Baby whose mother was unvaccinated dies of whooping cough

A baby whose mother was not vaccinated against whooping cough died of the disease this year, public health data shows.

The infant, who is believed to have been under the age of one, died between March and June, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

It is the first baby whooping cough death in the UK this year.

According to the UKHSA, 33 babies died of the disease between 2013 and June 2025.

As vaccinations are offered at 12 months, they were all too young to have been immunised, relying instead on their mothers and those around them to have immunity.

Jabs for whooping cough, or pertussis, were introduced for pregnant women in October 2012.

Of the 33 babies who died between 2013 and 2025, 27 had mothers who were not vaccinated in pregnancy, including the one this year.