Pertussis vaccination
Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination in pregnancy
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly infectious bacterial infection that can be very serious for young babies.
Babies are particularly vulnerable to whooping cough in the first few weeks of life, before they are old enough to start their routine childhood vaccinations.
Having the whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy helps protect your baby from birth.
When should I have the whooping cough vaccine?
The whooping cough vaccine is usually offered at around 20 weeks of pregnancy, around the time of your mid-pregnancy scan.
However, you can have the vaccine from 16 weeks of pregnancy.
For the best protection for your baby, you should ideally have the vaccination before 32 weeks of pregnancy.
If you miss the vaccine before 32 weeks, you can still have it later in pregnancy. However, having it earlier gives your body more time to produce protective antibodies and pass them to your baby before birth.
If you are 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the whooping cough vaccine, please speak to your midwife or contact the practice.
How does the vaccine protect my baby?
When you are vaccinated, your body produces antibodies against whooping cough.
These antibodies pass through the placenta to your baby, helping to protect them during their first few weeks of life, when they are most vulnerable to serious illness from whooping cough.
Your baby will still need routine childhood vaccinations, including vaccination against whooping cough, starting at 8 weeks of age.
Do I need the vaccine in every pregnancy?
Yes.
You should have the whooping cough vaccination during every pregnancy, even if you:
- had the vaccine during a previous pregnancy
- were vaccinated against whooping cough as a child
- have previously had whooping cough
This helps make sure each baby receives the best possible protection.
Is the whooping cough vaccine safe during pregnancy?
Yes. The whooping cough vaccination has been routinely offered to pregnant women in the UK since 2012, and its safety continues to be monitored.
The vaccine used does not contain live whooping cough bacteria and cannot cause whooping cough in you or your baby.
Some people may experience mild side effects after vaccination, such as soreness, redness, or swelling where the injection was given, headache, or feeling tired. These usually settle within a few days.
How can I get the vaccine?
You may be offered the vaccination as part of your routine antenatal care.
If you are 20 weeks pregnant or more and have not yet been offered the vaccination, please speak to your midwife or contact Ainsdale Medical Centre.
For further information, please visit the NHS – Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy webpage.