This vaccine is for whooping cough. It contains diphtheria, tetanus, polio and Pertussis. The pertussis is the whooping cough element of this vaccination.

Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing which makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink. Pertussis can be extremely serious in babies and young children, causing pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage, or death. In teens and adults, it can cause weight loss, loss of bladder control, passing out, and rib fractures from severe coughing.

Prevention

Vaccination is the best way to prevent whooping cough.

Treatment

Treatment depends on your age and how long you’ve had the infection.

If your whooping cough is severe, or your baby is under 6 months old and has whooping cough, you’ll usually need treatment in hospital.

If diagnosed within 3 weeks of the infection, you’ll be given antibiotics to help stop it spreading to others. Antibiotics may not reduce symptoms.

If you’ve had whooping cough for more than 3 weeks, you’re no longer contagious and do not need antibiotics.

Dosage schedule

The vaccine is routinely given as part of childhood vaccination programs, typically as a 6-in-1 or 4-in-1 (depending on your child’s age).

As there is no singular whooping cough vaccine, the vaccine you’ll be given is a 4-in-1 jab similar to the one that’s routinely given to children before they start school.

Price

Each dose costs £85