Whooping Cough Vaccine in Point Cook
Whooping cough (pertussis) can be life-threatening for a newborn, and babies cannot finish their own course until they are 6 months old. The whooping cough vaccine in Point Cook is given by our GPs to pregnant women and to the adults who will be around a new baby, as well as to older adults due for a booster.
Doses for babies and children are part of the routine schedule on our immunisation page.
Why babies need protection early
The Australian Immunisation Handbook reports that, without vaccination in pregnancy, an average of one baby under 6 months died and more than 200 were admitted to hospital with pertussis each year in Australia. Babies have their own doses at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months and 4 years, which leaves the first weeks of life largely unprotected unless the mother was vaccinated.
Timing in pregnancy
One dose is recommended in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. That window gives your body time to make antibodies that pass to the baby before birth. A dose is needed even if pregnancies are close together, because antibody levels from the previous dose fall over time.
- free under the NIP for pregnant women
- can be given at the same visit as the flu vaccine or the RSV vaccine
- safe while breastfeeding, if it was missed
Ask about it at a routine antenatal appointment, so it fits around your other visits.
If the dose was missed
If you were not vaccinated in pregnancy and your last dose was more than 10 years ago, the Handbook advises having it as soon as possible after the birth, preferably before leaving hospital. There may still be some benefit up until the baby is 6 months old.
Adults around a new baby
Partners, grandparents and other carers of a baby under 6 months are advised to have a dose at least 2 weeks before close contact, if their last one was more than 10 years ago. Booster doses every 10 years are also recommended for:
- healthcare workers
- early childhood educators and carers
- people in regular close contact with infants
Boosters at 50 and 65
The Handbook now recommends a pertussis-containing vaccine for adults at 50 and again at 65, and for anyone aged 65 or over who has not had one in the past 10 years. The vaccine is combined with diphtheria and tetanus, so an adult who needs a tetanus booster after a wound can usually have this one instead and be covered for both. These adult doses are generally not funded, so reception can confirm the vaccine cost.
Your whooping cough vaccine in Point Cook: the appointment
Bring your due date if you are pregnant, and your immunisation history if you are unsure when you last had a dose. A sore arm, mild fever and occasionally a small lump at the injection site, which can last some weeks, are the common side effects. The health.gov.au whooping cough page lists who is funded. To book, call (03) 7300 7780 or book online.
Common questions
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
It often starts like a cold and turns into long coughing fits. Our whooping cough guide covers symptoms in more detail.
Do grandparents have to pay?
Usually, yes. Adult doses outside pregnancy are not funded, apart from catch-up doses for people under 20 and refugees or other humanitarian entrants.
I had whooping cough years ago. Am I immune?
Not for life. Natural infection does not give lasting protection, so the same booster advice applies.
Can I just walk in for it?
Walk-ins are welcome. A walk-in visit may attract a private fee, so ask reception. Booking ahead is easier if you are pregnant and want it at a set week.
Good to know
Before your appointment
If you are a new patient, please arrive at least five minutes before your consultation and bring:
- Photo ID
- A valid Medicare card
Fees and billing
We offer bulk billing to all patients with a valid Medicare card for standard consultations. All procedures are subject to fees.