Infants and children are recommended to receive pertussis-containing vaccine in a 5-dose schedule

Pertussis-containing vaccine is recommended in a 5-dose schedule at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months, and 4 years of age.

Infants can have their 1st dose of pertussis-containing vaccine as early as 6 weeks of age. Before maternal vaccination was widespread, this strategy was estimated to prevent an extra 8% of infant pertussis cases at a population level.^1,2

See Table. Minimum acceptable age for the 1st dose of scheduled vaccines in infants in special circumstances in Catch-up vaccination.

If the 1st dose of pertussis-containing vaccine is given at the age of 6 weeks, infants should still receive their next scheduled doses at 4 months and 6 months of age.

Doses of pertussis-containing vaccine at 18 months and 4 years of age are needed because pertussis immunity wanes after receiving the infant doses.³ Preschool and school-aged children can be an important source of infection for infants.^4-6

The vaccines usually received at each schedule point are:

• 2, 4 and 6 months of age — DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, inactivated poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b). There is no preferential recommendation between the use of DT5aP-hepB-IPV-Hib(PRP-OMP) vaccine (Vaxelis) and DT3aP-hepB-IPV-Hib(PRP-TT) vaccine (Infanrix hexa)
• 18 months of age — DTPa
• 4 years of age — DTPa-IPV

DTPa-containing vaccine is funded through the NIP for all infants and children. For details see the National Immunisation Program Schedule.