Whooping cough: Information for childcare and schools

On this page

1. Information for parents and carers
1. What you can do
2. Vaccination protects your child
2. Information for schools, childcare and family daycare
1. If a child or staff member has whooping cough
2. Vaccination

Information for parents and carers

Whooping cough is an illness that usually starts like a cold. It spreads very easily between people. It can cause a bad cough which gets worse and may last for many weeks.

While anyone can get whooping cough, newborns and babies are most at risk of getting very sick. Whooping cough caught at school or childcare can be spread to family members at home.

People with whooping cough can infect others for up to 3 weeks. Early treatment with antibiotics can reduce how long it can be spread to others.

Vaccinated children can still get sick, although their illness may be less severe.

What you can do

If your child has whooping cough:

• let your school or childcare centre know
• keep your child home for 5 days after they start antibiotics, or 21 days after their cough starts
• keep your child away from babies and pregnant women. Whooping cough can make babies very sick.

If your child can't breathe or turns blue - this is an emergency. Call Triple Zero (000) or go to a hospital emergency department now.

Find your nearest emergency department.

If you need advice, call your doctor or healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (available 24 hours) and a nurse will answer your call.

Read the whooping cough (pertussis) fact sheet for more information.

If your child has been around someone with whooping cough but is not sick, they usually do not need to be tested.

Infants less than 6 months old and people in contact with infants less than 6 months old, who have been around someone with whooping cough, may need antibiotics to prevent illness. In this situation, you should speak to your doctor.

If they become sick, they should see a doctor and get tested. Please let your doctor know your child has been in contact with someone with whooping cough.

Visit the NSW Health whooping cough (pertussis) fact sheet for more information.

Vaccination protects your child

Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination provides the best protection against becoming sick, but this protection declines over time.

Ensure your child is up to date with their vaccines. You can ask your doctor or call the Australian Immunisation Register  on 1800 653 809 to check your child’s vaccination status.

• Whooping cough vaccines are given to babies at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 18 months of age. A dose is also given at 4 years of age.
• A whooping cough booster is given to adolescents in year 7 through the NSW School Vaccination Program. This is essential for keeping immunity into adulthood.
• Adults who are in contact with young children, such as school and childcare staff, parents and carers should get a booster vaccine.
• A booster vaccine is recommended for pregnant women, between 20 and 32 weeks of every pregnancy.

Visit the NSW Health immunisation programs for more information.

Information for schools, childcare and family daycare

Any new cough could be whooping cough and the infection can spread quickly. People with whooping cough can spread it to others for up to 3 weeks.

If you notice a new cough at your childcare centre or school:

• tell the child’s parents and encourage them to take the child to their doctor
• childcare workers and teachers should see their doctor to rule out whooping cough if they become unwell - it is important to do this before returning to work, especially if the centre cares for babies.

If a child or staff member has whooping cough

Children with whooping cough should not attend school or childcare because of the risk of spreading the infection to others. Staff who have whooping cough should also stay at home.

If you have whooping cough your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. This helps prevent the spread of infection.

Staff and children with whooping cough should stay at home until they have had 5 days of antibiotic treatment. Those who are not taking antibiotics should stay home for 21 days after the start of their cough.

School principals and childcare directors should call their local public health unit on 1300 066 055 for advice on managing whooping cough outbreaks.

Staying Healthy in Child Care has further information about manaing infectious diseases in care services.

Vaccination

Vaccination is the best way to avoid becoming sick with whooping cough. Vaccination also reduces the likelihood of getting very sick, as well as spreading whooping cough to others.

Under the NSW Public Health Act 2010 childcare centres must keep a register of the vaccination status of all children.

If a child is not up to date on their whooping cough vaccinations, please remind parents or carers of the importance of vaccination.

Parents can check with their doctor or the  Australian Immunisation Register on 1800 653 809 if they are unsure of their child’s vaccination status.

• Whooping cough vaccines are given to babies at 6 weeks, 4 months, 6 months and 18 months of age. A dose is also given at 4 years of age.
• A whooping cough booster is given to year 7 students through the NSW School Vaccination Program.
• Adults who are in contact with young children, such as school and childcare staff should get a booster vaccine. This will help protect them from infection and from passing the illness on to vulnerable children.

Visit the NSW Health immunisation programs for more information.