Whooping cough cases increasing in Suffolk as pregnant women are encouraged to get vaccinated

Pregnant women in Suffolk are being encouraged to get the whooping cough vaccine after an increase in cases across the county.

Figures from public health show that in pregnant women the vaccine uptake is 66.6 per cent, in Suffolk.

Stuart Keeble, director of public health, said: “Cases of whooping cough have increased across England, trends are indicating Suffolk is no different.

“The best defence for whooping cough is the vaccination for pregnant people and children.

“In Suffolk we offer the vaccination at a routine antenatal appointment from around 16 weeks of pregnancy.

“The whopping cough vaccine is highly effective in protecting both the mother and newborn and significantly reduces the risk of whooping cough in infants during their more vulnerable period before they can receive their own vaccinations.”

Latest figures for Suffolk state that uptake in children is 94.6 per cent for the up to 12 month programme, and 95 per cent for three to four-year-olds.

Last week, figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed eight infants died from whooping cough between January and April.

Since the start of the year there have been 4,793 confirmed cases of whooping cough nationally, compared to 858 cases in the whole of 2023.

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.

It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems.

Children should be vaccinated at eight weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and at three years and four months for the best protection.