Guidance

Vaccination against pertussis (whooping cough) for pregnant women

This vaccination programme helps protect infants from whooping cough by boosting pertussis immunity in pregnant women.

Applies to England

Documents

Which pertussis vaccine should you use

Which pertussis vaccine should you use: poster (print version)

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Details

The vaccination programme is recommended for pregnant women from 16 weeks to 32 weeks of pregnancy, although the vaccine can be offered up to 38 weeks. It is usually offered after the fetal anomaly scan.

Vaccinating pregnant women between 16 to 32 weeks of pregnancy will ensure that high levels of antibodies against pertussis cross the placenta from the mother to passively protect the baby when it is born.

Further programme information:

Updates to this page

Published 24 June 2014
Last updated 5 August 2024 + show all updates
  1. Added vaccination programme training resources.

  2. Added vaccine poster, HTML and link to order.

  3. Updated to reflect the change to use of ADACEL vaccine for pregnant women from 1 July 2024.

  4. Updated with new HTML guidance.

  5. Added link to slideset.

  6. Updated (to version 4) in line with Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommendations.

  7. 'Vaccination against pertussis (whooping cough) for pregnant women: information for healthcare professionals PDF' - updated to reflect recent data, including the safety of the vaccine in pregnancy.

  8. Added links to 'whooping cough vaccination programme for pregnant women: extension to 2014 letter' and 'resources to support whooping cough vaccination page'.

  9. First published.

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