Whooping cough vaccination aims to protect newborn babies

A whooping cough vaccination for pregnant women has been backed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to keep  newborn babies safe in the womb.

Babies do not usually receive a vaccination against the illness until between two and four months of age.

But the number of whooping cough cases in England and Wales continues to rise.

So far this year the number of cases has come to 4,791.

Last year, there were 1,118 cases and in 2010, just 421.

In August this year, three babies aged less than three months died from whooping cough, bringing the total number of infant deaths during 2012 in this age group to nine.

The vaccination for pregnant women is aiming to protect newborns during the vulnerable few months until their first vaccination.

Head of immunisation at the HPA, Dr Mary Ramsay said: “We have been very concerned  about the continuing increase in whooping cough cases and related deaths. We welcome  the urgent measure from the Department of Health to minimise the harm from whooping  cough, particularly in young infants, and we encourage all pregnant women to ensure they receive the vaccination to give their baby the best protection against whooping cough.

“It’s also important we continue to remind all parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against whooping cough to continue their protection through childhood. Parents should also be alert to the signs and symptoms – which include severe coughing fits accompanied by the characteristic “whoop” sound in young children but as a prolonged cough in older children or adults. It is also advisable to keep babies away from older siblings or adults who have the  infection.”

Whooping cough can affect people of any age, but babies are at the highest risk of serious complications and death.