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Vaccinations in Pregnancy: Whooping Cough

Throughout our lives, the NHS offers safe and effective vaccines to protect us against infectious diseases.

That protection starts before birth, with the pertussis, or whooping cough vaccine, offered during pregnancy.

Cases of whooping cough have increased significantly in the UK this year. We want to encourage expectant mothers to get vaccinated against this potentially deadly illness.


What is Whooping Cough?

Whooping cough is a serious infection of the lungs and airways. It causes long bouts of uncontrolled coughing, which can make it hard to breathe and lead to choking and vomiting.

The “whoop” sound is caused by gasping for breath after each bout of coughing, though babies do not always make this noise.

It spreads very quickly, especially in newborns. Whooping cough can be severe and need hospital treatment. In some cases, it can be fatal.

Vaccinations in pregnancy give babies protection against whooping cough when they are most vulnerable.

The number of cases of whooping cough in the UK has increased significantly this year.

In May this year alone, there were 2,591 cases. That’s more than three times the total cases (858) inall of 2023.

Sadly, there have been eight infant deaths from whooping cough so far this year.

When to get Vaccinated against Whopping Cough

The best time to get vaccinated is between the 20th and 32nd week of pregnancy. This gives mother and baby the best protection.

The vaccine is usually offered through GP practices after the 20-week scan but can be given as early as 16 weeks.

It’s a 4-in-1 vaccine that protects against polio, diphtheria and tetanus.

By vaccinating women during pregnancy, immunity is passed to the unborn baby, protecting them until they are old enough to start their own course of NHS vaccinations.

This starts at eight weeks old, wth the NHS 6-in-1 vaccine, which protects against whooping cough, diphtheria, hepatitis B, Hib, polio, and tetanus.

Symptoms and Treatment

The first signs of whooping cough are like a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat. After about a week, you or your child:

  • will get coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night
  • may make a “whoop” sound – a gasp for breath between coughs (young babies and some adults may not “whoop”)
  • may have difficulty breathing after a coughing bout and may turn blue or grey (young infants)
  • may bring up a thick mucus, which can make you vomit
  • may become very red in the face (more common in adults)

The cough may last for several weeks or months.

Babies under six months old with whooping cough have an increased chance of having problems such as:

  • dehydration
  • breathing difficulties
  • pneumonia
  • seizures (fits)

Whooping cough passes easily. You are most contagious from 6 days after your first symptoms to 3 weeks after you start coughing.

You should urgently see a Doctor or get help from NHS 111 if:

  • Your baby is under six months old and has symptoms
  • You or your child has a bad cough that is getting worse
  • You’re pregnant and have been in contact with someone who has whooping cough.

Antibiotics are often given as treatment, but it will depend on age and how long you have had the cough.

Hospital treatment is usually needed if you have severe whooping cough or your baby is under six months old and has whooping cough.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

  • your or your child’s lips, tongue, face or skin suddenly turn blue or grey (on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet)
  • you or your child are finding it hard to breathe properly (shallow breathing)
  • you or your child have chest pain that’s worse when breathing or coughing – this could be a sign of pneumonia
  • your child is having seizures

The Full NHS Vaccine Schedule

The NHS vaccination programme protects against various diseases from childhood, adolescence, and old age.

Your child’s vaccines should be recorded in their ‘red book’. If you think your child may have missed a vaccination, feel free to contact your GP practice.

The NHS routine childhood immunisation programme was revised in September 2023. This is the new complete immunisation schedule.

