Tragically five newborn babies died in England during the first three months of the year after being diagnosed with whooping cough.
It marks a sharp rise in fatalities among very young children, and parents with babies that haven’t been jabbed against whooping cough – aka pertussis – are being urged to take action.
More than 2,700 cases of whooping cough have been reported across England so far this year – more than three times the number recorded in the whole of last year, reports the Mirror.
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The figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show there were 2,793 cases reported to the end of March, compared with 858 cases for the whole of 2023.
UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam said: “Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but for very young babies it can be extremely serious.
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“Vaccination remains the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time.”
Women are offered the whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy – ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. This passes protection to their baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in the first months of their life when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines.
Once babies are born, they are given doses of the 6-in-1 jab when they are 8, 12 and 16 weeks old whooping cough and a bunch of other things, such as diphtheria and polio.
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But the uptake of vaccinations has fallen in recent years, for both pregnant women and infants.
NHS national medical director Prof Sir Stephen Powis said: “With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country, and today’s figures sadly showing five infant deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need.
“If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet, or your child is not up-to-date with whooping cough or other routine vaccinations, please contact your GP as soon as possible.”
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