Types of Whooping Cough Vaccines

Key points

  • Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccines are combined with diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.
  • Whooping cough vaccines work well but protection fades over time.
  • Talk to a vaccine provider if you have questions about these vaccines.

Types

All whooping cough vaccines are combined with components that provide protection against other diseases too:

  • DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough
  • Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough

Available vaccines

DTaP vaccines

Vaccine providers give up to 5 DTaP shots to babies young children.

In addition to diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough, some brands provide protection against other diseases like:

  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
  • Hepatitis b
  • Polio
  • Use: All 5 shots
  • Ages: 6 weeks through 6 years
  • Use: All 5 shots
  • Ages: 6 weeks through 6 years
  • Use: Fifth shot only
  • Ages: 4 through 6 years
  • Other diseases: Polio
  • Use: First 3 shots
  • Ages: 6 weeks through 4 years
  • Other diseases: Hepatitis B and polio
  • Use: First 4 shots
  • Ages: 6 weeks through 4 years
  • Other diseases: Invasive Hib disease and polio
  • Use: Fifth shot only
  • Ages: 4 through 6 years
  • Other diseases: Polio
  • Use: First 3 shots
  • Ages: 6 weeks through less than 1 year
  • Other diseases: Hepatitis B, invasive Hib disease, and polio

Tdap vaccines

There are 2 Tdap brands: Adacel® and Boostrix®.

Vaccine providers give Tdap to people 7 years or older:

  • As a preteen or teen
  • During pregnancy
  • As a booster every 10 years (Td is another option for these boosters)
  • As part of a 3-shot series for those never vaccinated
  • In some cases, as part of wound management

How well they work

Whooping cough vaccines work well but protection decreases over time.

DTaP

In studies showing how well the whooping cough component works for children who get all five shots, DTaP protects against illness in:

  • Nearly all children (98 in 100) within a year of the last shot.
  • About 7 in 10 children five years after getting the last DTaP shot.
    • The other 3 in 10 children are partially protected.
    • This means they are less likely to have serious disease if they do get whooping cough.

Tdap

In studies showing how well the whooping cough component works, Tdap protects against illness in:

  • About 7 in 10 people in the first year after getting it.
  • About 3 or 4 in 10 people four years after getting it.

In studies showing how well the whooping cough component works when women get Tdap during pregnancy, the vaccine protects:

  • More than 3 in 4 babies younger than 2 months old from whooping cough.
  • About 9 in 10 babies from being hospitalized from whooping cough.

Resources

Vaccine Information Statements

DTaP: English | Other languages

Tdap: English | Other languages

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Division of Bacterial Diseases