The NHS in Hertfordshire and west Essex is urging pregnant women to come forward for a whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine, to help protect their babies from becoming unwell with the serious illness when they are born.
Cases of whooping cough are on the rise and very young babies are particularly at risk because they are not yet old enough for their first vaccinations, which are given at 8 weeks’ old.
Young babies with whooping cough often become very unwell and most will be admitted to hospital. When whooping cough is particularly severe, sadly some children can die.
Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough. The whooping cough vaccine is given as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule in the UK at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age with a booster offered before starting school.
Pregnant women can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated during every pregnancy. When having the whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy, a woman’s body produces antibodies to protect against whooping cough. These antibodies pass to the unborn baby through the placenta giving them high levels of protection until they’re able to have their own whooping cough vaccination from 8 weeks old.
The vaccine is offered to pregnant people from 16 weeks onwards. It is best to have the vaccine between 16 and 32 weeks but can have it anytime up to birth. Mums-to-be should contact their midwife or GP surgery if they have reached week 20 of their pregnancy and haven’t had the vaccine.