Health and wellbeing
Pregnant women urged to come forward for whooping cough vaccine
Published on
Pregnant women in Walsall are being encouraged to come forward for the whooping cough vaccine, as cases continue to increase across the Black Country.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems, especially in babies and young children.
Mums-to-be are offered the vaccine between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy so their baby has protection against whooping cough from birth until they are old enough to be vaccinated at 8 weeks old.
“ We are seeing whooping cough cases on the rise and babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk, especially in the first few weeks of life. Whooping cough can be serious, and many are also likely to need hospital treatment.
If you are pregnant, you can help your baby by getting vaccinated. Contact your GP or midwife to find out more and book an appointment as soon as possible. It is important to be vaccinated in every pregnancy. It is safer to have the vaccine than to risk your newborn baby catching whooping cough. “
“ Anyone can catch whooping cough, but the infection can be very serious in young children and babies.
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 – ideally from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy. If for any reason you miss having the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour.
The immunity you get from the vaccine will pass to your baby through the placenta and provide protection for them until they are old enough to be routinely vaccinated against whooping cough at eight weeks old.
Vaccination remains the very best protection for babies and children from becoming unwell with whooping cough. So, if you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated, or if your child is overdue for their 6-in-1 combination vaccine, please come forward as soon as you can. “
The whooping cough vaccine is also routinely given as part of the 6-in-1 combination vaccine for babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks.
The 6-in-1 vaccine protects babies against six serious illnesses:
- diphtheria
- hepatitis B
- hib (Haemophilus influenza type b)
- polio
- tetanus
- whooping cough.
Parents of children who have missed their 6-in-1 vaccinations should contact their GP surgery to catch up. It's best to have them on time, but children can still have the 6-in-1 vaccine up to the age of 10.
For more information on the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy, please visit the NHS website.
For more information about the 6-in-1 vaccine, please visit the NHS website.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
- The NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board issued a press release on 18 April 2024 to encourage pregnant women to come forward for the whooping cough vaccination.
