Conclusion This pilot study may suggest the presence of sufficient pertussis seroimmunity rates in the studied mothers-neonates pair. Still, there were some failures in immune acquisition probably due to waning of immunity with age. Transplacental passage of pertussis antibodies may not confer similar seroimmunity to pertussis in neonates as in mothers. Wider scale studies would allow better insight into the pertussis immune status of the females in the child bearing period in our country and hence the need for booster immunization during pregnancy.