Three more babies die of whooping cough as cases surge

Health officials describe whooping cough as a “cyclical disease”, which means it peaks every few years. With whooping cough, the cycle is every three to five years.

The last big increase was seen in 2016, but cases dipped to very low numbers during the coronavirus pandemic which means the current peak is “overdue”, experts have said.

The impact of the pandemic also means there is reduced immunity in the population.

UKHSA says uptake of the vaccine has fallen in recent years – both for pregnant women and for children.

When a baby is eight weeks old, the six-in-one vaccine, which includes immunisation against whooping cough, is offered.

The second dose of the vaccine is offered at 12 weeks and the third is offered at 16 weeks.

When children are three years and four months they will be offered the four-in-one pre-school booster, which also protects against whooping cough.

Early signs of infection can be missed

The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are typically worse at night.

Young babies may also make a distinctive “whoop” or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing. However, not all babies make this noise, which means whooping cough can be hard to recognise.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, the national medical director for NHS England, said: “With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country, and today’s figures from UKHSA sadly showing further infant deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need.

“NHS teams are working hard to ensure local vaccination services are easily accessible for all through GP practices and some maternity services, and we urge all pregnant women to get vaccinated to help protect their babies in the first few weeks of their life.

“Parents should also ensure that their children get protected in the first few months after birth as part of the routine NHS vaccine offer.

“If you or your child have symptoms of whooping cough, ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.”