Whooping cough vaccination for adults: how often and when

Whooping cough is seen as a childhood disease, but most cases now occur in adults. In adults it often goes unnoticed, as a stubborn cough lasting weeks. It is dangerous above all for babies, who are not yet vaccinated themselves and often catch it from adults.

Why does whooping cough matter for adults?

Whooping cough affects adults because neither vaccination nor a past infection gives lifelong protection [2] [3]. After an infection, protection lasts at most 10 to 20 years, and after vaccination it is also limited [3]. Around 60 percent of all cases now occur in people aged 18 and over [2]. Case numbers have risen sharply in recent years [5] [8].

In adults, whooping cough often shows up only as a long-lasting cough, without the typical coughing fits [2]. It usually starts like a cold. Because it is rarely recognised, adults pass the bacteria on without noticing, including to babies [2].

For babies, whooping cough is life-threatening. They can stop breathing for short periods, and almost all deaths occur in young, unvaccinated babies under six months [2]. In 2024, six people died of whooping cough in Germany, four of them babies without vaccination protection [5]. Babies are only vaccinated themselves from two months of age. Until then, their best protection is that the people around them are vaccinated.

How often do adults need a whooping cough vaccine?

Adults without a specific reason only need the whooping cough vaccine once. Germany's Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends giving the next due tetanus and diphtheria booster once as a combination vaccine that also protects against whooping cough [1]. After that, only tetanus and diphtheria are boosted every ten years.

There is no vaccine against whooping cough alone in Germany [1]. Every whooping cough vaccination therefore also boosts protection against tetanus and diphtheria, and against polio if needed. If you have recently had a tetanus vaccine, you can still receive the combination vaccine if it is recommended [1] [3].

After an injury that requires a tetanus vaccine, adults also receive the combination vaccine if they have not yet been vaccinated against whooping cough as adults [1]. Your vaccination record shows whether this has already been done.

Why vaccinate in every pregnancy?

Vaccination during pregnancy protects the newborn in the first months of life. The mother's antibodies pass to the baby before it can be vaccinated itself [1]. Because these antibodies decline significantly about twelve months after vaccination, STIKO recommends vaccination in every pregnancy, regardless of when the last vaccination was given [1] [3].

The best time is the start of the third trimester, from week 28 of pregnancy. If premature birth is likely, the vaccination is brought forward to the second trimester [1]. According to the Robert Koch Institute, vaccination during pregnancy is just as safe as before pregnancy [4]. If the mother was not vaccinated during pregnancy, she should be vaccinated in the first days after the birth [1].

Who around a baby should be vaccinated?

Everyone in close contact with a newborn should be protected against whooping cough. If their last vaccination was ten or more years ago, they should be vaccinated, ideally up to four weeks before the birth [1] [6].

If you are about to become a grandparent or will be looking after a friend's baby, it is worth checking your vaccination record. A missing vaccination can usually be given at short notice at your GP practice.

What are the side effects of the vaccine?

The vaccine is usually well tolerated. Redness, slight swelling and pain at the injection site are common. Headache, aching limbs, feeling unwell or a mild fever are also possible and usually go away within a few days [4]. Allergic reactions are rare [7].

If you have an acute serious illness, the vaccination is postponed until you have recovered. A mild infection without fever, antibiotic treatment or breastfeeding are not reasons against vaccination [1].