An outbreak of pertussis has been ongoing in the UK since the beginning of 2024. The number of pertussis cases from Jan – May 2024 was 7,599 (UKHSA). Pertussis outbreaks tend to cycle every few years with 6000 cases in 2016 being the last big UK outbreak and around 24 million cases a year globally.
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways.
More info is available here: https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/whooping-cough/
Vaccination
Pertussis vaccination is offered in the UK to all pregnant women, babies (at 8,12 & 16 weeks) and children age 3yrs4m.
A dose of pertussis containing vaccine during pregnancy prevents around 78% of pertussis cases in newborn babies.
Vaccine coverage has dropped in recent years. Maternal vaccine uptake was 70% in 2017, but only 58% in 2023.
The percentage of children vaccinated by their first birthday dropped slightly from around 93% just prior to the pandemic to 92% in 2022-2023.
A similar drop (from 85 percent to 83 percent) is seen with the booster dose children can have prior to their fifth birthday.
This drop in coverage may be contributing to the current outbreak.
The UK, like most countries does not recommend cocooning (vaccinating those adults around a baby) but instead recognises the importance of maternal vaccine in the third trimester to create maternal antibodies to support baby until they can have their first immunisation at 8 weeks.
While UK guidancedoes not routinely recommend a pertussis vaccine in adults, an extra dose is considered safe. If someone has been particularly advised to have whooping cough vaccine from a specialist (due to risk or vulnerability) then a GP referral or provision is more appropriate.
If it is a patient choice, for example travelling to visit a baby in a country where they have been requested to have pertussis immunisation to visit, then they may wish to discuss private provision with us. Prices are available here: https://services.nhslothian.scot/travelclinics/nhs-lothian-travel-clinics-our-services/
