(HealthDay News) -- Vaccination is the best way to prevent whooping cough, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a very contagious disease that causes about half its victims aged 1 or younger to end up in the hospital, the agency says.
The CDC offers these suggestions to help protect your baby:
- Vaccinate - Women pass protection to their babies when they get the whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy.
- Family members and caregivers also offer some protection by getting vaccinated.
- Babies should get vaccinated, beginning when they are 2 months old.