Irish doctors urge parents to get their children vaccinated against whooping cough

Whooping cough cases are rising in Ireland

There have been 551 cases of whooping cough diagnosed in Ireland so far, but doctors believe the vaccine will help limit the number of cases.

There were only 18 cases diagnosed in 2023.

The HSE's Scott Walkin has stressed that vaccinating infants against the 100-day cough is essential.

He shared: "We are particularly concerned about babies under six months old, as they cannot be fully vaccinated until they are over six months old.

"About two out of three cases in very young infants require hospitalisation, and they are at particular risk of severe complications," Walkin added.

Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis.

It can last up to three months which is why it’s often referred to as the ‘100-day cough’.

The main symptoms of whooping cough include long bouts of coughing, as well as choking as your child may struggle to catch their breath.

The bacterial illness can be extremely serious in young children, but most cases are treated with antibiotics.

The whooping cough vaccine is free from your GP.

You can read more about the whooping cough vaccine here.

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