Health leaders in the North West are urging parents of young babies and pregnant mums to ensure they have the whooping cough vaccine amid a big drop in vaccine uptake and rising whooping cough infections.
The region has the lowest uptake of pertussis vaccine in pregnant women outside of London, with NHS England data showing the proportion of mums-to-be having the vaccine has fallen dramatically since before the COVID-19 pandemic, from 70.9% in April 2019 to 55.7% in September 2023.
The North West also has the second lowest vaccine uptake nationally in babies, who are offered the pertussis vaccine as part of the six-in-one combination vaccine at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age, and an additional dose included in the pre-school booster vaccine.
The appeal to get vaccinated came as the UK Health Security Agency announced an increase in whooping cough infections across England at the start of this year, with 553 confirmed in England in January, compared with 856 cases for the whole of 2023.
Whooping cough is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems, especially in babies under one-year-old.
Tricia Spedding, deputy head of public health at NHS England – North West, said: “The drop in uptake of the pertussis vaccine in the North West is worrying, as although anyone can catch whooping cough, the infection can be very serious in young babies.
“If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated, or if your child hasn’t yet had the six-in-one combination vaccine, please contact your GP surgery to book an appointment to get the protection from whooping cough as soon as possible. If you’re unsure, check your child’s red book.
“Vaccination remains the very best protection for babies and children from becoming unwell with whooping cough.”
Mums-to-be are offered the vaccine in pregnancy, so their baby has protection against whooping cough from birth, and are urged to talk to their midwives for any more information.
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.
If anyone in your family is diagnosed with whooping cough, it’s important they stay at home and do not go into work, school or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or three weeks after symptoms start if they have not had antibiotics.
