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.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 24 June 2014
• Last updated: 5 August 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination programme for pregnant women: information for healthcare practitioners

Ref: GOV-16897

HTML

Which pertussis vaccine should you use

Ref: UKHSA gateway number 2024192

HTML

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

PDF, 449 KB, 1 page

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Details

Training resources

Download the vaccination against pertussis for pregnant women slideset.

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:

• which pertussis vaccine should you use: poster is available to order from Health Publications, product code: 24WVP01
• whooping cough vaccination programme for pregnant women: extension to 2014 letter (it explains the continuation of the temporary programme for whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination for pregnant women).
• resources to support whooping cough vaccination
• pertussis immunisation in pregnancy: vaccine coverage estimates for England

Published 24 June 2014
Last updated 5 August 2024 + show all updates

1. 5 August 2024

   Added vaccination programme training resources.

2. 28 June 2024

   Added vaccine poster, HTML and link to order.

3. 26 June 2024

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

4. 6 September 2021

   Updated with new HTML guidance.

5. 2 July 2020

   Added link to slideset.

6. 22 June 2016

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

7. 30 July 2014

   '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. 27 June 2014

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

9. 24 June 2014

   First published.