Protection Against Whooping Cough

29th September 2012

Pregnant women will be vaccinated against whooping cough to protect their newborn babies following a rise in cases amongst young infants.

The vaccination programme aims to boost the short-term immunity passed on by pregnant women to protect their newborn babies - who normally cannot be vaccinated until they are eight weeks old.

The temporary programme to vaccinate against whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is due to begin in October, and will initially run for six months.

The latest figures from Health Protection Scotland show 1037 laboratory confirmed cases of whooping cough have been reported this year, and 65 of these cases were in infants under three months of age.

This compares to a total number of 61 confirmed cases during the same period in 2011.

Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson said: "We know that whooping cough is highly contagious and it can be most serious for young babies under the age of one.

"Over recent months we have seen an increase in cases of whooping cough, and this vaccination programme aims to give newborn babies the protection they need.

"It's also important that parents ensure their children are vaccinated through the Childhood Vaccination Programme, to help stop further spread of the virus."

Chief Medical Officer Sir Harry Burns added:"Whooping cough in older children and adults is generally mild, but it may spread to younger, more vulnerable infants and babies.

"Although no infants in Scotland have died as a result of whooping cough this year, there have been 65 cases of the disease in children under three months old.

"All children are already offered vaccination against the infection when they are eight weeks old, and uptake is very high at over 95 per cent.

"However, very young babies cannot be vaccinated and for the first few months of life they are very vulnerable. It is vital that when there is more whooping cough circulating we do all we can protect these newborns and vaccinating pregnant women is the best way to do that."

For more information about immunisation in Scotland see -
http://www.immunisationscotland.org.uk/vaccines-and-diseases/whooping-cough.aspx