Whooping Cough Vaccine

Written by Matthew Hoffman, MD, Matt McMillen
Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on February 23, 2025
7 min read

The whooping cough vaccine protects against whooping cough, also called pertussis. This disease can spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs. This can be common among family members or others who share a household. The CDC recommends the whooping cough vaccine, also known as the pertussis vaccine, for everyone, including:

  • Babies
  • Children
  • Preteens
  • Adults
  • Pregnant people

The vaccine is especially important for babies.

“Infants and children younger than 1 year are at the highest risk of death,” says Megan Hiles, MD, director of the Wellness and Prevention Clinics at National Jewish Health in Denver, CO.

Whooping cough vaccines have two different types. Which type you get will depend on your age.

DTaP vaccine

Babies and children aged up to 7 get this vaccine. It includes vaccines that protect against at least three diseases. These vaccines are:

  • The diphtheria (D) vaccine
  • The tetanus (T) vaccine
  • The acellular pertussis (aP) vaccine

Currently, there are seven different FDA-approved versions of the DTaP vaccine. All of them protect against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. But some of them protect against other diseases, such as:

  • Polio
  • Hepatitis B
  • Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib)

“These combination vaccines are often preferred for convenience when multiple vaccines are due at the same visit,” says Priya Soni, MD, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, CA. “Some clinics stock certain DTaP vaccines based on supply, ease of use, and insurance coverage.”

The CDC advises three doses of the DTaP vaccine at the following ages:

  • 2 months
  • 4 months
  • 6 months

The CDC also advises two booster shots of the DTaP vaccine to maintain protection. Children should receive their booster shots on the following schedule:

  • Between 15 and 18 months of age
  • Between 4 and 6 years of age

Tdap vaccine

This vaccine is for preteens, teenagers, and adults. It’s a booster vaccine given to maintain protection against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. Preteens should get it at age 11 or 12. If your preteen didn’t receive a Tdap, make sure they get it the next time they see a health care provider. 

Adults should get a Tdap vaccine every 10 years to stay protected against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. If you’re an adult who hasn’t yet had a Tdap vaccine, the CDC advises getting one.

“A single TDaP booster should be administered to all adults over 19 years who haven’t previously received the vaccine,” says Hiles. This, she adds, includes adults who don’t have a functioning spleen and immunocompromised adults.

You have many options for where to receive your whooping cough vaccine. For babies and children receiving their routine vaccines, you may visit:

  • Your pediatrician’s office
  • Family health clinics
  • Public health departments

If you’re an adult in need of a whooping cough vaccine, your health care provider can likely give you the vaccine. They can refer you elsewhere if they don’t have the vaccine available. You also can check with a local pharmacy. Federally funded health centers offer whooping cough vaccines. You can find one by entering your location here: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/. You can also call your local or state health agency.

Your health insurance should cover the cost of your whooping cough vaccine. The CDC’s Vaccines for Children program can help if you can’t afford the vaccine.

Yes. Unlike some vaccines, the whooping cough vaccine may not protect you against the disease for life. You may become less immune 5-10 years after your last childhood vaccine. This is why it’s important to get your booster shots on the recommended schedule.

Yes, you can spread whooping cough even if you’re vaccinated. But people who are vaccinated are much less likely to get sick from it, says Hiles.

If your child gets all five shots, they’re nearly 100% protected against whooping cough for a year. The level of protection from the DTaP vaccine lessens over time. About 70% of children will maintain full protection for five years. The other 30% will still have partial protection. This means that if they get whooping cough, they’re less likely to have severe illness.

Yes. The CDC recommends the vaccine for everyone, including adults.

“Vaccination is especially important for adults who will be around infants, health care workers, and those who have obesity or asthma,” says Hiles.

As with the DTaP vaccine, the effect of Tdap vaccine that adults (as well as preteens and teens) receive will weaken over time. The CDC estimates that the Tdap vaccine protects 7 in 10 adults for a year after getting the vaccine. After four years, the vaccine protects only 3-4 in 10 people. The CDC recommends a Tdap vaccine every 10 years to maintain protection.

Getting the Tdap whooping cough vaccine while you’re pregnant offers protection for your unborn child.

The vaccine is safe for pregnant people. There’s no evidence that the Tdap vaccine would raise the chances of miscarriage, preterm birth, or birth defects.

“It’s able to protect the baby before they can be vaccinated. Babies don’t usually receive their first DTaP vaccine until 2 months of age, leaving them vulnerable to severe whooping cough infections within the first few months of life,” says Soni.

Get the vaccine during your third trimester, between week 27 and week 36 of your pregnancy. The CDC recommends getting it early in the third trimester. When you get the vaccine during this period, you reduce the risk of whooping cough during your newborn’s first two months by 78%.  However, the whooping cough vaccine will still offer some protection if you get it earlier or later in pregnancy. If you don’t receive the vaccine while youcre pregnant, get it as soon as possible after your child is born.

This lowers the chances that you’ll expose your infant to the illness. Getting the vaccine can also allow you to pass on protective antibodies through breastfeeding, says Hiles.

You need to get the vaccine each time you’re pregnant. A booster may also be recommended if you travel to areas where whooping cough is common.

Keep in mind that there can be side effects of the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy. Usually mild, these side effects don’t mess with your daily routine and clear up within a few days.

The most common side effects are redness, soreness, swelling, or pain in the area where you got the shot.

You may feel out of sorts or have a low-grade fever for 24 hours after the injection. Other side effects you may notice in your child include:

  • Irritability
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting

The side effects of the whooping cough vaccine for older children and adults are similar, though they may also include headache and nausea or diarrhea.

Though rare, the vaccine can lead to allergic reactions, which can even be deadly. Call 911 if you notice any of the following symptoms:

  • Hives
  • Swelling in your face or throat
  • Breathing problems
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Weakness
  • Dizziness

If you or your child has had an allergic reaction to vaccines in the past, tell your doctor. You’ll want to avoid vaccines with the same ingredients. Your doctor may be able to offer a different vaccine.

Another extremely rare reaction to the whooping cough vaccine is encephalopathy. It’s a condition that can cause permanent brain damage or even death if left untreated. It can happen during the week after you get the vaccine. Its symptoms include:

  • Seizures
  • Hallucinations
  • Uncontrolled movements, such as muscle jerks, tremors, or eye movements
  • Confusion
  • Behavioral changes, such as becoming irritable
  • Memory problems
  • Apathy or depression

However, the risks of DTaP, Tdap, and other common vaccines are low.

Washing your hands often and covering coughs and sneezes may keep whooping cough from spreading. But getting the vaccine (in childhood and again as a teen or adult) is the best way to prevent it.