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. Vaccination for whooping cough, or pertussis, is given as part of the '6-in-1' jab for babies at eight, 12, and 16 weeks old.

Specific whooping cough vaccines were introduced for pregnant women in October 2012 to protect their children before they have had all three doses. Of the 33 babies who died between 2013 and 2025, 27 had mothers who were not vaccinated in pregnancy, including the one this year.

Read more:What vaccines are recommended and when?Why are vaccination rates so low? UKHSA deputy director Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam said in statement: "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." Whooping cough is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes and can be serious for infants as they are more vulnerable.

The whooping cough death comes after the NHS announced it will roll out chickenpox vaccines to babies for the first time. Major concerns have been raised by health professionals over declining childhood vaccination rates, with data showing none of the routine infant jabs were on target in England last year.

Rates of measles are up nationwide, with a child death reported at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool in July. The vaccine against chickenpox, or varicella, will be added to the combined one for mumps, measles, and rubella from January 2026 and made available for all 12 to 18-month-olds..