Whooping cough (pertussis) is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads very easily and can be serious. It’s important for babies, children and anyone who’s pregnant to get vaccinated against it.
The whooping cough vaccine protects babies and children from getting whooping cough. That’s why it’s important to have all the routine NHS vaccinations.
The whooping cough vaccine is routinely given as part of the:
- 6-in-1 vaccine – for babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
- 4-in-1 pre-school booster – for children aged 3 years 4 months
If you’re pregnant you should also have the whooping cough vaccine. You usually have it when you’re around 20 weeks pregnant. This helps protect your baby for the first few weeks of their life.
Speak to your GP surgery or midwife if you’re 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the whooping cough vaccine.
Our maternity immunisation teams, offer vaccines for whooping cough to women and people who are over 16 weeks pregnant in Basildon, Broomfield, and Southend. Our team runs drop-in clinics at the maternity departments of these hospitals. You can get your vaccine on the following days:
- Basildon Hospital: Tuesday and Friday, 9am-5pm
- Broomfield Hospital: Tuesday and Wednesday, 9am – 5pm
- Southend Hospital: Tuesday and Friday, 9am – 5pm
No appointment is necessary; simply visit the clinic during the hours listed. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact the maternity department directly
We understand that for some people, having a vaccination while pregnant can be worrying. If you have concerns or questions, please visit our drop-in clinics, where our healthcare teams can answer your questions and explain why we recommend these vaccinations.
Find out more about the whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy