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. That is why it is known as the 22-week jab.
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, and it only needs its own first vaccination against the disease at three months.
The vaccine is safe for mother and child, and effective — research shows as much. Side effects can occur, such as drowsiness or headache, and the spot where the injection was given can stay tender for a while.
Where and when?
Vaccination during pregnancy has been part of the national immunisation programme since 16 December 2019. In other European countries and in the United States it has been available much longer.
All pregnant women in the Netherlands are offered this vaccination free of charge, from week 22 of pregnancy. You do need to make an appointment yourself with the child health clinic.