Most people who have the whooping cough vaccine have no reaction at all.
With any medicine, including whooping cough vaccine, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually minor, but serious reactions are also possible.
If you think you are having a severe allergic reaction or any other medical emergency that requires urgent attention, call 000 or go to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.
Most side effects do not affect daily activities and get better on their own in a few days. Common mild side effects from the vaccine include redness, swelling, pain, and tenderness where the injection is given, body-ache, fatigue, or fever. Headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache, and arm swelling have also been reported. More serious reactions like severe swelling, pain, and redness in the arm where the injection was given are rare.
A life-threatening allergic reaction can happen after any vaccine but the estimated risk is less than 1 in a million vaccinations. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty in breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after vaccination.
If you think you are having a severe allergic reaction or any other medical emergency that requires urgent attention, call 000 or go to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.
Learn more about possible side effects of vaccination.