Whooping cough vaccine encouraged as cases rise

More than 70 suspected cases of whooping cough were reported across the East of England in the week ending 12 May

There are renewed calls for pregnant women to take up vaccinations for whooping cough after a reported rise in cases.

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there were 72 suspected cases reported in the East of England for the week ending 12 May, with 22 of them in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

All pregnant women are eligible for the whooping cough vaccine after 16 weeks. The bacterial illness can be life-threatening for newborn babies.

UKVAS said uptake had fallen across the country in both the pregnant women and infant vaccination programmes.

Concerns were raised during a recent Healthwatch meeting of the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).

'Complications'

Early symptoms of whooping cough are similar to a cold, with a temperature, runny nose and persistent cough.

The illness can develop into severe coughing bouts with a "whoop" sound, as well as shortness of breath or gasping.

Whooping cough is a cyclical disease that peaks every three to five years. The last cyclical increase occurred in 2016.

A total of 2,793 confirmed cases were reported so far this year across England and Wales.

Between January and March this year, there have been five infant deaths. Babies are at the highest risk of severe complications and death from whooping cough.

All babies are given three doses at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age, with a pre-school booster offered at 3 years 4 months.

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