Whooping cough rates have risen sharply in recent months. Babies who are too young to start their vaccines are at greatest risk. The best way to protect your baby is to get vaccinated while you are pregnant.
When should I have the whooping cough vaccine?
The best time to get vaccinated to protect your baby from whooping cough is from 20 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy, ideally after the 20-week scan. This maximises the chance that your baby will be protected from birth, through the transfer of your antibodies before he or she is born.
If for any reason you miss having the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour.
However, this is not ideal, as your baby is less likely to get protection from you. At this stage of pregnancy, having the vaccination may not directly protect your baby, but would help protect you from whooping cough and from passing it on to your baby.
Women can also receive the vaccine after delivery, for up to 8 weeks until their baby is old enough to get their first dose. This can help protect the mother from pertussis, reducing the chance that their baby will be exposed to the infection.
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. It spreads very
easily through coughing and sneezing and can sometimes cause serious health
problems, especially in young babies.
Young babies with whooping cough often become very unwell and most will be
admitted to hospital. The disease can be very serious and may lead to pneumonia
and permanent brain damage. In the worst cases, it can cause death.
Symptoms of whooping cough
The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to a common cold, with a runny nose and
a mild fever.
After about a week or two, the characteristic cough develops with uncontrolled bouts of
intense coughing that can last for several minutes, sometimes causing vomiting.
Coughing is often worse overnight. Coughing fits can cause some people to make a
distinctive "whooping" sound as they gasp for breath between coughs. However, young
babies and some others who have the infection don’t always make this noise which means
that whooping cough can sometimes be difficult to recognise.
How can I get the whooping cough vaccination?
The vaccine is available from your GP, though some antenatal clinics also offer it. You may
be offered the vaccination at a routine antenatal appointment, usually after your 20-week
scan.
If you are more than 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the vaccine, talk to
your midwife or GP and make an appointment to get vaccinated.
