Whooping Cough Vaccination (Boostrix) – Corner Pharmacy Mt Roskill
Whooping Cough Vaccination (Boostrix) at Corner Pharmacy – Mt Roskill, Auckland
New Zealand is currently in a whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic, and Corner Pharmacy in Mt Roskill on the Dominion Road extension is here to help protect you and your whānau. Our trained vaccinating pharmacists can administer the Boostrix vaccine and answer any questions you may have. Walk in or book an appointment — we're open seven days a week.
If you will be around babies, young children, or older persons, ensure everyone is safe by staying up to date with your whooping cough vaccination. Boostrix is especially recommended for parents, caregivers, grandparents, extended family, and friends around vulnerable populations.
What Is Whooping Cough?
Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a highly infectious disease that causes severe coughing and difficulty breathing. It can be life-threatening for young babies, who can catch it from family and whānau. Making sure you, your older children, and extended family are up to date with vaccinations is one of the most important things you can do to protect newborns.
How Infectious Is Whooping Cough?
One person with whooping cough can infect up to 17 others, making it one of the most contagious diseases around. New Zealand has been experiencing a national whooping cough epidemic since September 2024, with over 260 cases reported in a single four-week period — impacting school communities, young babies, and older adults across the country, including here in Auckland.
Infants under 1 year of age are particularly vulnerable and may require hospital care if infected. Since babies are not fully immunised until around 5 months old, ensuring the adults and older children around them are vaccinated is critical.
Who Can Get a Free Whooping Cough Vaccine?
The whooping cough vaccination is free for:
- Pregnant women aged 13 and above from 16 weeks of pregnancy
- Adults at ages 45 and 65, as immunity reduces over time (same vaccine as the tetanus booster)
If you don't meet the above criteria, our Corner Pharmacy team can still vaccinate you against whooping cough if you are 18 years and older — speak to us about the cost.
When Do I Need a Boostrix Booster?
Immunity to whooping cough reduces over time, so a booster every 10 years is recommended to stay fully protected. When did you last have yours?
In healthy adults, whooping cough is often difficult to diagnose — you may think you just have a persistent cough (often called the "100-day cough"). Without knowing you have it, you could easily pass this highly contagious disease on to vulnerable people around you.
The good news is that the Boostrix vaccine covers three diseases in one: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). Our vaccinating pharmacists at Corner Pharmacy in Mt Roskill are trained to administer this booster.
Childhood Whooping Cough Immunisation Schedule
- Infants in New Zealand receive their full whooping cough immunisation at around 5 months old.
- Boosters at ages 4 and 11 are essential to maintain protection.
Protecting babies starts with the adults around them — get vaccinated today to help stop the spread in Mt Roskill and across Auckland.
Book Your Whooping Cough Vaccination in Mt Roskill
Don't wait — visit Corner Pharmacy on the Dominion Road extension to get your Boostrix vaccination near you. Book at a time that suits you, including evenings and weekends. Our pharmacists are ready to help protect your whānau this season.