Photo by Gabriel Tovar on Unsplash
Starting November 1, 2020, pertussis vaccine (as Tdap) can be offered to pregnant women/ people at no charge for protection of the infant against whooping cough infection.
This vaccine has been recommended in pregnancy since 2018 in Canada by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Pertussis immunization during pregnancy has been shown to reduce severe pertussis in young infants who have little or no protection prior to their first pertussis vaccine at 2 months of age. Until Nov 2020, this was not a publicly funded vaccine in BC
The recommended time for Tdap vaccination is 27-32 weeks of pregnancy, although vaccine can be offered after the first trimester and up until delivery if this window is missed. Tdap vaccination is recommended with each pregnancy, regardless of the time elapsed since prior vaccination with Td or Tdap.
Tdap is available from your usual source of publicly funded vaccines (e.g. local public health unit).
Please refer to the Q & A document on the BCCDC website for more information as well as the Immunization Manual. Patient information can be found at immunizebc.ca/pertussis.
Billing information (updated Sept 29, 2021)
PRIOR TO OCT 1, 2021
- No additional fee code is billable for pertussis immunization when it is done with an in-person visit (prenatal visit, office visit, counselling, consultation etc).
- Bill fee code 00010 when the primary purpose of the service is for pertussis immunization (without a visit).
OCT 1, 2021 TO APRIL 30, 2022
- See news item about billing for respiratory immunizations in 2021-2022