It is recommended that, for the time being, all pregnant women should get vaccinated against whooping cough (pertussis) when they are 28-38 weeks pregnant. This is a new recommendation, as there has been a sharp rise in the number of whooping cough cases in the UK. If you have not had the Pertussis vaccination and you are between 28 and 38 weeks pregnant please contact the surgery.
Getting vaccinated while you are pregnant may help to protect your baby from developing whooping cough in his or her first few weeks of life. The immunity you get from the vaccine will pass to your baby through the placenta. Babies are not vaccinated against whooping cough until they are two months old.