Pertussis: Previous page | 1,2,3,4

Key points and Vaccine summary

Table of contents for pertussis Introduction Pertussis - the disease Pertussis - the vaccine Key points and Vaccine summary

Key points

• Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a disease of the respiratory tract.
• Pertussis is a bacterial infection spread from person to person by sneezing and coughing.
• Infants and young children are most likely to be infected, to have serious complications, and to die from the disease.
• The most effective way to prevent pertussis is to immunize all infants with pertussis vaccine.

Vaccine summary

• Type of vaccine: Diphtheria and Tetanus as toxoids. Pertussis as killed whole-cell bacterium
• Number of doses: At least three primary doses
• Schedule: 6, 10, 14 weeks of age
• Booster: 18 months to 6 years of age
• Contraindications: Anaphylactic reaction to previous dose or to any constituent
• Adverse reactions: Mild local or systemic reactions are common
• Special precautions: DTP not usually given over 6 years of age
• Dosage: 0.5ml
• Injection site: Outer mid-thigh in infants/outer upper arm if older
• Injection type: Intramuscular
• Storage: Store between 2°C–8°C. DTP vaccine should never be frozen

Pertussis: 1,2,3,4