Whooping Cough Vaccination

HELP PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM WHOOPING COUGH

Whooping cough is a contagious bacterial infection that causes coughing that can last for months and may have a ‘whoop’ sound.

Whooping cough can cause serious health problems in babies - vaccination is recommended as the best protection against whooping cough.

Vaccination is recommended as a single dose between 20-32 weeks in each pregnancy. Vaccination of family members can minimise the chance of bringing the whooping cough infection into the home.

At Star Discount Chemist, we make getting vaccinated against Whooping Cough convenient and easy. Each of our stores has a qualified health professional that is able to administer your vaccination in a private consulting room. Most of our pharmacies are able to take walk-in patients, but the best way to book is to make an appointment online.

Many of our pharmacies are open seven days, with some open late - and with so many Star Discount Chemist locations, there's bound to be one Just Around the Corner.

Making a Whooping Cough vaccination booking is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Select your store by postcode

2. Click BOOK NOW

3. Select the date and vaccination required

Book your vaccination here

More information?

What is Whooping Cough?

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, and can be prevented by immunisation. Whooping cough is spread when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes small droplets containing infectious agents into the air. The droplets in the air may be breathed in by those nearby. This bacteria affects the lungs and airways, causing a person to cough violently and uncontrollably. This can make it hard for the infected person to breathe. Whooping Cough is a serious disease because it can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and sometimes death.

What are the symptoms?

Whooping cough symptoms usually start about 7 – 10 days after catching Whooping Cough and may include:

• * blocked or runny nose
• * sneezing
• * raised temperature
• * uncontrolled bouts of coughing that sounds like a ‘whoop’ or are followed by a ‘whooping’ noise
• * vomiting after coughing
• * Some people develop a distinctive ‘whooping’ sound when they cough, but this does not happen to everyone. Adolescents and adults often do not have a ‘whoop’.

Who is at risk?

The whooping cough vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent whooping cough. By getting vaccinated, you can also protect other people, especially those who are too young to be vaccinated and help prevent the disease from spreading.

Who should get vaccinated?

• * Adult household contacts and carers of babies under 6 months old
• * People who are travelling overseas, if they haven’t had a whooping cough vaccine in the past 10 years
• * Adults of any age who need a tetanus, diphtheria or polio dose (you can get a combination vaccine that includes whooping cough to increase protection)
• * People aged 65 or over, if they have not had a whooping cough vaccine in the past 10 years.
• * Children aged 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, four years, and between 10 and 13 years (at school), are provided vaccinations under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) at no cost.
• * Pregnant women may be eligible to receive a free whooping cough vaccination (if recommended by General Practitioner/Midwife) through the National Immunisation Program. It is important to note: NOT all Pharmacies are able to provide pregnant women a free whooping cough vaccination (state government legislation varies). For information about whooping cough and receiving a free vaccination please visit your Midwife or General Practitioner. Not all states and territories are able to provide subsidised vaccinations through a Pharmacy for Pregnant women through the National Immunisation Program. Please consult with your Pharmacist or General Practitioner regarding where you can receive your NIP funded vaccination. More information from the Australian Government Department of Health here .
• * Healthcare workers, if they have not had a whooping cough vaccine in the past 10 years
• * People working in early childhood education and care, if they haven’t had a whooping cough vaccine in the past 10 years

To deliver this service safely to our customers we have implemented the following measures at our vaccination clinics:

If you have any COVID‐19 or flu like symptoms including fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath please do not present at our vaccination clinic for your whooping cough vaccination. Please call the pharmacy to cancel and rebook for another time when you are well.

We encourage all staff and customers to practise good hand hygiene and cough etiquette at all times. All vaccination clinics will have access to hand sanitiser for use by the immuniser between each vaccination and will be made available for customer use.

Please arrive 5 minutes early for your booking. If for any reason, you cannot attend your appointment please let the pharmacy know as soon as possible.

You will be required to remain in the pharmacy for 15 minutes post vaccination to be monitored. The person who gave you the vaccine has been trained to respond to immediate reactions.

Vaccinations are subject to Pharmacist and vaccine availability, age restrictions apply. Vaccinations are available from $49.95. Vaccinations are provided by our accredited and friendly pharmacist. Whooping Cough vaccines are free to people from high risk groups identified in the National Immunisation Program Schedule - please see your GP or community health service for more information. People from high risk groups, including pregnant women should seek advice from their medical practitioner. You will need to remain in the pharmacy for 15 minutes following the administration of your vaccination.