PREGNANT women are being urged to make sure they have their vaccination against whooping cough, after an increase in cases.

Whooping cough – also known as pertussis – is a potentially serious infection that can cause severe illness and even death in young children.

The vaccine was introduced for pregnant women in Wales in 2012, to increase this protection of young babies, but around three in 10 women do not take up the offer of vaccination.

Antibodies are passed on to very young babies through their mothers, and are boosted through immunisation during each pregnancy.

Dr Richard Roberts, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme of Public Health Wales, said: “Newborn babies cannot start to be vaccinated against whooping cough until they are two months old, but are at risk of infection with an increased number of cases in the community this year.

“Our current vaccination uptake rate in pregnant women is 69 per cent, which means that around three in every 10 women remain un-immunised and can’t pass on any protection to their babies.

“Whooping cough can kill, and we are seeing small babies being hospitalised in Wales in the midst of this current increase in cases, so we would urge women who are pregnant to speak to their GP or midwife to arrange vaccination as soon as possible.

“The vaccine is safe and effective and offers the only protection for newborn babies.”

Whooping cough vaccine is available to women who are more than 28 weeks pregnant and ideally should seek to be vaccinated before the 32nd week of pregnancy.

Anyone concerned about their health or the health of their child should speak to their GP or contact NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.