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Whooping cough jabs for newborns considered in outbreak Whooping cough epidemic means newborn babies may get jabs
(about 2 hours later)
Babies may be first innoculated against whooping cough at birth rather than at two months because of a burgeoning epidemic that has claimed the lives of six infants this year. Babies may be first inoculated against whooping cough at birth rather than at two months because of a burgeoning epidemic that has claimed the lives of six infants this year.
The number of confirmed cases of the disease in England and Wales in the first seven months of 2012 is three times the total in 2008, the last time there was a major outbreak. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has asked the government's vaccination advisers to look at a number of options including immunising newborns. The number of confirmed cases of the disease in England and Wales in the first seven months of 2012 is three times the total in 2008, the last time there was a major outbreak.
The vaccination is usually given to babies at two, three and four months as part of a five-in-one dose, which also covers tetanus, polio, diptheria and Haemophilus influenzae type B. A booster is given before children start school. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has asked the government's vaccination advisers to look at a number of options including immunising newborns.
The government's joint committee on vaccination and immunisation is also looking at whether to immunise pregnant women and the families of newborns and offer boosters for teenagers. It has recommended the innoculation of healthcare workers in close contact with babies. The vaccination is usually given to babies at two, three and four months as part of a five-in-one dose, which also covers tetanus, polio, diphtheria and Haemophilus influenzae type B. A booster is given before children start school.
The government's joint committee on vaccination and immunisation is also looking at whether to immunise pregnant women and the families of newborns and offer boosters for teenagers. It has recommended the inoculation of healthcare workers in close contact with babies.
The epidemic started last year and the HPA said 1,047 cases of whooping cough were reported last month, bringing the total number of cases so far this year to 3,523. There were 1,118 cases in the whole of 2011 and 908 in 2008.The epidemic started last year and the HPA said 1,047 cases of whooping cough were reported last month, bringing the total number of cases so far this year to 3,523. There were 1,118 cases in the whole of 2011 and 908 in 2008.
The ongoing outbreak is mainly in teenagers and young adults, but there are also high numbers of cases in very young babies – 235 cases have been reported in infants under three months this year, compared with 112 cases in 2008.The ongoing outbreak is mainly in teenagers and young adults, but there are also high numbers of cases in very young babies – 235 cases have been reported in infants under three months this year, compared with 112 cases in 2008.
The HPA says babies are at highest risk of severe complications and death from whooping cough as they do not get the benefits from vaccination until they are about four months old. In older children and adults whooping cough can be an unpleasant illness but it does not usually lead to serious complications. The HPA says babies are at highest risk of severe complications and death from whooping cough as they do not get the benefits from vaccination until they are about four months old.
In older children and adults, whooping cough can be an unpleasant illness but does not usually lead to serious complications.
The disease is highly infectious and spreads when a person with the infection coughs and sheds the bacteria, which is then inhaled by another person.The disease is highly infectious and spreads when a person with the infection coughs and sheds the bacteria, which is then inhaled by another person.
Gayatri Amirthalingam, an expert in immunisation at the HPA, said: "We are very concerned about the continuing increase in cases. Parents should ensure that their children are vaccinated on time so that they are protected at the earliest opportunity and be alert to the signs and symptoms – which include severe coughing fits accompanied by the characteristic 'whoop' sound in young children, but as a prolonged cough in older children or adults. We also advise parents to keep their babies away from older siblings or adults who have the infection." Gayatri Amirthalingam, an expert in immunisation at the HPA, said: "We are very concerned about the continuing increase in cases.
Before vaccination became routinely available in 1957, large epidemics occurred every three to five years in the UK. These epidemics affected up to 150,000 people and contributed to about 300 deaths annually. Blood tests rather than clinical diagnosis have been used to confirm tests in recent years and improved awareness among GPs may be contributing to the increase in numbers of laboratory confirmed cases, according to the HPA. "Parents should ensure that their children are vaccinated on time so that they are protected at the earliest opportunity and be alert to the signs and symptoms – which include severe coughing fits accompanied by the characteristic 'whoop' sound in young children, but as a prolonged cough in older children or adults.
"We also advise parents to keep their babies away from older siblings or adults who have the infection."
Before vaccination became routinely available in 1957, large epidemics occurred every three to five years in the UK. These epidemics affected up to 150,000 people and contributed to about 300 deaths annually.
Blood tests rather than clinical diagnosis have been used to confirm tests in recent years and improved awareness among GPs may be contributing to the increase in numbers of laboratory confirmed cases, according to the HPA.