The Ministry of Health has highlighted the importance of vaccination against whooping cough for babies up to six months old, emphasizing the risk it poses to newborns. Complications and even death can arise from the disease, making it crucial to protect these infants. To do so, pregnant women are advised to receive a vaccine in their third trimester, which will help them develop antibodies that can be passed on to their baby through the placenta. This provides the baby with protection until they are old enough to receive the vaccine themselves.
Efforts are being made to prevent the spread of whooping cough by questioning patients with the disease to identify its source and locate contacts for recommendations. Monitoring data on morbidity rates is also crucial in formulating policies that address this issue. In an attempt to increase immunization coverage, the Ministry has lowered the age for the first pertussis vaccination from 8 weeks of age to 6 weeks, allowing newborns to develop antibodies sooner. Pregnant women are being encouraged to get vaccinated as well, and awareness campaigns have been launched to highlight the importance of vaccination against whooping cough. Public notices and updates have been distributed among medical teams and health funds regularly assessments are conducted stay informed about this situation.
