At Chemitex Pharmacy on Hornsey Road, we offer the pertussis vaccine as a private service for pregnant women, adults, and anyone who needs a booster, no GP referral needed, no waiting list.
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Whooping cough (pertussis) is a bacterial respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it moves fast in households and close-contact settings.
The early stage looks like a common cold: runny nose, mild fever, a dry cough. Within two weeks that cough worsens dramatically, producing the violent coughing fits the condition is named after. The sharp intake of breath between coughs creates the characteristic ‘whoop’ sound.
In adults, the illness can last months and is exhausting. In newborns and young infants, it can be life-threatening. Babies too young to be vaccinated are entirely dependent on the people around them being immune.
The UK vaccination schedule offers strong childhood protection, but immunity fades. Adults who were vaccinated as children may no longer carry enough protection to stop the bacteria replicating and spreading.
Vaccination during pregnancy is the most effective way to protect newborns in their first weeks of life, before they are old enough to receive their own jabs. The antibodies you produce cross the placenta and give your baby a head start.
Beyond pregnancy, booster doses protect adults working in healthcare, childcare, or any role involving regular contact with vulnerable people. A vaccinated adult who catches whooping cough is far less likely to spread it to those who can’t protect themselves.
The NHS recommends vaccination in every pregnancy, regardless of whether you were vaccinated before. Vaccination between weeks 16 and 32 gives your baby the strongest antibody transfer and protection from birth.
Immunity from childhood vaccination fades over time, typically within 5 to 10 years. Adults who have not had a pertussis booster in over a decade may benefit from one, particularly if they spend time with young children or infants.
Anyone who will be in regular close contact with a newborn is worth considering for vaccination. Infants catch whooping cough from the people who hold them, and family contacts are the most common source of transmission.
If your work brings you into frequent contact with babies or medically vulnerable patients, a pertussis booster is a sound precaution. Some employers in these sectors actively encourage or require up-to-date vaccination.
Pertussis outbreaks occur globally, including in countries with historically high vaccination rates. If you are travelling to an area with a known outbreak, a booster before departure reduces your risk of bringing the infection home.
Whooping cough vaccination is not typically a formal entry requirement in the same way as yellow fever, but several countries actively advise boosters for visitors, particularly those travelling to regions experiencing outbreaks.
The following countries or regions have either formal recommendations or active outbreak histories that make a pertussis booster worth considering before travel:
CDC-recommended for all adults, with mandatory adolescent boosters (Tdap) and strong guidance for travellers visiting areas of active circulation
National guidelines recommend pertussis boosters for adults, including travellers, due to recurring outbreak cycles
Regional outbreak activity makes booster vaccination advisable for extended stays or work involving children
Inconsistent national vaccination coverage means travellers, particularly those working in healthcare or community settings, face elevated exposure risk
Some countries within the region report rising case numbers; travellers on extended visits are advised to check current guidance
Your clinical consultation at Chemitex will include a review of your travel history and destination to confirm whether a pertussis component is relevant to your vaccine schedule.
We administer Adacel, a combination vaccine covering tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) in a single injection. It is licensed for adults and adolescents from the age of 4 and is the vaccine used within NHS pregnancy programmes.
Adacel provides broad protection against all three diseases simultaneously, making it particularly suitable as a booster for adults whose childhood vaccinations have since waned.
A brief prescriber review takes place before your appointment. This ensures the vaccine is appropriate for you given your medical history, current medications, and any previous adverse reactions.
The injection is given into the upper arm muscle, the appointment takes around 15 minutes including a short observation period, and no follow-up dose is required for adults receiving it as a standard booster. Pregnant women should receive it in each pregnancy.
The whooping cough vaccine at Chemitex Pharmacy costs £65 per dose. The prescriber review is included in this price, with no separate consultation fee. Payment is taken at the pharmacy on the day of your appointment.
Use the online booking link below or call us on +44 20 7272 4869. Select the whooping cough vaccine from the service list and choose a time that suits you. We are open Monday to Friday until 6:30pm and Saturday until 2:00pm.
When you arrive, a trained member of our clinical team will complete a brief prescriber review. This covers your medical history, current medications, and pregnancy status if applicable. It takes a few minutes and ensures vaccination is appropriate for you.
