The UK Department of Health and Social Care has launched the ‘Stay Strong.
Get Vaccinated’ campaign, urging pregnant women to receive flu, RSV, and whooping cough vaccinations to protect newborns this winter.
Despite NHS availability, uptake remains low, with only 35% vaccinated against flu last winter.
Protecting Newborns This Winter
The UK Department of Health and Social Care has initiated a national campaign titled ‘Stay Strong. Get Vaccinated,’ focusing on encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated against flu, RSV, and whooping cough.
The campaign emphasizes the importance of these vaccinations in transferring protective antibodies from mother to baby during pregnancy.
Ideally administered between 20 and 32 weeks gestation, these vaccines are crucial for safeguarding newborns during their first critical months.
Why Vaccination Matters
- Vaccinations help protect babies from severe illnesses like bronchiolitis caused by RSV.
- Flu vaccination reduces the risk of serious complications for both mother and baby.
- Whooping cough vaccination prevents potentially fatal infections in infants.
NHS Availability and Challenges
Despite the availability of vaccines through GPs, pharmacies, and maternity services across the NHS network, uptake remains a challenge.
Last winter saw only 35% of pregnant women receiving flu vaccines and 66% receiving whooping cough vaccines.
This leaves many newborns vulnerable to preventable diseases that can lead to hospital admissions.
Visual Campaign Strategies
The campaign employs innovative visual strategies such as bubble wrap imagery to symbolize how maternal vaccination shields newborns with antibodies.
This approach aims to resonate with younger adults familiar with tactile stress-relief tools, potentially increasing engagement and recall among expectant mothers aged 28-42.
Expert Opinions on Maternal Vaccination
“We urge expectant mothers to come forward for their flu, RSV and whooping cough jabs – it’s one of the most powerful ways to protect your baby through those critical first months,”
said Ashley Dalton, Health Minister at the Department of Health and Social Care.
“If you’re pregnant or have a long-term health condition, you are at greater risk from serious flu complications,”
stated Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at UKHSA.
“Vaccination protects you and baby.”
“Flu, RSV and whooping cough can all be dangerous for newborns,” emphasized Kate Brintworth, NHS Chief Midwifery Officer at NHS England.
“Getting vaccinated while pregnant is undoubtedly the best way to protect your baby ahead of winter.”
Additional Reading
Wrapping Up
This campaign is vital for reducing infant hospital admissions during winter by promoting maternal vaccinations against flu, RSV, and whooping cough.
By increasing awareness among expectant mothers about vaccine benefits through innovative strategies like bubble wrap imagery, the initiative aims to enhance public health outcomes across the UK this season.
Sources: UK Government, Department of Health and Social Care, UK Health Security Agency, NHS England and Ashley Dalton MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News™, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analyzed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
