Overview

• More than 2,700 whooping cough cases reported in England in early 2024, with a significant increase in infant mortality.
• Confusion over vaccine administration between GPs and maternity services contributing to lower vaccination rates among pregnant women.
• Experts stress the critical need for higher vaccination rates to protect infants, especially in the first months of life.
• Recent data reveals a decline in vaccination rates among pregnant women, falling from 75% to below 60% since the pandemic.
• Health officials urge immediate action to increase vaccination awareness and uptake to prevent further deaths.