Key facts
- Number of doses: 6.
- Free for: Babies at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age, children at 4 years of age, teens at 12 to 13 years of age, and pregnant women.
- Side effects can include mild fever, pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, and a lump at the injection site. Babies may be unsettled, unhappy and sleepy.
What is whooping cough
Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a serious disease of the airways caused by bacteria. It can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and sometimes death. It can affect people at any age but is especially serious for babies.
Whooping cough spreads easily through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or sings.
What is the whooping cough vaccine
The whooping cough vaccine is an injection that helps protect people from whooping cough. The ingredients teach the immune system to recognise and fight the virus that causes whooping cough, without causing the disease itself.
Whooping cough vaccines are safe and effective at protecting against whooping cough and its complications. Staying up to date with your vaccinations gives you the best protection.
Whooping cough vaccines under the NIP are only available as combination vaccines that also protect against diphtheria and tetanus (dTpa vaccine).
You can find product information and consumer medicine information about whooping cough vaccines on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website.
Who can get the whooping cough vaccine
The vaccine is free under the NIP schedule for:
- babies at 2 months, 4 months and 18 months of age
- children at 4 years of age
- teens at 12 to 13 years of age
- pregnant women (between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy)
- people 19 years of age or under (as a catch-up vaccination)
- refugees and other humanitarian entrants of any age (as a catch-up vaccination).
You must also have a Medicare card or be eligible for one. This includes babies and children.
If you are not eligible for the free vaccine through the NIP
Talk to your health professional about whether vaccination is recommended for you or your child. Most vaccines are available for private purchase with a prescription.
If you buy the vaccine yourself, you will need to pay for it. The cost is not covered or reimbursed through the NIP.
Some vaccines not funded by the NIP may be funded by your state or territory. Check the immunisation schedule for your state or territory to find out more.
How the whooping cough vaccine is given
The vaccine is injected into a muscle (intramuscularly).
Costs
Some providers charge a consultation fee to give vaccines (including free ones). Check before you make an appointment.
Side effects
Most side effects of whooping cough vaccines are mild and last no more than a couple of days. Serious side effects are rare.
Common side effects include:
- mild fever
- pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
- babies being unsettled, unhappy and sleepy.
Occasionally, a lump may form at the injection site. This may last for many weeks, but no treatment is needed.
Find out how to manage common vaccine side effects. If you’re worried, talk to a health professional.
Safety data
See safety data for the free vaccines given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months of age, 4 years of age, and 12 to 13 years of age from AusVaxSafety.
Checking immunisation history
You can get proof of vaccination for you or your child. Visit the Check immunisation history page to find out how.
Information for health professionals
If you are a health professional, visit our Vaccination clinical support for health professionals page for more information.
You can also read the Australian Immunisation Handbook pertussis (whooping cough) page.
Next steps
Talk to a health professional to confirm if the whooping cough vaccine is free or recommended for you.
Find a health professional in your area or call your state or territory health department.
Watch the videos about whooping cough vaccines during pregnancy and childhood.
More information
- View our NIP resources.
- Watch our video called What is Pertussis? to find out why childhood pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination is so important.
- Visit our Maternal vaccinations and Childhood immunisation sites.
- Read the Pertussis vaccines for Australians fact sheet on the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance Australia website.
Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine
Find out how effective the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine is and more about potential side effects.
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