THE uptake of the whooping cough vaccine in Kirklees remains low, despite an increase in reported cases.

Uptake of the vaccine in pregnant women in Kirklees remains at around 38%, according to figures released by the Department of Health.

There continues to be an increase in the number of whooping cough cases over the last few months.

So far this year across the UK, there have been a total of 7,000 cases, compared with just over 1,000 during the whole of 2011.

There have also been 13 deaths of children under three months so far this year.

The vaccine is aimed at women between 28 and 38 weeks of their pregnancies.

Even if women have previously been immunised, they are encouraged to have the booster to increase their immunity that will be passed to their babies.

Prof David Salisbury, director of immunisation, said: “I’m pleased that nearly half of pregnant women have taken up the offer of the whooping cough vaccine.

“But I’d urge all pregnant women between 28 and 38 weeks of pregnancy to get the vaccine to protect their babies.

“Whooping cough is highly infectious and infants are particularly vulnerable.”