I’m pregnant. What should I know about whooping cough?
Babies bring a flurry of activity, from organising the house to buying teeny tiny things of all kinds. If “get vaccinated against whooping cough” isn’t on your to-do list, it’s time to write it down. But why is whooping cough vaccination so important during pregnancy? Here, we answer some common questions.
1. Why should I get a whooping cough vaccination during pregnancy?
There are two key reasons:1
- Firstly, getting vaccinated helps protect the mother from whooping cough, which reduces the risk of passing it to the baby. Due to spending so much time with their baby in proximity, parents are a common source of infection for infants under one year.
- Secondly, it helps protect the baby in their first weeks of life. This is because your baby receives antibodies through the placenta, which help defend against whooping cough until they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves.
2. Is the whooping cough vaccination safe during pregnancy?
Yes, studies have shown it’s safe to get a whooping cough vaccination while pregnant.2
3. Does the whooping cough vaccine work?
Yes! Vaccinating during pregnancy reduces whooping cough disease in babies aged less than three months, by 90%.3
4. Can I get whooping cough from the vaccine?
No, you can’t catch whooping cough by getting vaccinated, as the whooping cough vaccine does not contain live bacteria. It works by stimulating the immune system to create antibodies but cannot cause the disease itself.4 Clever!
5. I got vaccinated while pregnant. Does my baby need another vaccination after birth?
Yes, your baby needs to be vaccinated as well. Vaccination during pregnancy passes on essential initial antibodies to your baby to help protect them until they can begin their own course of vaccination.
Babies receive their first whooping cough vaccination at two months (or at least six weeks old). This is followed by boosters at four and six months old.
6. I got vaccinated last time I was pregnant. Do I need to get another one in every pregnancy?
Yes, it’s important to get a vaccination each time you are pregnant because immunity fades over time. Your vaccination during pregnancy provides initial antibodies to that unborn baby – not to all the children you may eventually have.5
7. What trimester should I get my whooping cough vaccination in?
The whooping cough vaccine is usually administered at 28 weeks, although a single dose anytime between 20-32 weeks is recommended.
8. I’m pregnant. Where can I get my whooping cough vaccination?
If you’re pregnant, talk to your Pharmacist about getting vaccinated against whooping cough. Good news! Under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), vaccination is free during pregnancy.
Under the NIP, it’s also free for children (aged 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months and 4 years) and adolescents (aged 12-13 years through school-based vaccination programs).6
9. My partner/friend/sister is pregnant. Should I get a whooping cough vaccination?
If you are expecting a baby or plan to visit a newborn baby before they are old enough to receive their own vaccinations, it’s important to have your booster. This is because symptoms are not always present and adults can pass on the infection without knowing they have it.
Babies under six months old are the most at-risk group, so it’s up to us to protect those who are most vulnerable. Here, our very own Pharmacist explains more about getting your whooping cough booster to help protect a new family.
10. Can I get other vaccinations at the same time?
Yes! It’s safe to receive your whooping cough booster at the same time as your COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.7 (A great way to cross several things off that busy pregnancy to-do list!)