Pregnant women in England are being urged to get vaccinated against whooping cough, with a strong uptake reported in the latest month. According to new data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 72.9% of women who gave birth in September 2025 had received the vaccine, the highest monthly rate recorded in the quarter. This is a significant increase from the same quarter in 2024, when the coverage was 64.4%.
The vaccine is offered to all pregnant women from 16 weeks of pregnancy, typically around the time of the 20-week scan. It provides protection to newborns during the first two months of life before they receive their first routine immunisation. Evidence from England suggests that vaccination in pregnancy offers 91% protection against death from whooping cough in early infancy.
The strong uptake in the vaccine follows a significant national outbreak of whooping cough in 2024, when the number of cases peaked at more than 3,000 in May and a total of nearly 15,000 infections were recorded over the year. Eleven infants in England died as a result of the disease.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs. It often begins with cold-like symptoms but can progress to intense coughing fits. In babies, the condition can be life-threatening and may not always present with the characteristic 'whoop', making early recognition more difficult.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director for immunisation at UKHSA, said the new data reflects the 'tremendous efforts' of healthcare staff. 'We want to ensure every expectant mother is offered the vaccine at the optimal time and understands that this vaccine is the best way to protect their baby during those crucial first weeks after birth,' she said.
Regional variations in uptake were recorded. The South West registered the highest vaccination rate at 78.9%, while London had the lowest at 64.4%. The capital has, however, seen considerable improvement, with monthly rates climbing from 35.5% in September 2023 to 65.1% in September 2025.
