Whooping cough vaccination reminder for mums-to-be

Swindon Borough Council has issued a reminder about the life-saving whooping cough vaccination.

Whooping cough (Pertussis) is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems, including pneumonia, permanent brain damage and sometimes death.
A council spokesperson said: "It's important for babies and children to get vaccinated against it.
"We're reminding mums-to-be to get protected against whooping cough - ideally between 16 and 32 weeks - so that their young baby has protection from birth against this serious disease and to ask their midwife if they’re unsure about receiving the vaccination.
"The whooping cough vaccine has been used safely with pregnant women and their babies in the UK for over 10 years. Getting the vaccine reduces your baby’s risk by over 90 per cent.
"The immunity your newborn baby gets from your vaccination will give protection through the very early weeks of life until the baby can have a first routine vaccination at two months of age."
The council is also urging parents to check that their children are vaccinated against whooping cough, which is offered to all infants at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age as part of the six-in-one combination vaccine, with an additional dose included in the pre-school booster vaccine.
The spokesperson added: "If you’re pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet, or your child is not up to date with whooping cough or other routine vaccinations, please contact your GP as soon as possible. 

"If you or your child have symptoms ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111."