Cost of living crisis may be factor in low whooping cough jab rates, experts say

London had the lowest vaccination rate, with 86.2% of children having taken the three doses of the vaccine at 12 months compared with 95.6% in the north-east. Photograph: vgajic/Getty Images

Public health officials are facing calls to improve whooping cough vaccine rates in England’s most deprived areas, with experts fearing the housing and cost of living crises may be contributing to low uptake.

Rates of people having taken the six-in-one vaccine, which protects against whooping cough among other diseases, is at the lowest level in the 10% most deprived local authorities in England, according to a Guardian analysis of UK Health Security Agency data.