Should pregnant women get a whooping cough vaccine?

Published on: 03/09/2015

New data published today (03/09/15) shows that reported whooping cough cases are still at raised levels in England.  The NHS currently offers pregnant women a vaccination against whooping cough which protects them and their newborn babies, who are especially vulnerable to the infection.  Current uptake for the vaccination in pregnancy is at a rate of only 56.4% and so Public Health England are urging more pregnant women to have the vaccination.

 

Dr Mary Ramsay, PHE’s head of immunisation, said: “It’s important that pregnant women visit their GP surgery or midwife to get vaccinated, ideally between weeks 28 and 32 of their pregnancy.  Being vaccinated against whooping cough while you’re pregnant is a highly effective way to protect your baby in the first few weeks of their life.”

 

Read BBC report here 

Public Health England statement can be viewed here