State Powiat Sanitary Inspector in Bolesławiec:

Due to the increase in whooping cough cases, we encourage pregnant women to receive the recommended whooping cough vaccination. Vaccination is the best way to protect against whooping cough; therefore, promoting free preventive vaccinations for pregnant women is of great social importance, as it builds immune protection for both the woman and her child.

Whooping cough is an acute respiratory disease, occurring mainly in children, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The disease poses the greatest threat to the most vulnerable population—infants in the first six months of life, who, due to their age, cannot yet be fully vaccinated.

What are the symptoms?

Sanitary Inspectorate: – The characteristic symptom of the disease is a persistent paroxysmal cough accompanied by the production of sticky sputum. The most severe course of whooping cough in infants involves choking, gasping for air, bradycardia and apnea. Complications may include pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension, subconjunctival hemorrhages, hernia, seizures and encephalopathy.

It also emphasizes:

Every pregnant woman can receive a free whooping cough vaccination at primary healthcare facilities (POZ). This vaccination protects the pregnant woman, as well as the woman after childbirth, and the newborn against illness and hospitalization during the first 3–6 months of life.

A single-dose vaccination schedule is recommended for:

  • pregnant women after completing the 27th and before the 36th week of pregnancy (the third trimester)—administering the vaccine dose does not require additional referrals or certificates; the POZ doctor decides whether the patient qualifies for vaccination;
  • pregnant women at risk of premature delivery, after completing the 20th week of pregnancy—the doctor overseeing the pregnancy decides whether to administer the vaccine dose.

How to get vaccinated?

Every pregnant woman can receive a whooping cough vaccination. To do so, she should:

  • contact her POZ doctor and arrange an appointment,
  • go to the POZ facility for vaccination at the scheduled time.

The patient does not need a prescription for the vaccine. However, the vaccination is recorded in the electronic Vaccination Card.

The Inspector adds:

It should be noted that the provision of free vaccination recommended for pregnant women takes into account the recommendations of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (PTGiP), the Polish Society of Vaccinology (PTW) and the Polish Society of Family Medicine (PTMR) concerning vaccinations for women planning pregnancy, pregnant women and breastfeeding women.

More information is available on the website of the Ministry of Health.