Community midwives are getting a bigger role in encouraging pregnant women to get immunisations

They're now funded to deliver antenatal immunisations, and can claim payments for giving clients selected vaccinations.

It's part of the Government response to a country-wide whooping cough epidemic, with more than 2600 cases reported.

Health Minister Simeon Brown says better access to vaccines will protect more mothers and babies from preventable illnesses.

He says maternal immunisations protect babies before they can be immunised at six weeks old.