Key points
- CDC recommends whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination for babies, children, preteens, pregnant women, and adults.
- Talk to your or your child's healthcare or vaccine provider if you have questions about whooping cough vaccines.
Vaccines your family may need
There are two types of combination vaccines that protect against whooping cough: DTaP and Tdap.
Babies and children younger than 7 years old receive DTaP, while older children and adults receive Tdap.
Babies and children
Babies
Babies need 3 shots of DTaP to build up high levels of protection against whooping cough. CDC recommends these shots at the following ages:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
Children
Children need 2 booster shots of DTaP at the following ages to maintain that protection through early childhood:
- 15 through 18 months
- 4 through 6 years
Preteens and teens
Preteens need one shot of Tdap between the ages of 11 and 12 years to boost their immunity. CDC recommends that teens who didn’t get Tdap as a preteen should get one shot the next time they visit their healthcare provider.
Adults
CDC recommends all adults who have never received one should get a Tdap shot. This can be given at any time, regardless of when they last got Td.
To maintain protection against tetanus and diphtheria, adults need a booster dose of Td or Tdap every 10 years.