Whooping Cough

Risk areas for Whooping Cough

Whooping cough (pertussis) – Travellers around the world should watch out for this menacing microbe that affects the lungs and airways. Following initial cold-like symptoms, it causes cough bouts which can last for several months and may leave you gasping for breath.

Symptoms

Symptoms start with a runny nose, sore throat and rarely fever. After a week or so, bouts of uncontrollable coughing lasting several minutes can occur. Coughing may be severe enough to cause vomiting. Sometimes people find it difficult to breathe between coughing bouts and their gasping for breath causes the characteristic “whooping” noise. It can take a few months before the coughing stops

How do you catch whooping cough?
By breathing in droplets spread by the coughs and sneezes of people infected with the bacteria that cause whooping cough

How serious is whooping cough?

Babies under 12 months are particularly at risk of complications such as dehydration, breathing difficulties, pneumonia and fits. Emergency treatment may be required.³

Can I prevent getting whooping cough?

You can take the following precautions to help reduce your risk of infection:

Visit your GP, the nearest convenient pharmacy or specialist travel health clinic for more information.
Practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Pregnant women are advised to have the whooping cough vaccine. This protects babies during their first weeks of life.

Vaccination options

There is no “whooping cough only” vaccine; it is always given as a combined shot. In the UK, the following acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines are used:

Adacel: The preferred booster vaccine for the maternal (pregnancy) programme.
Boostrix-IPV: A common alternative used for pre-school boosters and in pregnancy if Adacel is unavailable.
Repevax: Another 4-in-1 booster option used in the UK.
6-in-1 (Infanrix hexa or Vaxelis): Specifically for babies (8, 12, and 16 weeks); these are generally administered at GP surgeries rather than pharmacies.

2. Level of Protection

The vaccine is highly effective, though its primary goal is preventing severe disease and death in those most at risk.

Infant Protection: Maternal vaccination (given during pregnancy) is 91% effective at preventing infant death and more than 90% effective at preventing hospitalisation of babies in their first few weeks of life.
Personal Protection: For the individual receiving the booster, it provides high protection against severe illness, though “mild” breakthrough infections can still occur as the bacteria are highly contagious.

3. Protection Duration

The protection from the pertussis vaccine is not lifelong.

Waning Immunity: Immunity typically begins to fade after 5 to 10 years.
Pregnancy Requirement: Because the goal of the pregnancy vaccine is to pass antibodies to the baby, women are advised to get vaccinated during every pregnancy, regardless of how recently they were last vaccinated.
Childhood Schedule: Protection from the initial baby course and pre-school booster is designed to last through childhood, but the UK does not currently offer routine boosters for healthy adults outside of pregnancy or specific outbreaks.

4. How is it Given?

Method: It is a single injection, usually administered into the deltoid muscle (upper arm).
Timing in Pregnancy: Ideally given between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy to ensure the maximum amount of antibodies pass to the baby, though it can be given up until labour.
Pharmacy Access: At our pharmacy, the process usually involves a short clinical assessment by the pharmacist followed by the injection. We offer this as a private service for £95

Price: £95.00

Book Appointment