WhenDiseases protected againstVaccine givenTrade nameUsual site
8 weeks oldDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) and hepatitis BDTaP/IPV/Hib/HepBInfanrix hexa or VaxelisThigh
Meningococcal group B (MenB)MenBBexseroLeft thigh
Rotavirus gastroenteritisRotavirusRotarixBy mouth
12 weeks oldDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis BDTaP/IPV/Hib/HepBInfanrix hexa or VaxelisThigh
Pneumococcal (13 serotypes)Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)Prevenar 13Thigh
RotavirusRotavirusRotarixBy mouth
16 weeks oldDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib and hepatitis BDTaP/IPV/Hib/HepBInfanrix hexa or VaxelisThigh
MenBMenBBexseroLeft thigh
1 year old (on or after the child’s first birthday)Hib and Meningococcal group C (MenC)Hib/MenCMenitorixUpper arm or thigh
PneumococcalPCV boosterPrevenar 13Upper arm or thigh
Measles, mumps and rubella (German measles)MMRMMRvaxPro or PriorixUpper arm or thigh
MenBMenB boosterBexseroLeft thigh
Eligible paediatric age groupInfluenza (each year from September)(each year from September)
Live attenuated influenza vaccine LAIV
Fluenz TetraBoth nostrils
3 years 4 months old or soon afterDiphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliodTaP/IPVBoostrix-IPVUpper arm
Measles, mumps and rubellaMMR (check first dose given)MMRvaxPro or PriorixUpper arm
Boys and girls aged 12 to 13 yearsCancers and genital warts caused by specific human papillomavirus (HPV) typesHPVGardasil 9Upper arm
14 years old (school Year 9)Tetanus, diphtheria and polioTd/IPV (check MMRstatus)RevaxisUpper arm
Meningococcal groups A, C, W and YMenACWYNimenrixUpper arm
65 years oldPneumococcal (23 serotypesPneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23)Pneumovax 23Upper arm
65 years of age and olderInfluenza (each year from September)Inactivated influenza vaccineMultipleUpper arm
65 from September 2023ShinglesShingles vaccineShingrixUpper arm
70 to 79 years of age (plus eligible age groups and severely immunosuppressed)ShinglesShingles vaccineZostavax (or Shingrix if Zostavax contraindicated)Upper arm

Selective immunisation programmes

Target groupAge and scheduleDiseaseVaccines required
Babies born to hepatitis B infected mothersAt birth, 4 weeks and 12 months oldHepatitis BHepatitis B (Engerix B/HBvaxPRO)
Infants in areas of the country with tuberculosis (TB) incidence >= 40/100,000Around 28 days oldTuberculosisBCG
Infants with a parent or grandparent born in a high incidence countryAround 28 days oldTuberculosisBCG
Children in a clinical risk groupFrom 6 months to 17 years of ageInfluenzaLAIV or inactivated flu vaccine if contraindicated to LAIV or under 2 years of age
Pregnant womenAt any stage of pregnancy during flu seasonInfluenzaInactivated flu vaccine
From 16 weeks gestationPertussisdTaP/IPV(Boostrix-IPV)

Additional vaccines for individuals with underlying medical conditions

Medical conditionDiseases protected againstVaccines required
Asplenia or splenic dysfunction (including due to sickle cell and coeliac disease)Meningococcal groups A, B, C, W and YMenACWY
MenB
PneumococcalPCV13 (up to 10 years of age)
PPV23 (from 2 years of age)
InfluenzaAnnual flu vaccine
Cochlear implantsPneumococcalPCV13 (up to 10 years of age)
PPV23 (from 2 years of age)
Chronic respiratory and heart conditions(such as severe asthma, chronic pulmonary disease, and heart failure)PneumococcalPCV13 (up to 10 years of age)
PPV23 (from 2 years of age)
InfluenzaAnnual flu vaccine
Chronic neurological conditions (such as Parkinson’s or motor neurone disease, or learning disability)PneumococcalPCV13 (up to 10 years of age)
PPV23 (from 2 years of age)
InfluenzaAnnual flu vaccine
DiabetesPneumococcalPCV13 (up to 10 years of age)
PPV23 (from 2 years of age)
InfluenzaAnnual flu vaccine
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) (including haemodialysis)haemodialysis)
Pneumococcal (stage 4 and 5 CKD)
PCV13 (up to 10 years of age)
PPV23 (from 2 years of age)
Influenza (stage 3, 4 and 5 CKD)Annual flu vaccine
Hepatitis B (stage 4 and 5 CKD)Hepatitis B
Chronic liver conditionsPneumococcalPCV13 (up to 10 years of age)
PPV23 (from 2 years of age)
InfluenzaAnnual flu vaccine
Hepatitis AHepatitis A
Hepatitis BHepatitis B
HaemophiliaHepatitis AHepatitis A
Hepatitis BHepatitis B
Immunosuppression due to disease or treatmentPneumococcalPCV13 (up to 10 years of age)
PPV23 (from 2 years of age)
Shingles vaccineShingrix – over 50 years of age
InfluenzaAnnual flu vaccine
Complement disorders (including those receiving complement inhibitor therapy)Meningococcal groups A, B, C, W and YMenACWY
MenB
PneumococcalPCV13 (up to 10 years of age)
PPV23 (from 2 years of age)
InfluenzaAnnual flu vaccine

Extra vaccines may be offered to people with long-term health conditions or weakened immune systems.

As we said, the red book will have records of childhood vaccinations, as will the records held by GP surgeries. You may also see your jab history by logging into our online system.

If you believe you, your child, or someone else you care for has missed any vital vaccinations, please get in touch with as soon as possible.

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