Government urged to take 'urgent action' amid rise in whooping cough cases
Katy Morton
Friday, May 10, 2024
The Government has been urged to take ‘rapid action’ to prevent more children catching whooping cough amid a rise in cases of the disease, resulting in the death of five babies.
New data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show cases of whooping cough increased to 1,319 in March. This follows 556 cases in January and 918 in February, bringing the total number of cases this year to 2,793.
They reveal in the first quarter (January-March), the death of five infants, who are at the highest risk of severe complications from whooping cough.
According to the UKHSA, uptake of vaccinations that protect against whooping cough have fallen in recent years across the country. Women are offered the vaccination in pregnancy and children are given three doses of the 6 in 1 jab at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect against the disease. A booster is offered at three years, four months old.
It also says that the diseases peaks every three to five years. The last increase in cases was in 2016 so a ‘peak year’ is overdue. On top of this, the impact of the Covid pandemic has meant there is reduced immunity in the population.
Anyone diagnosed with whooping cough must stay home and not go to nursery or school until 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or three weeks after symptoms start if they have not had antibiotics.
Governent told to 'rethink its approach' to curb cases
The chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, Steve Brine MP, has however urged the Government to ‘rethink its approach and follow steps to boost vaccination’, these include ‘making the most of the wide range of healthcare professionals who could deliver vaccines in easy to reach places.’
Brine said, ‘Today’s figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) highlight the need for rapid action to prevent a further fall in the uptake of vaccinations across the country.
'In our work on this subject, my committee urged the Government to heed the lessons of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout making the most of the wide range of healthcare professionals who could deliver vaccines in easy to reach places. Specifically, to give medical and nursing students and recently retired staff a greater role to help boost declining rates, a call Ministers rejected.
‘In the light of today’s sad news, I urge the government to rethink its approach and follow steps we have outlined to boost vaccination uptake across the country.’
