What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium. It brings on severe fits of coughing, usually accompanied by serious breathlessness. These fits can go on for months.
Whooping cough and young babies
For young babies whooping cough is very dangerous. It can cause pneumonia and brain damage, and they can even die from it.
In the Netherlands babies are vaccinated against whooping cough at two months old, so before then they are not protected. That is also when they usually catch it: in the first months after birth.
Vaccination during pregnancy
To protect babies against the disease from birth, women can be vaccinated against whooping cough from week 22 of pregnancy up to the birth. The jab is called the whooping cough vaccination, also known as the 22-week jab. It is a combined vaccine — the DKT in Dutch — that also protects against diphtheria and tetanus.
The mother produces antibodies that reach the baby through the placenta. Thanks to the vaccination the baby's chance of whooping cough is about 90% lower. The baby's own first jab then follows at three months instead of two.
Research shows that the vaccine is safe for mother and child, and that it works. Side effects can occur, such as muscle ache, tiredness or headache, and the arm can become red, swollen or painful where the injection was given.
Where and when?
Vaccination during pregnancy has been part of the national immunisation programme since December 2019.
All pregnant women in the Netherlands are offered this vaccination free of charge, from week 22 up to the birth. You do need to make an appointment yourself with the child health clinic.