Vaccination Rates Among Pregnant Women Rise, Protecting Newborns from Whooping Cough
Recent data indicates a significant increase in whooping cough vaccinations among pregnant women in England, with coverage reaching 72.9% for those giving birth in September 2025. This marks an improvement from 64.4% in the same period the previous year, driven by health campaigns in response to a notable outbreak last year.
Vaccination Coverage Improvement
The latest statistics from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveal that the vaccination rate for women who delivered between July and September 2025 climbed to 71.9%, a substantial rise from the preceding year. Health authorities attribute this increase to enhanced efforts encouraging expectant mothers to get vaccinated, particularly following the surge of nearly 15,000 whooping cough cases in 2024.
The monthly vaccination rates showed consistent growth throughout the summer, advancing from 70.9% in July to 72.9% by September 2025. This increase follows urgent calls from health officials in light of a dramatic rise in whooping cough cases, which peaked at over 3,000 incidences in May 2024.
Significance of the Vaccine
Vaccination during pregnancy is crucial as it provides babies with immunity from whooping cough until they can receive their first vaccination at eight weeks of age. The whooping cough vaccine is typically administered to expectant mothers during their mid-pregnancy scan, usually around 20 weeks. For optimal protection, it is best given by the 32nd week, though it can still be administered later if necessary.
Information shows that timely vaccination can offer as much as 91% protection against infant deaths attributed to whooping cough. Tragically, 11 fatalities among babies occurred in England last year due to the disease.
Expert Insight
Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director for Immunisation at UKHSA, praised the advancements in vaccination rates while urging healthcare professionals to continue offering the vaccine to every pregnant woman at the best possible time. She emphasized the importance of this vaccine as the most effective means to safeguard newborns during their vulnerable initial weeks.
“If you are pregnant and nearing 20 weeks without having been offered the whooping cough vaccine, please consult your midwife or GP today to learn about vaccination options,” she stated.
Geographical Variance in Vaccination Rates
The uptake of the whooping cough vaccine varies significantly across different regions of the UK. The South West records the highest vaccination rate at 78.9%, while London reported a lower rate of 64.4%. However, London has seen a notable increase in immunisation rates, rising from 35.5% in September 2023 to 65.1% in September 2025.
Understanding Whooping Cough
Known medically as pertussis, whooping cough is a bacterial infection that severely affects the lungs. Early symptoms resemble those of a common cold, including a runny nose and sore throat. After about a week, the condition can escalate into severe coughing fits that may last several minutes and are often more pronounced at night. Importantly, not all infants will produce the characteristic ‘whoop’ sound, making the illness difficult to diagnose in young babies.
Source: official statements, news agencies, and public reports.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/latest-figures-show-strong-uptake-of-whooping-cough-vaccine-in-pregnancy
