Pregnant women - whooping cough vaccination
Getting vaccinated while you're pregnant is effective in protecting your baby from getting whooping cough in the first few weeks of their life.
Whooping cough is a serious infection that causes coughing and choking, making it hard to breathe.
The vaccine also protects against:
- diphtheria
- tetanus
- polio
When to get it
The best time to have the vaccination is from 16 weeks to 32 weeks of your pregnancy.
If you do not have it in this time, you can still have it up until you go into labour.
Getting the vaccination
You may be offered the vaccine at a routine appointment, from around 16 weeks of your pregnancy.
You can have it at the practice, and some antenatal clinics also offer it.
If you're not offered it around 16 weeks, talk to your midwife or GP and make an appointment.