It’s recommended that, for the time being, all pregnant women should get vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis) when they are 16-32 weeks pregnant. This is a new recommendation, as there has been a sharp rise in the number of whooping cough cases in the UK.
Getting vaccinated while you’re pregnant may help to protect your baby from developing whooping cough in his or her first few weeks of life. The immunity you get from the vaccine will pass to your baby through the placenta. Babies are not vaccinated against whooping cough until they are two months old.
- Your midwife should have informed you about the vaccination and arranged for this to be done at one of your routine antenatal visits. If you have not received the vaccine and are over 28 weeks pregnant please discuss this with your midwife.