The NHS in the East of England is making it easier than ever for pregnant women to protect their babies from whooping cough, with more than 30 of the region’s pharmacies set to become the first in England to offer vaccinations against the infection.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It can be serious for babies and may lead to complications resulting in hospitalisation, and even death.

This month, more than 30 community pharmacies in Essex and Suffolk will become the first in the country to offer whooping cough vaccination appointments to pregnant women. The whooping cough vaccination programme for pregnant women has been running for over 10 years, and has saved many babies’ lives, and will now be even easier to access for busy parents-to-be.

Dr Eleanor Powers, Head of Public Health Commissioning (Immunisation) for NHS England – East of England, said: “Whooping cough spreads easily and can be very serious for babies and infants – and in some cases, fatal.

“That’s why it’s so important that pregnant women start protection of their babies in the womb, by getting their vaccination before giving birth.

“It’s great news for pregnant women in the East of England that it’s now easier than ever to get protected at 1 of more than 30 pharmacies in the region offering the vaccine – as well as the usual offer through your midwife or GP practice”.

The vaccine is also available via your GP practice or through some antenatal clinics. Speak to your midwife about the vaccination opportunities available in your area.

Getting vaccinated while you’re pregnant is highly effective in protecting your baby from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of their life. The immunity you get from the vaccine will pass to your baby through the placenta and provide passive protection for them until they are old enough to be routinely vaccinated against whooping cough at 8 weeks old.

You should usually have the whooping cough vaccine around the time of your mid-pregnancy scan (usually at 20 weeks pregnant), but you can have it from 16 weeks. To help give the best protection to your baby, you should have the vaccine before 32 weeks. If you are 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the whooping cough vaccine, contact your midwife or GP surgery.

Pregnant women from 28 weeks are also encouraged to protect their babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can sometimes be serious for babies, by booking a vaccination appointment with their GP practice, or in parts of Suffolk and Essex, by walking into a participating pharmacy. Details of community pharmacies offering walk-in appointments for RSV vaccinations are on the websites of Suffolk and North East Essex and Mid and South Essex integrated care boards.