Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) released in August 2024 reveal that 10,493 laboratory confirmed cases of pertussis in England were reported between January and June 2024. This compares with 856 laboratory confirmed cases reported in 2023. Since the outbreak began in November 2023, there have been 10 reported infant deaths; 9 of these deaths were reported between January and June 2024. UKHSA continues to urge pregnant women to get vaccinated to “protect their babies from birth onwards”.
Cases “notably high”
The last major outbreak of pertussis was recorded in 2012, followed by a cyclical increase in 2016; it is a cyclical disease that peaks every 3 to 5 years. Pertussis activity was “exceptionally low” in England between April 2020 to Summer 2023. Although numbers in 2023 “remained lower than pre-pandemic years”, an increase has since been observed in all age groups and in “every region” in England.
10,493 cases were confirmed between January and June 2024. Around half of these cases (5,769) were in people aged 15 years or older; 2,226 cases were reported in children aged 10 to 14 years and 1,253 cases in children aged 5 to 9 years. 328 cases were reported in infants younger than 3 months. These infants are at highest risk of severe disease and are too young to be fully vaccinated.
Vaccination in pregnancy
Although vaccination in pregnancy is “key to passively protecting babies” before they are “directly protected” through the infant vaccine programme, maternal vaccine uptake is declining. Uptake fell from 74.7% in December 2017 to 58.9% in March 2024. Pertussis vaccination is recommended in every pregnancy and is often administered around the time of the mid-pregnancy scan. To give maximum protection, the vaccine should be given before 32 weeks.
Dr Mary Ramsay, UKHSA’s Director of Immunisation, emphasises that vaccination is the “best defence against whooping cough”.
“It is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time.”
As cases continue to rise and infant deaths are recorded, Dr Ramsay states that “ensuring women are vaccinated in pregnancy has never been more important”.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.”
The team at UKHSA return to the Congress in Barcelona to share their insights with the community in October, so do get your tickets to join these discussions and don’t forget to subscribe for weekly vaccine updates.
