Whooping cough vaccine successful in reducing hospitalisations

Findings from a paper published in the medical journal, Eurosurveillance, show that fully vaccinated children aged 8 weeks to 17 years were 69% less likely to be hospitalised with whooping cough (pertussis).

The study, which looked at the impact of vaccination on whooping cough-related hospital admissions in children between January 2013 – July 2024, demonstrates the significant protective effect of this childhood vaccination. Being fully vaccinated for their age also reduced the risk of whooping cough-related hospital stays in babies aged 8 weeks to 1 year by 88%.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways, and this latest evidence confirms that unimmunised infants are more likely to develop complications which can require hospital treatment.

The study also found lower vaccine uptake in deprived areas, highlighting the need to focus efforts on addressing the persistent health inequalities that leave some communities more vulnerable with others. 

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of Vaccination and Immunisation Division, PHS said:

“This important study clearly highlights the remarkable power of vaccinations to protect children from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases like whooping cough. By ensuring children are fully vaccinated, we can dramatically reduce hospitalisations and complications, safeguarding their health and giving families peace of mind.

“Getting immunised during pregnancy is the best way to protect your baby in the first few vulnerable weeks of their life. All pregnant women are eligible for the whooping cough vaccine from week 16 of their pregnancy. The ideal time to get it is between weeks 16 and 32. The whooping cough vaccine is recommended every time you’re pregnant, even if you’ve had the vaccine before.

“It is also extremely important that parents or carers ensure their babies get their whooping cough vaccine which is given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine.”

Read the study in full

Pregnant women are encouraged to speak to their midwife about getting the whooping cough vaccine; and you can find more about pregnancy and baby immunisations: www.nhsinform.scot/pregnancyandbabyvaccines

Parents are encouraged to contact their local NHS Immunisation team to arrange for their children to get vaccinated if they have missed any doses. Contact details can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/gettingvaccinations or by calling 0800 22 44 88.

If you have any concerns about symptoms of whooping cough, speak to your GP practice or phone 111.