Babies who are too young to get vaccinated are at a higher risk of contracting whooping cough. The whooping cough vaccine is advised for pregnant women as it's highly effective in protecting the baby from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks after birth.
The bacterial infection found in the lungs and breathing tubes spreads very easily and babies under six months have an increased chance of problems. In most cases young babies with whooping cough will be admitted to hospital , and particularly severe cases can be fatal.
Whooping cough involves rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound, vomiting and tiredness. It is contagious for up to three weeks, from six days after the start of cold-like symptoms and it can easily be caught.
Young babies aren't allowed cough medicine or aspirin. If a young baby has a whooping cough that isn't severe, it is recommended for the baby to rest, drink plenty of fluids and give either paracetamol or ibuprofen. Do not give paracetamol or ibuprofen at the same time. Here’s everything you need to know about getting the whooping cough vaccine while pregnant.
Why is the whooping cough vaccine important while pregnant?
The protection the mother receives from the vaccine will lower her own risk of infection and of passing whooping cough on to her baby. According to the NHS , babies born to women vaccinated before birth had a 91% reduced risk of developing whooping cough in their first weeks of life, compared with babies whose mothers had not taken the vaccine.
The immunity the vaccine offers will pass to the baby through the placenta and provide passive protection for them until they are born and old enough to be routinely vaccinated against whooping cough at eight weeks old.
When is the best time to get the whooping cough vaccine?
The best time to get vaccinated is from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks of pregnancy, according to the NHS. This increases the chance that your baby will be born protected through the transfer of your antibodies before they are born.
You’re allowed to have the vaccine up until you go into labour. However, your baby is less likely to receive the vaccine’s benefits in time. If for any reason you have the vaccine at a later date, it would protect the mother from a whooping cough but it might not directly protect the baby.
What else will the vaccine do?
The vaccine offered is called Boostrix IPV and it also protects against polio, tetanus and diphtheria. In the UK, the vaccine has been routinely used in pregnant women since 2012.
There have been no reported safety concerns or risks with the use of the vaccine in pregnancy. As with any vaccine, you may have some mild side effects including redness, tenderness and swelling in your upper arm.
