‘Strong uptake’ of whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy

More than seven in ten pregnant women in England were vaccinated against whooping cough in the latest reported month, following a drive to boost protection after a surge in cases last year.

According to new data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 72.9% of women who gave birth in September 2025 had received the vaccine – the highest monthly rate recorded in the quarter. Overall coverage for women who gave birth in July to September reached 71.9%, up 7.5 percentage points on the same quarter in 2024 when it stood at 64.4%.

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The UKHSA noted that the ‘strong uptake’ in the vaccine follows a significant national outbreak of whooping cough in 2024, when the number of cases peaked at more than 3,000 in May and a total of nearly 15,000 infections were recorded over the year. Eleven infants in England died as a result of the disease.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs. It often begins with cold-like symptoms but can progress to intense coughing fits. In babies, the condition can be life-threatening and may not always present with the characteristic ‘whoop’, making early recognition more difficult.

The vaccine is offered to all pregnant women from 16 weeks of pregnancy, typically around the time of the 20-week scan. It provides protection to newborns during the first two months of life before they receive their first routine immunisation.

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Evidence from England suggests that vaccination in pregnancy offers 91% protection against death from whooping cough in early infancy, the UKHSA said.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director for immunisation at UKHSA, said the new data reflects the ‘tremendous efforts’ of healthcare staff.

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‘We want to ensure every expectant mother is offered the vaccine at the optimal time and understands that this vaccine is the best way to protect their baby during those crucial first weeks after birth,’ she said.

Regional variations in uptake were recorded. The South West registered the highest vaccination rate at 78.9%, while London had the lowest at 64.4%. The capital has, however, seen considerable improvement, with monthly rates climbing from 35.5% in September 2023 to 65.1% in September 2025.