Public health midwives supporting births across Northern Lincolnshire are encouraging vaccination from whooping cough during pregnancy following the death of a baby.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed the baby died between January and June this year after its mother did not receive the whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy.
Today, Leanne Ellis, consultant midwife in public health, said: “This, very sadly, shows the very real consequences of not getting vaccinated during pregnancy. It’s a personal tragedy for the family involved but highlights what whooping cough can be so serious in infants.”
Sarah Wise, consultant midwife in public health, said the whooping cough vaccination has been given during pregnancy for 13 years and a study of around 20,000 vaccinations found no evidence of risks to pregnancy or unborn babies.
She said: “Rather than putting your baby at risk, scientific research proves vaccination against whooping cough is the best way you can protect your child in those first few weeks.”
Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs and airways, causing long bouts of coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe. The “whoop” is caused by gasping for breath after each bout of coughing, though babies do not always make this noise. However, it can be very serious in young babies, most of whom will require time in hospital to help them recover.
Research into the deaths of 32 babies who died from whooping cough between 2013 and 2025 showed 26 had mothers who hadn’t received the vaccine in pregnancy. Eleven babies died of whooping cough last year and this case, announced at the weekend by the UKHSA, is the first this year.
Vaccination in pregnancy passes immunity to your baby through the placenta in the same way as they receive nutrients and vitamins and protects them until they receive their own vaccination against whooping cough at eight weeks old. As well as protecting your baby, you’re also lowering your own risk of infection and so lowering the risk of passing whopping cough to your child.
You should have the whooping cough vaccine around the time of your mid-pregnancy scan, usually at 20 weeks pregnant, but you can have it from 16 weeks and you should get vaccinated before 32 weeks to give your baby the best possible protection. Speak to your midwife about booking an appointment.
