evidence: Babies may not have a cough. Instead, they may stop breathing for several seconds, called apnea. Or they may look like they are gasping for air. Babies are at greatest risk for getting pertussis and then having serious complications from it, including death. That’s why it’s important that pregnant people and everyone around the baby are up to date with their pertussis vaccines. [...] - Children should receive five doses of the DTap vaccine from age 2 months to 6 years. [...] - Adults who have never had a pertussis vaccine should receive one dose of the Tdap vaccine.