New Delhi: Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, can be life-threatening in young infants, according to a recent study that highlights the urgent need for maternal vaccination during pregnancy. Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection that affects the respiratory tract. It causes severe, uncontrollable coughing fits that can be followed by a distinctive “whooping” sound when the person breathes in. Published in the journal Paediatrics, the study strongly advocates for maternal vaccination during pregnancy as a key strategy to protect newborns. The CDC also recommends that all pregnant individuals receive the pertussis vaccine, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation, to pass protective antibodies to the unborn child.