Whooping cough can be a serious illness for babies, especially those under 6 months old. In fact, about half of babies under 6 months of age who contract whooping cough require hospitalisation.
Young babies with whooping cough often experience uncontrollable coughing fits that can last for several minutes. These coughing fits can make it difficult for babies to breathe and can cause them to turn blue. Whooping cough can also cause babies to vomit and to have difficulty feeding.
Other complications of whooping cough in young babies include pneumonia, apnea (pauses in breathing that last for more than 20 seconds), and seizures. Whooping cough can also damage the brain, leading to long-term problems such as learning disabilities and developmental delays. In some cases, whooping cough will lead to death.
Fortunately, the whooping cough vaccine is very effective at protecting babies from whooping cough. . In a recent Australian study of over 250 000 pregnant women who were vaccinated against whooping cough, their babies were 70% less likely to get whooping cough in the first few months of life compared to the babies of mothers who didn’t have the vaccine in pregnancy.
The whooping cough vaccine is safe, effective and free for pregnant women. It is given as a single injection during pregnancy, usually between 20 and 32 weeks.
If you are pregnant, please talk to your GP, obstetrician, midwife or pharmacist about getting vaccinated against whooping cough. It is the best way to protect your baby from this serious illness.