There’s a growing call for expecting mothers to consider getting vaccinated against whooping cough following an increase in reported cases.
The UK Health Security Agency, UKHSA, noted 72 suspected cases in the East of England, with 22 in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough by the week ending 12 May.
Pregnant women are encouraged to receive the whooping cough vaccine after 16 weeks, as the bacterial infection poses a serious risk to newborns.
UKVAS highlighted a decline in vaccination uptake among pregnant women and infants nationwide.
Initially, whooping cough symptoms resemble a common cold, including a fever, runny nose, and persistent cough.
However, the illness can progress to intense coughing fits with a distinctive “whoop” sound, along with breathing difficulties.
England and Wales have reported 2,793 confirmed cases this year, with five infant fatalities between January and March.
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