What are diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis?
- Diphtheria (D) causes a thick covering in the back of the throat. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death. It spreads from person to person.
- Tetanus (T) (Lockjaw) caused by an exotoxin produced by the bacterium, enters the body through cuts or wounds causes rigidity and convulsive spasms of the muscles. It can lead to “locking” of the jaw so the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow.
- Pertussis (P) or acellular Pertussis (aP) (Whooping cough) causes coughing spells so bad that it is hard for infants to eat, drink, or breathe. These spells can last for weeks. It can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death. It spreads from person to person.
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (DTaP) can help prevent these diseases.
Who should get diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) and when?
Children under 7 years old should usually get 5 doses of DTaP. The vaccine dose 0.5 milliliters is to be administered by intramuscular injection in the anterolateral thigh or alternatively in the deltoid region as the following table.
| Age (under 7 years old) |
| 2 months |
4 months |
6 months |
15-18 months |
4-6 years |
| 1st dose |
2nd dose |
3rd dose |
4th dose |
5th dose |
*DTaP may be given at the same time as other vaccines. Also, sometimes a child can receive DTaP together with one or more other vaccines in a single shot.
What should be done if DTaP vaccine series was not completed?
Contact your doctor if you will miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over. Be sure to receive all recommended doses of this vaccine. You may not be fully protected against disease if you do not receive the full series.
Who should not get DTaP vaccine or should wait?
- Children who have had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of DTaP, or have any severe, life-threatening allergies.
- Children who have had a coma or long repeated seizures within 7 days after a dose of DTaP.
- Children who have seizures or another nervous system problem.
- Children who have had a condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
- Children who have had severe pain or swelling after a previous dose of DTaP or DT vaccine.
- Children who are moderately or severely ill should wait until they recover before getting DTaP vaccine.
- Children with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated.
What are the possible side effects of DTaP vaccine?
| Mild Problems |
- Fever (15%-30%)
- Redness, swelling or soreness where the shot was given (8%-50%)
- Excessive crying (1%-59%)
- Lethargy (25%-51%)
- Vomiting (4%-7%)
|
| Moderate to severe problems |
- Seizure (jerking), non-stop crying for more than or equal to 3 hours, high fever over 40.5 degrees Celsius (uncommon)
- Long-term seizures, coma, or lowered consciousness (very rare)
- Serious allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat) (very rare)
|
What to do if your child has discomfort?
- If there is a fever: give your child a fever-reducing medicine by appropriate dose.
- If there is an injection site pain, swollen, hot, or red: apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the sore area.
Drug Interaction between DTaP vaccine and other medications
Some medicines may interact with this vaccine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially corticosteroids (e.g., hydrocortisone, prednisone), cancer chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., cyclosporine, tacrolimus). They may reduce the immune response to vaccines.
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if DTaP vaccine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
Reference
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Last modify: March 31, 2025