Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to increase the vaccination rates for whooping cough.

The whooping cough, also known as pertussis, vaccine is offered antenatally. As part of best practice, NHS England vaccinates pregnant women opportunistically during maternity appointments. Information materials are available across antenatal and primary care settings to increase vaccination rates for pertussis during pregnancy. NHS England will also implement the National Health Service vaccination strategy, building on the success of the COVID-19 vaccine programme, to find innovative ways to reach people.

A recent national marketing campaign reminded parents to check their children’s vaccination status, and stressed the importance of getting vaccinated for pregnant women, infants, and children. A second phase of the campaign is due to begin around mid-summer 2024. Whooping cough and maternal vaccine uptake awareness will be raised with clinicians and key royal colleges through targeted clinical and epidemiological updates, and supportive communications. There will also be engagement with local communities to highlight the importance of vaccination, and how to access the vaccine.