The UK, particularly England, is facing a concerning outbreak of whooping cough (pertussis). This highly contagious respiratory illness can be especially dangerous for young infants, and tragically, five babies have already lost their lives in the whooping cough outbreak between January and March 2024.
How Serious is the Current Outbreak?
Over 2,700 cases of whooping cough have been reported in England so far in 2024, already exceeding the total cases reported in all of 2023. This suggests a significant increase in whooping cough cases compared to the previous year.
But, Why is this Happening Now?
Let’s break down the reasons behind this outbreak:
- Cyclical Pattern: Whooping cough cases tend to peak every 3-5 years. The last major peak occurred in 2016, and with lower case numbers during the pandemic, a rise was anticipated.
- Decreased Vaccination Rates: Unfortunately, there’s been a decline in whooping cough vaccination uptake among both pregnant women and children.
- Waning Immunity: Childhood whooping cough vaccinations offer protection, but this immunity weakens over time, leaving teenagers and adults more susceptible.
This combination of factors has created a situation where more people are vulnerable to whooping cough, leading to the current outbreak.
Who is Most at Risk?
While infants are most vulnerable to whooping cough due to their underdeveloped immune systems, it’s important to remember that whooping cough can affect all age groups. Pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are also at higher risk of complications from whooping cough.
Thankfully, there’s a highly effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones: the whooping cough vaccine. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and others. The whooping cough vaccine is included in the routine childhood vaccinations in the UK, and pregnant women are also encouraged to get vaccinated to protect their newborns.
Why Did People Stop Having the Whooping Cough Vaccine?
In the past, there were concerns about side effects associated with the whole-cell pertussis vaccine, an earlier version of the whooping cough vaccine used in children. While these concerns have been disproved by extensive research. The currently used acellular pertussis vaccine has a much milder side effect profile.
The success of childhood vaccinations has led to a decrease in whooping cough cases in many countries. This can lead some people to believe the disease is no longer a serious threat, making them less likely to vaccinate themselves or their children. This combined with the rise of anti-vaccine movements and the spread of misinformation online has contributed to a general hesitancy towards vaccination in some communities. This can lead to parents delaying or refusing vaccinations for their children, including the whooping cough vaccine.
Here are the most common concerns about the whooping cough vaccine, and perhaps our GPs can put your mind at rest, allowing you to arrange your and your baby’s vaccination.
Concern: The whooping cough vaccine causes serious side effects.
No. The acellular pertussis vaccine is safe. While some mild side effects like soreness or redness at the injection site can occur, these are usually temporary and resolve on their own. Serious side effects are extremely rare.
Concern: Getting whooping cough naturally provides better immunity than vaccination.
Actually, a vaccine provides superior and longer-lasting immunity compared to natural infection. Additionally, natural infection with whooping cough can be very serious, especially for infants.
Concern: Vaccines overload the immune system.
Not at all. The immune system is designed to handle exposure to many antigens (substances that trigger an immune response) at once. Vaccines only introduce a tiny fraction of the antigens a child would encounter in their natural environment.
How the Whooping Cough Vaccine Protects You and Your Loved Ones (Especially Newborns)
The whooping cough vaccine has a well-established safety record. It’s rigorously tested and monitored by health authorities like the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to ensure its safety and effectiveness. Like any medication, there may be mild side effects like soreness at the injection site, but serious side effects are extremely rare.
It is a highly effective form of protection for infants. Studies conducted on the UK NHS whooping cough vaccination program for pregnant women have shown remarkable effectiveness:
- Over 90% reduction in whooping cough cases in infants less than 3 months old whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy. This is a significant statistic, highlighting the critical protection passed from mother to baby.
- Up to 92% protection against whooping cough death in infants. This demonstrates the life-saving potential of whooping cough vaccination during pregnancy.
How the Vaccine Works
The whooping cough vaccine is a combination vaccine protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (DTaP vaccine for children and Tdap for adults and pregnant women). It works by exposing your body to weakened or inactive forms of the whooping cough bacteria. This helps your immune system develop antibodies that can effectively fight off a real whooping cough infection in the future.
Recommended Doses
For Children, a series of DTaP vaccinations is recommended at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, and a pre-school booster at 3-4 years old, followed by another booster (Tdap) at 12-13 years old.
For Pregnant Women, the Tdap vaccine is recommended to pregnant women ideally between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. This vaccination helps pass protective antibodies to the baby through the placenta, shielding them from whooping cough in their most vulnerable first few months of life.
The Vaccination Strategy
- Children: Ensure your child receives all the recommended DTaP vaccinations according to the NHS schedule. Keep their vaccination records up-to-date.
- Pregnant Women: Discuss whooping cough vaccination with your midwife or GP at your antenatal appointments. Ideally, get vaccinated between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.
Each dose of the vaccine builds upon the previous one, strengthening your immunity; therefore, completing the vaccination schedule is crucial. Skipping or delaying vaccinations leaves you and your child vulnerable to whooping cough.
Beyond Vaccination: Additional Preventive Measures
While vaccination is the most effective way to prevent whooping cough, other measures can further reduce the risk of transmission:
- Frequent Handwashing: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before and after contact with a sick person.
- Cough Etiquette: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of the tissue properly.
- Limiting Contact with Sick People: If you or someone you know has whooping cough, avoid close contact with others, especially infants, until they have completed the course of antibiotics.
By following these steps and getting vaccinated, you can significantly reduce the risk of whooping cough for yourself, your family, and your community. Remember, vaccination is not just about protecting yourself; it’s about protecting those around you, especially vulnerable newborns.
With the whooping cough outbreak real and cases soaring by the day, make sure you and your family are protected. Don’t wait on NHS lists, get booked in today to receive your whooping cough vaccine. If you have any questions or concerns reach out to our GPs today.