Pregnant women have recently been urged to get their whooping cough vaccinations.
Whooping cough (aka ‘pertussis’) is a bacterial illness which can be life threatening for newborns. It is highly contagious and infects the lungs and bronchi (breathing tubes). The UK health Security Agency documented 168 cases in south east England in June 2024.
The disease starts as a cough but can progress to a serious form of pneumonia and potentially life threatening seizures.
Women are eligible for the vaccination after 16 weeks and can get it via their midwife (in community or antenatal clinic) or via your GP. It is so important for women to come forward to protect their little ones from this severe illness. It is the best form of protection from this horrible disease.
Vaccine experts are ‘very worried’ about the sudden rise in whooping cough deaths in 2024, as 5 babies have sadly died.
The vaccine is also routinely offered to babies (at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age) as well as preschool children (age 3years 4 months). The preschool vaccine is simply a booster.
Please contact your midwife if you are pregnant and require the vaccine and please make sure you bring your little one in for their routine whooping cough vaccination when they are requested to attend.