The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Rise in whooping cough cases causes vaccination rethink

Rise in whooping cough cases causes vaccination rethink
2 September 2012
Abbie Cavendish
Avatar
Abbie Cavendish
2 September 2012

Health experts concerned about the massive rise in the number of cases of whooping cough seen this year are considering vaccinating pregnant women, newborns and their families in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease.

There have been over 3,500 cases of whooping cough reported so far this year, compared to 1,118 in the whole of 2011.

Whooping cough is a highly infectious disease, characterised by a “whooping” sound when found in young children, and by severe, prolonged fits of coughing in older children and adults.

This year’s outbreak has mainly affected teenagers and young adults – although six babies, all under the age of three months, have died so far.

Young babies are considered most at risk, because they don’t receive the benefits of vaccination until they are around four months old and are currently given the injections at eight weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks, with one booster jab given before they start primary school.

Government advisers are now said to be considering whether or not to introduce the vaccination for pregnant mothers and the older siblings and direct family members of babies in a process known as “cocooning”, as well as offering a second booster shot for teenagers.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said that the outbreak highlights the general importance of vaccination. He went on to say: “The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is looking at whether more people need to be vaccinated. Parents should make sure their children are up to date with all vaccinations, and should speak to their GP if they need advice.”

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, an expert in immunisation at the HPA, advised that parents keep their children away from any adults or older siblings suffering from the illness.

He added that “parents should ensure their children are vaccinated on time so that they are protected at the earliest opportunity.”

Abbie Cavendish

Related Items

More in Uncategorised

Elvis

★★★★★
Selina Sondermann
Read More

Dodo

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Beach House Summer by Sarah Morgan

★★★★★
Laura Boyle
Read More

Alice Cooper at the O2 Arena

★★★★★
Jennifer Sanin
Read More

Michael Kiwanuka at Alexandra Palace

★★★★★
Joe Milo
Read More

Roma Bar Show returns for a second edition in Rome next week

Food Desk
Read More

“I wanted to sabotage it”: An interview with Mark Jenkin on Enys Men

Andrew Murray
Read More

The Innocent (L’Innocent)

★★★★★
Selina Sondermann
Read More

Domingo and the Mist (Domingo y la Niebla)

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Alice Cooper at the O2 Arena
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Decision to Leave (Heojil Kyolshim)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • The Five Devils (Les Cinq Diables)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Stephen Fry enters the Radio Times Hall of Fame in conversation with Alan Yentob at the BFI Imax
    Cinema & Tv
  • Roma Bar Show returns for a second edition in Rome next week
    Food & Drinks
  • Elvis
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Dodo
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Beach House Summer by Sarah Morgan
    ★★★★★
    Literature
  • Alice Cooper at the O2 Arena
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Michael Kiwanuka at Alexandra Palace
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Alice Cooper at the O2 Arena
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Michael Kiwanuka at Alexandra Palace
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Innocent (L’Innocent)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • “You don’t need a green screen if you have Tom Cruise”: Miles Teller, Jay Ellis, Greg Davis and Danny Ramirez on Top Gun: Maverick
    Cinema & Tv
  • Metronom
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Ruling to allow for sex offender register appeals
Brilliant Button wins in Belgium