Urgent warning to thousands of pregnant women missing out on lifesaving jab

WHOOPING cough vaccine uptake is at a seven-year low, health bosses warn.

Missing out on the jab puts thousands of newborns at a serious risk of being hospitalised, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

It is available to pregnant women from 16 weeks to prevent their child getting the life-threatening disease when they are born.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, of the UKHSA, said the illness is particularly dangerous to babies under six months and “can lead to pneumonia, permanent brain damage and even death”. 

She said: “It’s so important that all expectant mothers get the vaccine at the recommended time to give their babies the best protection from this serious and highly contagious disease.

“If you aren’t sure whether you’ve had the vaccine, or would like further information, speak to your GP or midwife.”

Data for 2022 shows an average uptake across England of 61.5 per cent, a fall of 3.9 per cent since 2021 and 7.6 per cent from 2020. 

Coverage in London is particularly low at 41.4 per cent.

The vaccine for pregnant women was brought in in 2012 because of high rates of the disease in infants.

It works by causing the mother’s immune system to produce protective antibodies to the bacteria, which are then passed to her child through the placenta.

Last year, a study showed the jab reduces hospitalisations by 89 per cent and death by 97 per cent in babies born to vaccinated mothers.

The protection lasts until the child is old enough to get routine vaccination of their own.

Health minister Maria Caulfield said: “Whooping cough can have serious consequences on the health of newborn babies, and in some cases it can be life threatening.

“It’s really important we do what we can to protect the health of our babies.

“I want to encourage all expectant mothers to come forward for the free whooping cough vaccine and give your baby the protection it needs.”