PARENTS are urged to have their children vaccinated early against whooping cough after four local children were confirmed with the illness.

The north west has seen cases soar from 73 in 2011 to 380 so far this year.

Health experts warn that although this is a small number in St Helens it is still important to remain vigilant to the threat.

During 2011/12 92.2 per cent of children aged 12 months were vaccinated against whooping cough in St Helens, but by the age of two this rose to 95.5 per cent.

This suggests parents may be taking their children to be vaccinated late.

To get full immunity children should be vaccinated when they are two, three and four months old and given a pre-school booster at age three years and four months.

The vaccination against whooping cough comes as part of the wider immunisation programme that includes MMR.

Following the recent outbreak, pregnant women are also being advised to be vaccinated.

Getting vaccinated while pregnant may help to protect your baby from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of life, as the immunity the woman gets from the jab passes through the placenta to the baby.

This protection could be very important as babies are not vaccinated against whooping cough until they are two months old.

Director of public health for St Helens, Liz Gaulton said: “Babies and infants have limited immunity to infection and whooping cough can make them very ill.

“It is essential children are immunised as soon as they reach the appropriate age for the vaccine.

“Parents and pregnant women should make the vaccination of their children and themselves a priority.

“Whooping cough is an unpleasant illness that can last for weeks, and in extreme cases it can result in death. The best way to avoid suffering in the child and anguish in the rest of the family is to stick rigidly to the vaccination schedules.

“Vaccination is the most effective way to protect people from this infection. Parents should ensure their children are up to date with their vaccinations so they are protected at the earliest opportunity.”

If you or your child has not received the whooping cough vaccination, please contact your GP or midwife.