Whooping Cough Spreads Nationwide... Seongdong-gu Offers Free Vaccinations for Pregnant Women

Free Pertussis Vaccination for Pregnant Women at 27-36 Weeks Starting August 1 at Seongdong-gu Health Center
Special Caution Needed for Infants and Pregnant Women Vulnerable to Respiratory Infections with Paroxysmal Cough

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeong Wono) will start providing free pertussis vaccination support for pregnant women in the area from August 1.

Pertussis, characterized by paroxysmal coughing, is a respiratory infectious disease and is considered one of the highly contagious pediatric infectious diseases.

Since mid-April this year, cases have significantly increased, and from June, the rise has become steeper, showing a nationwide epidemic pattern. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as of the third week of July, a total of 13,545 patients have been reported.

To minimize severe complications caused by pertussis, it is most important that infants under 1 year old receive vaccinations at 2, 4, and 6 months of age without fail. For pregnant women in their third trimester (27?36 weeks), the diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (Tdap) vaccination is strongly recommended.

Newborns born to mothers who did not receive pertussis vaccination during pregnancy receive relatively fewer antibodies, increasing the risk of pertussis occurrence.

Accordingly, Seongdong-gu provides free pertussis vaccination to pregnant women who are particularly vulnerable to infection.

This program targets pregnant women residing in Seongdong-gu who are between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, and they can receive the free pertussis vaccination during each pregnancy. Vaccinations are administered at the Seongdong-gu Public Health Center Vaccination Room (4th floor). Pregnant women can receive the vaccination by visiting with their ID and documents proving pregnancy. However, mothers with underlying health conditions should first check with their hospital whether Tdap vaccination is possible.

For detailed inquiries, contact the Disease Prevention Division of Seongdong-gu Public Health Center.

Pertussis appears after an incubation period of 7 to 10 days. It is characterized by sporadic coughing for about 1 to 2 weeks, which gradually worsens into paroxysmal coughing lasting about 6 weeks. Infants and young children often produce a ‘whooping’ sound when they strongly inhale through a narrowed larynx after severe coughing fits. Complications such as bronchopneumonia commonly occur in infants and young children, with pneumonia accounting for about 54% of deaths caused by pertussis, requiring careful attention.

To prevent pertussis, practicing handwashing and cough etiquette in daily life is especially important.

Jeong Wono, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, urged, “Pregnant women are at risk of progressing to severe illness if infected with pertussis, so they must get vaccinated to protect themselves and their unborn babies from infectious diseases,” and added, “We will spare no detailed support to create a city where children can be born and raised healthily.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.