Although pertussis can cause morbidity and mortality across all age groups, infants are at greatest risk for severe disease, especially during the first months of life. Despite the implementation of effective vaccination programmes, pertussis remains a significant global health problem and protecting those at highest risk is a priority. Numerous public health strategies, including cocooning, maternal vaccination during pregnancy, targeted vaccination of healthcare personnel, and post-exposure antibiotic prophylaxis, have been used to control the burden of pertussis with varying degrees of success. While maternal immunization during pregnancy has been demonstrated to be highly effective at preventing disease among infants during the first months of life, no single strategy alone is sufficient to control pertussis across age groups. In the setting of a resurgence in disease, a combination of approaches is needed to minimize the burden of disease, especially among those at highest risk for severe morbidity and mortality.