UK public health officials are warning parents of babies and pregnant women to urgently take up offers of vaccination after rising cases of pertussis.
There were 553 new whooping cough cases confirmed in January the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
Rates of the disease were continuing to rise, UKHSA said from the 858 cases confirmed across the whole of 2023.
They added that there had been a prolonged period of low case numbers due to restrictions and reduced social mixing patterns in the pandemic.
And peaks of whooping cough cases tend to happen on a cyclical basis every few years with the last rise seen in 2016 when there were almost 6,000 recorded across 12 months.
But worryingly, the current increase is coming at a time when there has been a steady decline in uptake of the pertussis vaccine in pregnant women and in children.
The number of two-year-olds who completed their 6-in-1 vaccinations as of September 2023 is 92.9%, compared to 96.3% in March 2014, figures show
Uptake in pregnant women has also dropped from over 70% in September 2017 to around 58% in September 2023.
The reminder to take up the offer of a jab is part of a new Childhood Immunisation Campaign urging parents to check the vaccination status of their children against measles and other serious diseases.
Parents are being asked to respond to invites from the NHS or to book an appointment with their GP practice if their child has not received all the routine vaccines they should have had.
In January there were 22 infants aged under three months diagnosed with whooping cough.
This group are at greater risk of severe disease, including death, UKHSA said. Officials will be reporting cases on a monthly basis in response to the increase in cases, they added.
Public Health Wales has also warned of a rapid increase in cases.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but for very young infants, it can be particularly serious.
‘However, vaccinating pregnant women is highly effective in protecting babies from birth until they can receive their own vaccines.
‘Parents can also help protect their children by ensuring they receive their vaccines at the right time or catching up as soon as possible if they have missed any. If you’re unsure, please check your child’s red book or get in touch with your GP surgery.’
Steve Russell, national director for vaccinations and screening at NHS England, added: ‘With whooping cough on the rise, it is important that families come forward to get the protection they need.’
