Diptheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough/Pertussis (Tdap) - (Boostrix)

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

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

Certain adults 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).

Free tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough vaccine (Boostrix) are offered:

• from 13 weeks of every pregnancy (consider booking Boostrix between 16 and 26 weeks of pregnancy as this is when the vaccine is most effective). 

  By immunising the mother in pregnancy, the baby can be protected from whooping cough in two ways:

  1.     By the antibodies produced by mother following immunisation and passed to baby across the placenta

  2.    The mother is protected from catching whooping cough and passing it to her baby

• for some people aged 45 years old (if they have received fewer than four tetanus doses in their life-time)
• for everyone from 65 years old if it has been more than 10 years since a previous dose of tetanus and diptheria vaccine. If you have already had a free tetanus and diphtheria vaccine from age 65, you will not be eligible for a free Boostrix vaccine.
• Those who need a tetanus booster immunisation because of a wound

Boostrix is recommended, though not funded unless provided by employers, for:

• Health care staff who work with infants less than one year of age
• Staff working in longterm care facilities
• Early childhood education staff
• Students in training for occupations with children
• Household and other close contacts of infants less than one year of age
• Adults with a medical condition not specified in the Schedule but in whom prevention of pertussis is important, e.g. those with chronic respiratory/lung disease

If you’re not eligible for a free whooping cough booster, they can be purchased.  We can give you advice on how often it’s recommended you have a booster.

Click below to book 

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