Irish Wedding News
17/07/2014
The vaccination was introduced by the Department of Health in October 2012 following an outbreak of the disease that killed 14 newborns.
The DH announced the temporary vaccination programme for pregnant women in October 2012, in response to a national whooping cough outbreak that led to several infant deaths. Vaccinating women against whooping cough in pregnancy, usually between 28 and 38 weeks, means the mother passes immunity on to her unborn child, thereby protecting the baby until they receive their first whooping cough vaccination at two months old.
In a report, the JCVI said the vaccination programme should continue as lives had been saved.
Public Health England said vaccination in pregnancy reduced the risk of whooping cough in a child by 91%. A separate review, published by the MHRA in the British Medical Journal, found that there was no evidence of risk from the vaccine to pregnancy or the developing baby, and rates of normal, healthy births were similar to those in women who had not been vaccinated.
Professor John Watson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: "Babies too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk from whooping cough. It's an extremely distressing illness that can lead to young babies being admitted to hospital and can potentially be fatal.
"The JCVI's advice will be welcomed by families and we will work with NHS England to ensure the programme continues to be offered to mums-to-be."
Dr Katherine Donegan, lead author of the MHRA study, said: "Coupled with the new evidence from Public Health England on the effectiveness of the vaccine, our research should provide further reassurance on the safety and benefits of the vaccine for expectant mothers and healthcare professionals who offer the vaccine."
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at PHE, said: "These infant deaths reminds us how important it is that every pregnant woman is informed about the benefits of the vaccine, and given the opportunity to receive it at the right time so their babies are protected from birth.
"Although we have also seen a decline in cases in older children and adults from the peak in 2012 the numbers still remain considerably higher than those in 2011, suggesting the infection has not fallen to background levels. We urge pregnant women to ensure they are vaccinated."
(JP/IT)
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Whooping Cough Vaccination To Continue
A whooping cough vaccination programme for pregnant women should continue for an additional five years; that's according to advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).The vaccination was introduced by the Department of Health in October 2012 following an outbreak of the disease that killed 14 newborns.
The DH announced the temporary vaccination programme for pregnant women in October 2012, in response to a national whooping cough outbreak that led to several infant deaths. Vaccinating women against whooping cough in pregnancy, usually between 28 and 38 weeks, means the mother passes immunity on to her unborn child, thereby protecting the baby until they receive their first whooping cough vaccination at two months old.
In a report, the JCVI said the vaccination programme should continue as lives had been saved.
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Public Health England said vaccination in pregnancy reduced the risk of whooping cough in a child by 91%. A separate review, published by the MHRA in the British Medical Journal, found that there was no evidence of risk from the vaccine to pregnancy or the developing baby, and rates of normal, healthy births were similar to those in women who had not been vaccinated.
Professor John Watson, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: "Babies too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk from whooping cough. It's an extremely distressing illness that can lead to young babies being admitted to hospital and can potentially be fatal.
"The JCVI's advice will be welcomed by families and we will work with NHS England to ensure the programme continues to be offered to mums-to-be."
Dr Katherine Donegan, lead author of the MHRA study, said: "Coupled with the new evidence from Public Health England on the effectiveness of the vaccine, our research should provide further reassurance on the safety and benefits of the vaccine for expectant mothers and healthcare professionals who offer the vaccine."
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at PHE, said: "These infant deaths reminds us how important it is that every pregnant woman is informed about the benefits of the vaccine, and given the opportunity to receive it at the right time so their babies are protected from birth.
"Although we have also seen a decline in cases in older children and adults from the peak in 2012 the numbers still remain considerably higher than those in 2011, suggesting the infection has not fallen to background levels. We urge pregnant women to ensure they are vaccinated."
(JP/IT)
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