severe) and the typical "whoop" absent in children, teens, and adults who have been vaccinated. Since symptoms can vary and may look much like the common cold during the early stages of disease, children and adults may not know they have whooping cough and can end up spreading it to infants they are in close contact with.

Who gets Pertussis (Whooping Cough)?

Everyone is at risk for pertussis, but it is most severe for babies, especially in the first months of life before pertussis immunizations begin; about half of infants younger than one year of age who get the disease are hospitalized. Of infants who are hospitalized with pertussis, one in four get pneumonia (lung infection), one or two in a hundred will have convulsions, and one or two in a hundred will die.

Up to five in 100 preteens, teens, and adults with pertussis are hospitalized. Of those patients, up to two in 100 are diagnosed with pneumonia. The most common complications in a study of adults with pertussis were:

• Weight loss (33%)
• Loss of bladder control (28%)
• Passing out (6%)
• Rib fractures from severe coughing (4%)

It is especially important for women to get Tdap in the third trimester of every pregnancy so that they can create antibodies and pass this protection to their babies before birth. These antibodies help protect newborns right after birth and until babies are old enough to get their own DTaP vaccine at two months of age.

Getting vaccinated with DTaP or Tdap (depending on your age) is also important for anyone who is around infants. Remember that even fully-vaccinated children and adults can get pertussis. If you are caring for infants, check with your health care provider about what’s best for your situation.

Early symptoms can last for one to two weeks and usually include:

• Runny nose
• Low-grade fever (generally minimal throughout the course of the disease)
• Mild, occasional cough
• Apnea – a pause in breathing (in infants)

As the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis may appear and include:

• Fits (paroxysms) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched "whoop"
• Vomiting (throwing up)
• Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits

The coughing fits can go on for up to ten weeks or more.

Ready to get Vaccinated?

Read More about Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccines:

• Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) for the Td vaccine, the Tdap vaccine, or the DTaP vaccine describe the benefits and risks of each vaccine. These sheets are required to be given each time you receive a vaccine dose.
• FDA vaccine-specific approved prescribing information.
• More information about pertussis on the CDC’s Pertussis Page.
• Prepare for your vaccination visit by reading what to expect.

Going to get Vaccinated:

• Find places to get vaccinated in your area.
• Explore resources to help pay for vaccines.

Listen:

• Hear what the pertussis cough sounds like so you can recognize if you or your child has the disease.