Whooping cough vaccine

[AC786]

Should we be immunised? Does anyone know if there are risks of the vaccine for baby?

[mummy2benji]

No known risks to baby and it is not a live vaccine. They have been giving it to pregnant women in the US for some time with no adverse effects. Whereas the risks to baby of contracting whooping cough before they have had a chance to have their childhood immunisations are much more serious and potentially life-threatening. I'm a GP in S Wales and we have had a large outbreak of whooping cough in our practice area which started in about March / April of this year and is ongoing. I am 36+6 and had my whooping cough (and flu) vaccine 2 days ago. It is ideally given between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy but can be given anytime up until term. It takes mum about 2 weeks to produce the antibodies to the vaccine which then travel across the placenta and provide baby with temporary immunity which lasts a few months, until their own immunisations take place and give them longer-term immunity. The immunity which you get from the whooping cough vacc only lasts for about 4 years. Have a chat to your midwife if you have any concerns or want more info about it though. x