Suffolk and Essex pharmacies, including in Bury St Edmunds, Mildenhall, Clare and Long Melford, to become first in country to offer babies protection from whooping cough
More than 30 community pharmacies in Suffolk and Essex will become the first in the country to offer whooping cough vaccination appointments to pregnant women.
The NHS is making it easier than ever for pregnant women to protect their babies from the contagious bacterial disease, also known as pertussis, which is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.
It can be serious for babies and may lead to complications resulting in hospitalisation and even death.
The whooping cough vaccination programme for pregnant women has been running for over ten years and has saved the lives of many babies.
Pharmacies on the list in Suffolk include Guildhall Pharmacy in Bury St Edmunds and Manor Court Pharmacy in Mildenhall, as well as pharmacies in Clare, Barrow, Aldeburgh and more.
For the full list, read on to the end of the article.
Dr Eleanor Powers, head of Public Health Commissioning (Immunisation) for NHS England – East of England, said: “Whooping cough spreads easily and can be very serious for babies and infants – and in some cases, fatal.
“That’s why it’s so important that pregnant women start the protection of their babies in the womb, by getting their vaccination before giving birth.
“It’s great news for pregnant women in the East of England that it’s now easier than ever to get protected at one of more than 30 pharmacies in the region offering the vaccine – as well as the usual offer through your midwife or GP practice.”
Getting vaccinated while pregnant is highly effective in protecting babies from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of their life.
The immunity women get from the vaccine will pass to their baby through the placenta and provide passive protection for them until they are old enough to be routinely vaccinated against whooping cough at 8 weeks old.
Pregnant women from 28 weeks are also encouraged to protect their babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – which can sometimes be serious for babies – by booking a vaccination appointment with their GP practice, or in parts of Suffolk and Essex, by walking into a participating pharmacy.
Pharmacies in Suffolk and North East, Mid and South Essex offering the pertussis/whooping cough jab and the RSV jab are as follows:
Bansals Pharmacy
Benfleet Pharmacy
Britannia Pharmacy (Furtherwick Road)
Britannia Pharmacy (High Street)
Britannia Pharmacy (Long Road)
Britannia Pharmacy (Timberlog Lane)
Christchurch Pharmacy
Cross Chemist
Grange Pharmacy
Kalsons Chemist
Leigh Broadway Pharmacy and Travel Clinic
Queensway Pharmacy
Savages Pharmacy
Village Pharmacy
Aldeburgh Pharmacy
Barrow Pharmacy
Belsteadhills Pharmacy (inside Co-Op)
Cavalry Road Pharmacy
Clare Pharmacy (Ellis Smith Pharmacy Ltd)
Connaught Avenue Pharmacy
Green Cross
Guildhall Pharmacy
Hawthorn Drive Pharmacy
Holland Pharmacy
Hutt Pharmacy
Long Melford Pharmacy
Manor Court Pharmacy
Nacton Road Pharmacy (inside Co-Op)
Nayland Road Pharmacy
North Street Pharmacy
Pharmacy2Go - (L&R Pharma Ltd)
Pier Avenue Pharmacy
Prettygate Pharmacy
Rainbow Pharmacy
Spring Road Pharmacy
Wickham Market Pharmacy
