Another baby dead of whooping cough

[PaminaMozart]

I'm not pregnant - too old - but wanted to draw attention to the fact that 10 babies have died in England since last November. It seems the rate of vaccinated mothers has declined from 72.6% to just 58,9% over the past 7 years:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/08/whooping-cough-baby-dies-england-ukhsa

Babies can first be vaccinated against the disease when eight weeks old, while pregnant women are advised to get the vaccine at between 16 and 32 weeks.

It's scary. I hadn't seen any babies with whooping cough in years, then admitted a couple in the last month, one of whom seriously looked like they might need intensive care, though thankfully got away without.

Baby death very sad. I’ve had 2 pregnancies in last 3 years. 2 different hospitals. Self employed so no paid time off for appointments. Went to all baby appointments and was told something vague about turning up somewhere for the whooping cough vaccine. I asked if I could have a fixed appointment time and was told no I have to turn up and wait. I couldn’t afford more time off work for potentially a long wait so on balance I couldn’t get my this top up vaccine (obviously had it when younger). Looked at getting it privately and couldn’t find it offered anywhere. If they made this easier and gave working (and all) women fixed appointments there might be a higher uptake. 2 London hospitals for context. Not all conspiracy theorists why uptake might be declining just practicalities.

I had the vaccine in pregnancy with DD3 and she had her vaccines at 8/12/16 weeks and she still got whooping cough just before her first birthday, it was horrendous and I can’t imagine how much worse it would have been had she not been vaccinated or if she’d caught it when she was tiny, it lasted for ages too, she’s only just stopped coughing now, 6 weeks later. I’m pregnant again and even though I did have quite a bad reaction to the vaccine last time there’s no way I would consider not having it

@WhoOfWhoville - midwife job to do this. Practice Nurses have 10 mins to give a pertussis vaccine to a pregnant woman. Unless you are a nurse giving this vaccine- stay in your lane

No

Get your vaccines everyone!!

Absolutely not true. And REALLY unfair

We're you pregnant?

This is really disappointing to hear. Th is is a vital part of your maternity care. This is what happens when the lines are blurred regarding who is COMMISSIONED to give a vaccine to a cohort of patients

They were doing drop in at the antenatal clinic in the hospital, my partner (same sex had it). Yiu can have it from 2nd trimester, so can drop by at the 20 weeks scan appointment. We’ve had so many decades of freedom from these illnesses, people have forgotten how serious they are and how vaccination freed children and babies from them all. Very sad

That's quite terrifying, the vaccine isn't for you! The whole point it's given in the later stages of pregnancy is so the mother makes antibodies that pass through to the baby.
I despair!

@RagzRebooted @ringoutsolsticebells I know, it's not great is it? She was a nice lady, had just clearly got something incorrect stuck in her head! I was probably more persistent in getting it because my dad had whopping cough and he was very ill with it, so really didn't want to take any chances.

Yes you can- you would have to pay and travel but there are places that do it.

Totally happened to me and others. You sound typical for the NHS - minimising and dismissing patients experiences and no motivation to improve. You should join the NHS if you don't already work for them - perfect fit!!

There's a huge amount of deliberate (IMO) anti-vaccine disinformation across all social media platforms currently.

And many parent are falling for it.

Childhood vaccination rates are falling. Really worrying

I read about this aswell so had the vaccine today, at 24 weeks. Not worth the risk of not having it.

I had whooping cough in 2016 in the last outbreak - I can confirm it's horrible and you don't want it! If you are eligible for the vaccine, take it. I was coughing for months and choking when anything irritated my throat for ages.

I agree it is unfair to generalise - However I have to say that the experience described has been identical to that of several people I know, which does lead you to worry ( perhaps irrationally) that some GPs are not recognising it early enough, and not testing for it? 🤔

Jeez that's shocking!

She should be retrained!

Not here for a vaccination debate but my guess would be distrust of government since COVID. Again, not saying the covid vaccine was bad but with everything that came out about the corrupt government and politicians I think people are second guessing everything. I had the whooping couch vaccine when pregnant but refused the covid booster as I had an extreme reaction to my initial jab, the nurse said it was the right thing to do. I was worried about having the whooping cough one incase it caused any similar reaction but they checked the ingredients against each for me.

Also my community midwife told me she never had the whooping cough with her children and she’s just told to tell people they need it…I relayed this to the midwives at the hospital (my community care was so poor I just ended up dealing with the hospital instead who were brilliant) and they were outraged! I found it really unhelpful of her as a first time mum who was pretty much clueless!

She did however ask me who did my Botox..I was expecting her to tell me how I couldn’t have it done when pregnant (which I already knew) but she instead said she did Botox if ever I needed it after 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄

I asked with my first and they said next visit, next visit they said you have a bit of a cold let’s do that next visit, the visit after I was 32 weeks and they said you had to have that done at your 25 week check, we can’t do it here now but make a gp appt and ask for it (different midwife every time obviously) and I said I’m not leaving this hospital until you’ve given me the whooping cough vaccine, waited 20 minutes and someone came and gave it to me. I know that’s not the key driver for the rate dropping but it does contribute.

@Teatimeandbooks you’d lose a lot more time off work if you catch it and become ill or if your baby did. As well as you risking their life as it’s rife again now due to lack of vaccination.

On balance of ensure you had it, realistically you won’t be waiting all day

@ringoutsolsticebells
Yes was pregnant otherwise wouldn't have had a midwife. The maternity app from hospital was reminding me to have the booster so it was definitely a current recommendation.

I had friends in next borough over that couldn't get childhood vaccinations done when due either during Covid so I don't think my experience was particularly unusual.