NHS England is urging pregnant women in North Yorkshire to get vaccinated against whooping cough.

Also known as pertussis, whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. Newborn babies are particularly at risk from whooping cough and are too young to be vaccinated themselves.

Pregnant women who have the whooping cough vaccination provide some protection to their baby from birth as the vaccination passes on immunity from mother to the unborn child.

Pregnant women should contact their GP after their 28th week of pregnancy to arrange for vaccination by their 38th week of pregnancy.

For further information on the vaccination or to make an appointment to get vaccinated, talk to your midwife or GP, or visit www.nhs.uk/vaccination