The Adacel injection is administered into the upper arm. You will be asked to wait briefly after the injection before leaving. We will issue a record of your vaccination, which you should keep for your personal health records or maternity notes.
Most side effects are mild and resolve within a day or two. The most common reactions are:
Serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are very rare but are a known possibility with any vaccine. This is why a brief observation period is standard practice after any injection. Our team is trained to respond appropriately should any reaction occur.
If you experience prolonged swelling, a fever above 39°C, or symptoms that do not resolve within 72 hours, contact your GP or call NHS 111.
Protection from the pertussis component of Adacel generally lasts between 5 and 10 years, though individual responses vary. Immunity tends to wane gradually rather than switching off at a fixed point.
For pregnant women, a new dose is recommended with each pregnancy, regardless of when you last had the vaccine. The dose given at 16 to 32 weeks generates a fresh antibody response that is passed to the baby before birth.
Adults who received a booster more than 10 years ago and who work with infants or are planning a pregnancy may wish to discuss re-vaccination at their consultation.
The Adacel vaccine offers protection against three diseases simultaneously, so if your tetanus or diphtheria boosters are also overdue, this single injection brings all three up to date.
For pregnant women in particular, the direct protection it gives to your newborn in the first weeks of life is something no other intervention can replicate. Babies who receive maternal antibodies before birth are significantly less likely to be hospitalised with whooping cough.
Appointments available six days a week with no GP referral required and a straightforward online booking process.
We are a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, which means our clinical standards and administrative processes are held to a higher regulatory bar than a standard pharmacy vaccination service.
£65 per dose, with the consultation included. No separate admin or booking fees.
Our prescriber reviews your case before vaccination, meeting clinical governance standards without the wait times of a hospital outpatient setting.
We use Adacel, the same Tdap vaccine used in NHS maternity programmes, rather than a less comprehensive pertussis-only product.
Our team has administered hundreds of travel and private vaccinations across a wide range of patient groups, including pregnant women, elderly patients, and individuals with complex medical histories.
Open six days a week, Chemitex Pharmacy is here to support your health. Call us, send an email, or visit our accessible pharmacy near Finsbury Park for all your healthcare needs.
Come and see why families in Islington have trusted Chemitex Pharmacy with their health for over 40 years. We're here for you.
Yes, parking is available right outside the pharmacy.
There's a bus stop just around the corner.
Trusted by generations of families in Islington.
Got some friendly and super quick travel vaccines here as I realised 5 days before travel. The pharmacist was soooo lovely and made the whole appointment easy. She was very informed and answered all my questions with confidence. Will be coming back for any future vaccine needs for sure as the price was much cheaper than the other ones in the area
I came into the chemist on Friday and I was very impressed by your colleague Fiona and how skilled she is with customers, particularly those who are vulnerable. She offered reassurance, was informative, and showed kindness and patience. She is an asset to your business.
Great little local pharmacy with wide selection and convenient hours, always has what I need in stock. Great customer service and advice from a lovely bubbly young woman who works on the till. Would recommend.
I needed to get a Covid and Flu vaccination together, before traveling, and Chemitex were able to give me a next day appointment and a good price.
The service was excellent and friendly.
I thoroughly recommend.
Yes. The pertussis vaccine is considered safe during breastfeeding. There is no evidence it poses any risk to a nursing infant, and vaccination is encouraged if you missed it during pregnancy.
Not quite. The childhood schedule uses DTaP, which contains a higher dose of the pertussis antigen. Adacel (Tdap) is a lower-antigen formulation designed for adolescents and adults, with a safety profile suited to older age groups and pregnancy.
No. You do not need to bring previous vaccination records, though it is helpful if you have them. Your prescriber review at the pharmacy will establish what you have received and whether Adacel is appropriate.
Yes. We can vaccinate both parents in a single visit. Each person will have a brief individual review before their injection, so allow around 30 minutes for the pair.
You should not receive Adacel if you have had a confirmed severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of a tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis vaccine, or if you currently have a high fever. Your prescriber review will identify any contraindications before the vaccine is administered.
Expert tips from your local clinical team.
Chemitex Pharmacy is located at 332 Hornsey Road, London, N7 7HE. It’s just a short walk from Holloway Road and Finsbury Park stations. You’ll also find it near the Emirates Stadium. Book online using the link below, or call our team directly.
