Baby dies of whooping cough with childhood vaccine rates at lowest level for 15 years

A baby under a year old has died of whooping cough this year, after their mother was not vaccinated during pregnancy.

This is the first death from the disease, officially called pertussis, so far this year.

The infant died between March and June 2025, government data shows.

Babies under a year old are too young to be vaccinated for the disease directly, but can receive protection in the womb if their mother is vaccinated during pregnancy.

After a vaccine for pregnant women was introduced in October 2012, deaths of infants confirmed to have whooping cough dropped by almost half, from 64 in the twelve years prior to 33 in the twelve years since.

Of the 33 babies who died after the vaccine was introduced, 27 had mothers who were not vaccinated during pregnancy, including the infant who died this year, the UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) said.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA Deputy Director, said: ‘Sadly, with a further infant death in the second quarter of 2025, we are again reminded how severe whooping cough can be for very young babies. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family who have so tragically lost their baby.

‘Ensuring women are vaccinated in pregnancy has never been more important. Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks.’

Earlier this summer, a child died of measles at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, amid warnings of a significant outbreak with vaccine rates dropping.

While uptake of the the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy is actually increasing, data for childhood vaccines overall tells a more concerning story.

Not a single childhood vaccine in England last year met the 95% target needed to ensure diseases cannot spread among youngsters.

Health officials warned almost one in five children will be starting primary school in September without full protection against a number of serious diseases.

Only 83.7% of five-year-olds had received both doses of the MMR (measles, mumps & rubella) vaccine, the lowest level since 2009/10.

Meanwhile, coverage for the Hib/MenC vaccine, which protects against haemophilus influenzae type B and meningitis C, stood at 88.9% for children in England aged five, the lowest level since 2011/12.

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of immunisation at UKHSA, said: ‘Far too many children will not be fully protected and safe when starting school, and are at risk of serious diseases, such as measles and whooping cough, that have in recent years caused outbreaks.

‘Measles, being the most infectious disease, is the “canary in the coalmine” and a wake-up call that urgent action is needed to stop the very real risk of other diseases re-emerging.

‘That is why there needs to be a concerted effort in providing these vitally important vaccines, to make time to speak and reassure any parents who may have concerns, and make it as easy as possible for their children to get vaccinated.’

She urged parents to check their children are up to date with their jabs and to contact their GP as soon as possible if they are not.

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