Vaccination call after rise in whooping cough cases in NI

Health chiefs have issued a vaccination call following a significant rise in whooping cough cases in Northern Ireland.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has urged pregnant women and the parents of young children to book appointments for the pertussis vaccine after revealing there have been 72 confirmed cases of whooping cough (pertussis) so far this year in Northern Ireland, compared with just two between 2021 and 2023.

Louise Flanagan, consultant in public health at the PHA, said: "Whooping cough spreads very easily and can make babies and young children in particular very ill, and sadly can even be fatal in young babies or people with health conditions.

"However, the good news is that it can be prevented through vaccination, so it's really important that parents get their babies vaccinated against it as part of the childhood vaccination programme, and that pregnant women also get vaccinated, as this will help protect their unborn baby from getting whooping cough in the weeks after birth.

"Whooping cough is a disease that can cause long bouts of coughing and choking, which can make it hard to breathe.

"The evidence shows that babies born to vaccinated mothers are 90% less likely to get the disease than babies whose mothers were unvaccinated.

"Whooping cough tends to circulate in greater numbers in Northern Ireland every three to four years.

"Currently we are seeing an increase, so it is a timely reminder of the importance of vaccination."

Ms Flanagan added: "Young babies are at greatest risk of developing more serious disease, so it is very important that women take the offer of pertussis vaccine during each pregnancy so that their baby is protected against whooping cough after they are born, and that they continue that vaccination journey after their baby is born, getting them vaccinated, starting from when they are two months old as part of the childhood vaccination programme.

"The best time for women to get the vaccine is between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, but vaccine can be beneficial even if given later.

"Whooping cough vaccines are given at GP practices so make sure to make an appointment to get it."

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. Symptoms are similar to a cold at first but after about a week patients will get coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night.

Young babies may also make a distinctive "whoop" or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing.

The condition spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems.

The whooping cough vaccine is also given as part of the childhood vaccination programme to children at age eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age and at age three years four months.

The PHA said there has been a decrease in the percentage of children and pregnant women receiving the whooping cough vaccination in Northern Ireland.