Whooping cough cases are on the rise in the UK

The first signs of infection are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are typically worse at night. Young babies may also make a distinctive “whoop” or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing.

The current increase is coming at a time when there has been a steady decline in uptake of the vaccine in pregnant women and in children.

Pregnant women can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated – ideally from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks pregnant. If for any reason you miss having the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour. Getting vaccinated while you're pregnant is highly effective in protecting your baby from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of their life. The immunity you get from the vaccine will pass to your baby through the placenta and provide passive protection for them until they are old enough to be routinely vaccinated against whooping cough at 8 weeks old.

Parents are also being urged to check that their children are vaccinated against whooping cough, which is offered to all infants at 8,12 and 16 weeks of age (as part of the 6-in-1 combination vaccine) with an additional dose included in the pre-school booster. Check your child’s red book to check their vaccination status, if you are unsure, or if they are missing any vaccinations, contact your GP practice.

Further information can be found on the NHS website:

• whooping cough
• whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy
• 6-in-1 vaccine for babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks and
• 4-in-1 pre-school booster.