PREGNANT women in Sandwell are being encouraged to protect themselves and their unborn babies against whooping cough.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways and has made a come back in recent years.

The condition usually begins with a persistent dry and irritating cough that progresses to intense bouts of coughing.

The gasping for breath after one of these coughing bouts causes a distinctive 'whooping' noise, which is how the condition gets its name.

Jyoti Atri, director of public health at Sandwell Council, said it was important to get vaccinated.

She said: "Whooping cough is highly contagious and newborns are particularly vulnerable.

"It's vital that babies are protected from the day they are born - that's why the vaccine is being offered to all pregnant women. If you are pregnant, getting vaccinated is the best way you can protect your baby against whooping cough."

Whooping cough affects all ages, but newborns and infants under three months of age are at highest risk of severe complications and death.

In the UK, all pregnant women are offered vaccination against whooping cough when they are 28-38 weeks pregnant.

Getting vaccinated while pregnant could help to protect babies from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of life as the mother passes immunity on to her unborn child, protecting the new baby until they receive their first whooping cough vaccination at two months old.

For more information on whooping cough, please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/whooping-cough.

And for more advice and guidance on getting vaccinated against whooping cough, please speak to your midwife or GP.