Pertussis (whooping cough)

Whooping Cough in the Fraser Valley and Vancouver

There are currently higher than normal numbers of whooping cough cases occurring in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. In these areas, vaccine is currently being provided free to people at risk of getting very ill from whooping cough, and those who are in close contact with them.

Vaccine is not currently being provided free in other areas of BC (Vancouver Island, Northern BC or the Interior) since they have not been seeing higher numbers of cases.

Where should I get pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine?

Fraser Health

Vancouver Coastal Health

About the vaccine

It's recommended that everyone get one dose of the pertussis vaccine in their lifetime. It is given in combination with other vaccines so you can receive protection from several diseases with one shot.

For more information about the vaccine, who should get it, the benefits and possible reactions, read our BC HealthFiles:

DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib (105) (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b). Three doses are given to children under the age of 7 years, usually at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.

DTaP-IPV-Hib (15b) (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Haemophilus influenzae Type b) A single dose is given as a booster to children at 18 months of age after completing a three dose primary series of DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib.

Some children may receive DTaP-IPV-Hib as a three dose primary series at 2, 4 and 6 months followed by a booster dose at 18 months.

One dose of DTaP-IPV (15a) (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio) vaccine is given to children 4 to 6 years of age (as they start school).

Grade 9 students can get a single booster shot of Tdap (18c) (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) to boost their immune response if they have been immunized earlier in life.

The vaccine is also recommended for: 

• Adults who have not previously received Tdap and who have or who anticipate having close contact with infants younger than 12 months of age (e.g., parents, grandparents younger than 65 years of age, childcare providers, healthcare workers)
• Healthcare personnel in hospitals or ambulatory care settings who have direct patient contact and have not previously received Tdap. Priority is given to vaccination of workers in direct contact with infants younger than 12 months of age
• Tdap is recommended immediately post-partum for pregnant women who had their last Td vaccine at least 2 years but less than 10 years earlier. Women who received their last Td booster 10 or more years earlier should speak with their doctor about receiving either Td or Tdap during or immediately following the pregnancy
• Once fully immunized, the Tdap vaccine is around 85% effective in protecting you against pertussis.

Talk to your public health nurse, doctor or pharmacist about getting your Tdap vaccine.

About the disease

• Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory infection that is caused by a bacteria (germ) found in the throat
• The germ is spread by coughing and sneezing
• Pertussis (whooping cough) starts like a common cold, with sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever and a mild cough. But over the next week or 2 the cough gets worse and worse, leading to really bad coughing spells that often end with a whoop (which is where the name whooping cough came from).
• Risk of convulsions or seizures: (1 out of 30 cases);
• Risk of encephalopathy (brain damage): (1 out of 100 cases)
• About 1 infant out of every 170 who gets pertussis (whooping cough) will die from it. Most deaths (4 out of 5) are babies under a year old
• There is less pertussis (whooping cough) disease in BC because of routine childhood vaccination programs
• For more information about the disease and the vaccine, go to the Pertussis (Whooping Cough) (15c) HealthLink BC File
• Hear what a pertussis cough sounds like

Photo courtesy of Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. More vaccine preventable disease images