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The vaccine against whooping cough is known as pertussis vaccine but is usually given combined with tetanus and diphtheria as DTP vaccine (Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis). It is given at the same time as Hib ( Haemophilus influenzae B meningitis) and polio.

It is recommended to be given as a course of four, at the following ages; 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, with a booster at 4 years.  (The last one reflecting a change in the official schedule from November 2001)

Acellular l pertussis vaccine is generally used (DTaP) combined with inactivated polio vaccine.

Children who had no pertussis vaccine at the request of their parents can be given three doses of pertussis vaccine as a 'catch-up' if required.  The acellular type is often used for this.

Update November 2001
From 5th November 2001 acellular pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine will be added to diphtheria and tetanus (DTaP) in the pre school booster given in the 4th year of life.  Acellular vaccine is used because it causes less reactions.  There should be no noticeable difference in the amount of reaction to this vaccine compared with DT alone.  (DTaP does not contain thiomersal, that is in some vaccines and some people have had concerns about).

This change has been made because it is recognized that a large number of cases occur in older children and adults. As well as being a problem for them, they are a great risk to young babies who are too young to be immunized and catch from their older brothers and sisters or parents.  In England and Wales there are upwards of 9 deaths a year from whooping cough, mostly babies.  It brings the UK more in line with immunization practice in the US and Europe.

I am particularly pleased with this latest change since my own research has helped to bring it about.

A UK Department of Health factsheet about the new preschool booster is available at www.immunisation.org.uk/dtap.html  and information about immunization in the UK at www.immunisation.org.uk

The Statistics, deeper page of this site has more information on UK whooping cough cases