Pregnant women urged to get whooping cough vaccine

Babies are routinely given the vaccine at eight, 12 and 16 weeks

Pregnant women in the Black Country are being urged to get vaccinated against whooping cough after a rise in cases.

The bacterial infection of the lungs spreads very easily and can cause serious problems, especially in babies and young children.

The Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) is advising pregnant women between 16 and 32 weeks to contact their GP to get the vaccine so their baby has protection from birth.

The UK Health Security Agency warned earlier this year of a steady decline in uptake of the vaccine in pregnant women and children.

Symptoms of the infection, also known as "100-day cough", are similar to a cold, with a runny nose and sore throat.

Sally Roberts, chief nursing officer for the ICB, which covers Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell, said anyone could catch it, but it was more serious for young children and babies.

“Getting vaccinated while you’re pregnant is highly effective in protecting your baby from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of their life – ideally from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy," she said.

"If for any reason you miss having the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour."