Please read this important information about whooping cough

Key points about whooping cough

• Whooping cough (pertussis) causes bouts of intense coughing and trouble breathing.

• Each bout may last for 2 or 3 minutes. The cough may go on for 3 months.

• It can cause serious illness and sometimes death in babies, young children and older adults.

• Whooping cough spreads very easily from person to person.

• Vaccination makes you less likely to get whooping cough and makes the illness milder if you do get it. 

• A  whooping cough epidemic has been announced in Aotearoa New Zealand (November, 2024) so watch out for signs. If you're a hapū māmā (pregnant person) it's important you get a free vaccination. 

• Visit https://healthify.nz/health-a-z/w/whooping-cough/ for more information

Public health alert 22 November 2024

There are high levels of pertussis cases and hospitalisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. As a result, the National Public Health Service and the Public Health Agency have declared a national whooping cough epidemic.

Whooping cough is affecting all age groups and ethnicities, with some hospitalisations amongst young babies and older people. Many schools are being affected across the country.

It's very infectious (easily caught), so it's important that as many people as possible are protected from catching it. Young children (less than a year old) are particularly at risk of severe illness and hospitalisation with whooping cough and it's recommended that they (and their whānau) get vaccinated against whooping cough.

Read more about the free childhood immunisation programme in Aotearoa New Zealand, what's available and when they should be given. 

If you're pregnant you can get a free Boostrix vaccination from 16 weeks. Others in your whānau are advised to get vaccinated against whooping cough as well but not everyone is eligible for a free vaccination. Read more about who is eligible and where you can get vaccinated. 

When should I seek help? 

Complications of whooping cough are most likely to happen in babies and young children. 

See your healthcare provider if your child:

• is less than 1 year old and they've had contact with someone with whooping cough

• has a cough that goes on for a long time without any pauses, or has a cough that ends in vomiting (being sick)

• has had a daily cough that lasts longer than 2 weeks

• is less than 3 months old and has a cough.

Dial 111 for urgent medical help if your baby:

• goes blue when coughing

• stops breathing

• has a seizure

• is becoming very sleepy and not easy to rouse (wake up).