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Home Social care and health Health and wellbeing Health protection Disease control Whooping cough

Whooping cough

Whooping cough (known medically as Pertussis) is a bacterial germ which is very easily spread between people. It is spread when people carrying the germ cough or sneeze. Other people can then breathe in the germ and then become infected.

Young babies, particularly those under 6-months-old, can be very poorly if they catch  whooping cough and may need to be taken into hospital.

In some cases, whooping cough can be fatal.

Follow the NHS guidance on whooping cough if you think you or a family member has whooping cough.

How whooping cough can be prevented

Vaccination offers the best protection against whooping cough. The NHS offers a free and effective vaccine.

It's offered to those who are pregnant, and children as part of the routine NHS vaccines.

Vaccination during pregnancy

As babies can't be vaccinated until they are 8-weeks-old, having the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy means protection can be passed onto the baby. It's important to have the vaccine with every pregnancy.

Speak to your GP or mid-wife if you are 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the vaccine.

The NHS website has more information about vaccines given during pregnancy, including the whooping cough vaccine.

It's important the vaccines are given on time for the best protection. If you or a family member has missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.

Vaccination for babies and children

Babies and children are routinely offered the whooping cough vaccine as follows:

  • 6-in-1 vaccine for babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
  • 4-in-1 pre-school booster for children aged 3 years, 4 months

For the best protection, it's important the vaccines are given on time. If you or a family member has missed a vaccine, contact your GP to catch up.

If your doctor says you have whooping cough, you'll be expected to stay away from work, school, or nursery. This will help to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other people.