Baby Dies from Whooping Cough: A Reminder of the Importance of Vaccination for New Moms and Babies

A tragic incident occurred a week ago in which a five-week-old baby from the Jerusalem area passed away due to whooping cough. The baby’s mother was not vaccinated during pregnancy, and the baby himself was too young to receive the vaccine. This recent case is the third reported death of a baby due to whooping cough since the outbreak earlier in 2023, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination, especially for vulnerable populations.

The first dose of the vaccine is typically given to babies at two months old, but can be administered earlier in cases of outbreaks. However, the vaccine is not effective before six weeks of age. The best way to protect younger babies is by vaccinating the mother between weeks 27 and 36 of pregnancy. This vaccine increases the levels of antibodies against pertussis in the mother’s blood, passing through the placenta to protect the fetus until it can receive