Whooping cough (pertussis): Spread, prevention and risks
On this page
- How whooping cough spreads
- Preventing whooping cough with vaccination
- Prevention during an outbreak or after an exposure
- Who is most at risk
How whooping cough spreads
The bacteria that causes whooping cough can spread easily from person to person. You can become infected when:
- you breathe infectious particles in
- infectious particles or secretions (like saliva or mucus) come into direct contact with your eyes, nose or mouth
You may also become infected if you touch a contaminated surface or object and then touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands. However, this type of spread is less common.
Whooping cough is very contagious. About 8 in 10 people who aren't immune to whooping cough and who come into contact with the bacteria will become infected.
You can spread the bacteria as soon as symptoms start and for at least 2 weeks after coughing begins if you don’t take antibiotics, as indicated. You’re no longer contagious after 5 days of starting the right antibiotic.
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Preventing whooping cough with vaccination
The most effective way to protect yourself and others from whooping cough is to get vaccinated.
Several vaccines for whooping cough are approved in Canada. For children, the vaccine is given in combination with other vaccines, usually diphtheria and tetanus. It can also include other vaccines such as inactivated polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that children get 5 doses of a vaccine that protects against whooping cough. This is usually at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age. These vaccinations are then followed by a booster dose when the child is between 4 and 6 years of age.
Vaccination is also recommended in every pregnancy to protect newborns during the first 2 months of life. This is when the risk of severe illness and death from pertussis infection is the highest.
Immunity decreases over time, so it's important to get a booster dose when eligible. You may need booster doses for whooping cough if you’re a teen or an adult.
The vaccination schedule and vaccine depends on the province and territory. Talk to a health care provider or visit your province or territory's website to learn more about your routine vaccination schedule.
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Safety of pertussis-containing vaccines
Vaccines for whooping cough are generally safe. Canada continuously monitors the safety of all vaccines that are approved for use in Canada.
After vaccination, it’s common to have mild and temporary side effects for a few hours to a few days. These side effects come from the body's immune responses, as the body is working to build protection against the disease.
Side effects may include:
- injection site soreness, redness and swelling
- fever
- drowsiness
Children may also be more fussy than usual after vaccination. Talk to a health care provider or your local public health unit or office:
- if you experience any unusual symptoms after vaccination
- about how to help manage common side effects
It’s rare for someone to have a serious reaction to a vaccine, including an allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction typically happen soon after vaccination and can include:
- red rash on the skin (hives)
- breathing problems (wheezing)
- swelling of the face, tongue or throat
If you suspect you might be having a serious reaction after a vaccination, seek medical care right away. Serious reactions following vaccination should also be reported to your local public health unit or office. Tell a health care provider about any serious reactions you've experienced before you receive future vaccines.
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Prevention during an outbreak or after an exposure
You’re at risk of getting whooping cough if there's an outbreak in your community and you aren't immune. Talk to your health care provider about what you can do to prevent getting infected. For instance, checking that your vaccinations are up to date.
If you’re exposed to someone with whooping cough, talk to your health care provider. They can assess your risk of becoming infected and provide you with personalized advice.
Learn more:
- Complications of whooping cough
- Preventing whooping cough with vaccination
- If you’ are diagnosed with whooping cough: Contact tracing
- Vaccine records: Access your or your child’s vaccination history
- Respiratory infectious diseases: Reduce your risk with personal protective measures
Who is most at risk
People who are not up to date with their whooping cough vaccinations are at risk of being infected.
Whooping cough can affect people of any age, but infants (under 1 year old) are at greatest risk of complications. From 2005 to 2019, infants under 1 year of age accounted for about 80% of all pertussis-related hospitalizations.
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