Babies who are too young to get vaccinated are at a higher risk of contracting whooping cough. The whooping cough vaccine is advised for pregnant women as it's highly effective in protecting the baby from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks after birth.
The bacterial infection found in the lungs and breathing tubes spreads very easily and babies under six months have an increased chance of problems. In most cases young babies with whooping cough will be admitted to hospital , and particularly severe cases can be fatal.
Whooping cough involves rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound, vomiting and tiredness. It is contagious for up to three weeks, from six days after the start of cold-like symptoms and it can easily be caught.
