Which pertussis vaccine should you use
Updated 5 August 2024
Applies to England
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To give to pregnant women during each pregnancy
ADACEL (Sanofi): low dose diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)
Boostrix-IPV or REPEVAX should be given to pregnant women if they have a known severe latex allergy or where ADACEL is not available and to obtain it would result in a delay in vaccination.
To give to babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks
Infanrix hexa (GSK) or Vaxelis (Sanofi): hexavalent vaccine - diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B
Infanrix hexa and Vaxelis should also be offered to children under 10 years of age who have not completed their primary immunisation course.
To give as a pre-school booster vaccine at age 3 years 4 months
Boostrix-IPV (GSK): low dose diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and polio vaccine (dTaP/IPV)
REPEVAX (Sanofi): low dose diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and polio vaccine (Tdap/IPV)
Either Boostrix-IPV or REPEVAX can be given as the pre-school booster vaccine (offered routinely at 3 years and 4 months and to children up to 10 years of age who have not received it).
ADACEL does not contain polio and should therefore not be offered as the pre-school booster vaccine. Pertussis-containing vaccine is not routinely offered after 10 years of age, other than to pregnant women and eligible healthcare workers.