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Whooping cough outbreak: Pregnant women to be vaccinated | Whooping cough outbreak: Pregnant women to be vaccinated |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News | By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News |
Hundreds of thousands of pregnant women across the UK are to be offered a whooping cough vaccine to protect babies from an escalating outbreak of the disease. | Hundreds of thousands of pregnant women across the UK are to be offered a whooping cough vaccine to protect babies from an escalating outbreak of the disease. |
Very young babies are at the greatest risk of serious complications. Ten have died in the UK this year. | Very young babies are at the greatest risk of serious complications. Ten have died in the UK this year. |
The injection, available from Monday, should boost a mother's defences, which are then passed onto the baby. | The injection, available from Monday, should boost a mother's defences, which are then passed onto the baby. |
Health officials say there are no safety concerns about the vaccine. | Health officials say there are no safety concerns about the vaccine. |
There are surges in whooping cough cases every three to four years and the latest outbreak started at the end of 2011. It is already the worst for more than a decade. | There are surges in whooping cough cases every three to four years and the latest outbreak started at the end of 2011. It is already the worst for more than a decade. |
Unprotected | Unprotected |
Babies under six months of age are the most vulnerable. They are too young to be protected by routine vaccination, which starts at two months of age. | Babies under six months of age are the most vulnerable. They are too young to be protected by routine vaccination, which starts at two months of age. |
The infection can stop the baby breathing or lead to pneumonia, brain damage, weight loss and death. | The infection can stop the baby breathing or lead to pneumonia, brain damage, weight loss and death. |
Women who are between 28 and 38 weeks pregnant are to be offered a combined whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccine. About 730,000 women a year could be given the vaccine. | Women who are between 28 and 38 weeks pregnant are to be offered a combined whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccine. About 730,000 women a year could be given the vaccine. |
Prof David Salisbury, the director of immunisation at the Department of Health, said: "We're boosting the mother to protect the baby. We can't protect babies until they are eight weeks, but their mothers can." | Prof David Salisbury, the director of immunisation at the Department of Health, said: "We're boosting the mother to protect the baby. We can't protect babies until they are eight weeks, but their mothers can." |
The mother's immune system should respond to the injection by producing whooping cough antibodies, which then cross the placenta into the developing child. | The mother's immune system should respond to the injection by producing whooping cough antibodies, which then cross the placenta into the developing child. |
This should provide enough protection until the baby has its first routine vaccine. | This should provide enough protection until the baby has its first routine vaccine. |
Women are being advised to have the vaccine even if they have been vaccinated before and that they should be vaccinated during all subsequent pregnancies. | Women are being advised to have the vaccine even if they have been vaccinated before and that they should be vaccinated during all subsequent pregnancies. |
Prof Salisbury said the safety of the vaccine was "excellent" and there were "no concerns" about using the vaccine during pregnancy, although some women would develop a fever. | Prof Salisbury said the safety of the vaccine was "excellent" and there were "no concerns" about using the vaccine during pregnancy, although some women would develop a fever. |
"There is a clear benefit and no evidence of risk," he said. | "There is a clear benefit and no evidence of risk," he said. |
Outbreak | Outbreak |
Before routine vaccination in 1957, whooping cough outbreaks in the UK were on a huge scale. It could affect up to 150,000 people and kill 300 in a single year. | Before routine vaccination in 1957, whooping cough outbreaks in the UK were on a huge scale. It could affect up to 150,000 people and kill 300 in a single year. |
The latest figures from the Health Protection Agency reported 4,791 cases in 2012 - 1,230 in August alone. There were only 908 cases in the whole of 2008 during the last outbreak. | The latest figures from the Health Protection Agency reported 4,791 cases in 2012 - 1,230 in August alone. There were only 908 cases in the whole of 2008 during the last outbreak. |
Scotland has reported 508 cases up to mid-June while Northern Ireland had 139 cases up to mid-July. Both figures are significantly higher than for the previous year. | Scotland has reported 508 cases up to mid-June while Northern Ireland had 139 cases up to mid-July. Both figures are significantly higher than for the previous year. |
The chief medical officer for England, Prof Dame Sally Davies, said: "Whooping cough is highly contagious and newborns are particularly vulnerable. | The chief medical officer for England, Prof Dame Sally Davies, said: "Whooping cough is highly contagious and newborns are particularly vulnerable. |
"It's vital that babies are protected from the day they are born - that's why we are offering the vaccine to all pregnant women." | "It's vital that babies are protected from the day they are born - that's why we are offering the vaccine to all pregnant women." |
The vaccine will be offered during routine antenatal appointments with a nurse, midwife or GP. | The vaccine will be offered during routine antenatal appointments with a nurse, midwife or GP. |
The vaccination programme is only temporary to deal with the heightened risk of whooping cough infection during this outbreak. | The vaccination programme is only temporary to deal with the heightened risk of whooping cough infection during this outbreak. |
A similar programme is already under way for pregnant women in the US, although the evidence for its effectiveness is still unclear. | A similar programme is already under way for pregnant women in the US, although the evidence for its effectiveness is still unclear. |
Dr Mary Ramsay, the head of immunisation at the Health Protection Agency (HPA), welcomed the measure. | Dr Mary Ramsay, the head of immunisation at the Health Protection Agency (HPA), welcomed the measure. |
"We have been very concerned about the continuing increase in whooping cough cases and related deaths. | "We have been very concerned about the continuing increase in whooping cough cases and related deaths. |
"It's also important we continue to remind all parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against whooping cough to continue their protection through childhood. | "It's also important we continue to remind all parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against whooping cough to continue their protection through childhood. |
"Parents should also 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. It is also advisable to keep their babies away from older siblings or adults who have the infection." | "Parents should also 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. It is also advisable to keep their babies away from older siblings or adults who have the infection." |
Other groups including the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have backed the scheme. | Other groups including the Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have backed the scheme. |