How can I protect my baby from pertussis?
Pertussis is most dangerous for babies before they are old enough to be fully immunized for pertussis. Transmission by adults who are not vaccinated themselves is responsible for most pertussis cases among babies. In fact, half of babies with pertussis are infected by their parents. Most unvaccinated children living with someone who has pertussis will get the disease, and 90% of pertussis-associated deaths have been among babies less than a year old.8,9 That is why it is so important for parents and other family members to get the pertussis vaccine themselves to help “cocoon” babies and young children when they are most vulnerable to the dangers of pertussis.
