Whooping cough - get your vaccination now

If you're pregnant, the NHS is encouraging you to get vaccinated against whooping cough as cases continue to rise across the country. Ideally between 16 and 32 weeks, but if you’re further along your pregnancy, you can still get the vaccine. 

Getting the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy is a highly effective way to protect your baby in the first few months following birth.

Vaccination can help prevent disease or make the illness less serious. Antibodies developed while pregnant pass to the unborn baby and help to protect them in their first few months of life.

The whooping cough vaccine is also given as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule in the UK at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age with a booster offered pre-school. 

This programme provides good protection against severe disease, but protection will wane over time, so it is important to get all scheduled doses of the vaccination.

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. It spreads very easily through coughing and sneezing and can sometimes cause serious health problems. 

It can affect people of all ages, but can be particularly serious for very young infants.

Find out more about whooping cough on this 0-18 NHS website – it can translate information in a range of languages and can also read out information.

Signs and symptoms

The first symptoms of whooping cough are similar to a common cold, with a runny nose and a mild fever.

After about a week or two, the characteristic cough develops with uncontrolled bouts of intense coughing that can last for several minutes, sometimes causing vomiting.

You can read more about the signs, symptoms and what to do if you suspect your child may have whooping cough on the NHS website

If you are worried that your baby may have whooping cough, contact your doctor immediately.

Getting vaccinated

If you are pregnant, speak to your midwife or GP about getting the whooping cough vaccination. 

If you are unsure if your child has been vaccinated, check their red book, and if in doubt, speak to your GP.