Pregnant mothers are encouraged to get vaccinated to prevent whooping cough

With the NHS seeing a nationwide increase in confirmed cases of whooping cough, Sandwell Council is advising all expectant mothers to get vaccinated against the disease.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, can be a serious illness, leading to potential hospitalization and, in the worst case, death.

In March alone, 1,319 confirmed cases were reported, also resulting in five infant deaths between January and March 2024.

Babies have been shown to be most at risk of the disease, however, mothers vaccinated during pregnancy can help protect babies who are too young to be vaccinated on their own.

Liann Brookes-Smith, Sandwell’s Acting Director of Public Health, said: “Amid this worrying rise in whooping cough cases, I am urging all expectant mothers to protect their babies by getting vaccinated. Whooping cough is preventable in most cases and the vaccine will increase your child’s immunity to this serious disease.

“The best time to get vaccinated is between 16 and 32 weeks pregnant, but if mums miss this time, they can get it later in their pregnancy – although the earlier the better.”

expectant mothers can receive the vaccine free of charge from their family doctor’s surgery. Only one dose of the vaccine is required, but it is important to be vaccinated once per pregnancy.

The whooping cough vaccine has been shown to be safe for both mothers and their babies. However, anyone with concerns about the vaccine can speak to their midwife or GP.

More information about the whooping cough vaccine can be found on the NHS website.