Repevax for an Australia Work Visa: Do You Need a Whooping Cough Vaccine?

If you are moving to Australia to work in a hospital, clinic, aged care home or childcare setting, there is a good chance your new employer will ask for proof of a whooping cough vaccine before your first shift. In Australia it is called dTpa, and most health and childcare employers want a dose from within the last ten years. This guide explains who asks for it, why the visa itself is rarely the issue, and how a single dose of Repevax covers the requirement. It sits alongside our whooping cough vaccine guide.

Is a whooping cough vaccine a visa requirement for Australia?

In most cases, no. The vaccine is rarely a condition of the visa itself. What people run into is an employment requirement: a hospital, health service, aged care provider or childcare centre asks for evidence before you start, and some of those rules are set by state health departments. Working holiday makers are covered by the same rules if they take a job in one of these settings.

That is why the request often arrives late, in an onboarding pack, after the visa is already sorted. Always check the exact wording with your employer or placement provider, because the requirement belongs to them and can change.

Who is asked for proof of a dTpa vaccine?

Australia’s national guidance, the Australian Immunisation Handbook, recommends a dTpa dose for all healthcare workers and for adults who work with infants and children under four, with a booster every ten years. Employers turn that recommendation into a requirement:

• Healthcare workers. In New South Wales, for example, NSW Health requires workers in patient-facing roles to show a dTpa dose from the last ten years before they start, and other states, including Western Australia, run similar policies.
• Students on clinical placement. Nursing, medical and allied health students placed in Australian health facilities are usually assessed under the same rules.
• Childcare and early learning staff. Adults working with babies and young children are recommended to have dTpa, and many employers ask for evidence.
• Other roles with young children or vulnerable people. Some aged care and education employers also ask.

What does dTpa mean, and does Repevax count?

dTpa is the Australian shorthand for a booster that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough). In Australia, pertussis vaccine only comes combined with diphtheria and tetanus, sometimes with polio added. Repevax contains all three plus polio, and it is the same vaccine that is sold in Australia as Adacel Polio. So if your form asks for dTpa, a Repevax dose counts. Revaxis, the UK teenage booster, does not, because it has no pertussis component.

The evidence you will need

Most employers want a written record that shows the vaccine name, the date and the batch number, and that the dose was given within the last ten years. After your appointment we give you a dated certificate with exactly those details, and if your employer has its own form, bring it along and we will sign and stamp it to confirm the vaccine we have given.

Health services often ask for more than whooping cough on the same checklist, typically evidence for hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella, and chickenpox, plus tuberculosis screening and an annual flu vaccine. Read the whole onboarding list before you book, so we can cover as much as possible in one visit.

When to have it

Have it before you start work, ideally as soon as you receive your onboarding checklist, so the record is ready when you upload your documents. Repevax is a single injection and your record is issued on the day, so this is not one you need to plan weeks ahead for. If you have had a tetanus booster recently, tell us at the appointment and we will check the dates and confirm the right approach for you.

Booking tip: choose the whooping cough (Repevax) appointment. Our separate “DTP” vaccine is Revaxis (diphtheria, tetanus and polio), which has no pertussis, so it will not count as dTpa.

Book your Repevax appointment →

How much does it cost?

Repevax is £65 for the single dose, with the consultation and your dated record included. It renews your tetanus, diphtheria and polio protection at the same time. You can read more about Repevax vaccination in London, including how long protection lasts.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a whooping cough vaccine for an Australian work visa?

Usually it is your employer or the state health department that asks, rather than the visa. Healthcare and childcare roles are the most common. Check your onboarding checklist for “dTpa” or “pertussis”.

I am a nurse moving to Australia. What will I be asked for?

Expect to be asked for a dTpa dose from the last ten years, along with evidence for hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella, and chickenpox, and tuberculosis screening. The exact list depends on the state and employer, so bring your checklist and we will go through it with you.

Does Repevax count as dTpa?

Yes. Repevax contains diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis, plus polio, and it is the same vaccine sold in Australia as Adacel Polio.

How long does it last before I need another?

Australian guidance recommends a dTpa booster every ten years for healthcare workers and people working with young children, so one dose now covers you for a decade of work.

Can you sign my employer’s form?

Yes. Bring it to your appointment and we will sign and stamp it to confirm the vaccine we have given, and give you a dated certificate showing the vaccine name, date and batch number.

Can I get it the same day?

Same-day appointments are often available. Book online or call 0208 567 0982 to check.

If your Australian employer has asked for whooping cough evidence, one appointment usually sorts it. Heading to study in the US instead? See why US universities reject Revaxis and want Tdap, or read our full guide to whooping cough vaccination for visas, work and study abroad.