What are tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis?
- Tetanus (T) (Lockjaw) causes painful stiffening of the muscles. Tetanus can lead to serious health problems, including being unable to open the mouth, having trouble swallowing and breathing, or death. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds.
- Diphtheria (D) can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, or death. It spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets (such as from a cough or sneeze).
- Pertussis (P) or acellular Pertussis (aP) (Whooping cough) can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe, eat, or drink. Pertussis can be extremely serious especially in babies and young children, causing pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage, or death. In teens and adults, it can cause weight loss, loss of bladder control, passing out, and rib fractures from severe coughing.
Who should get tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) and when?
Children over 7 years old, adolescents and adults. The vaccine dose 0.5 milliliters is to be administered by intramuscular injection into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm as the following table.
| Adolescents |
should receive a single dose of Tdap, preferably at age 11 or 12 years. |
| Pregnancy |
should get a dose of Tdap during every pregnancy, preferably during the early part of the third trimester, to help protect the newborn from pertussis. Infants are most at risk for severe, life threatening complications from pertussis. |
| Adults |
who have never received Tdap should get a dose of Tdap then receive a booster dose every 10 years, or earlier in the case of a severe and dirty wound or burn. Booster doses can be either Tdap or Td (tetanus-diphtheria). |
** Tdap may be given at the same time as other vaccines.*
Talk with your health care provider if you have this symptoms
Tell your vaccine provider if the person getting the vaccine:
- Has had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of any vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis, or has any severe, life-threatening allergies.
- Has had a coma, decreased level of consciousness, or prolonged seizures within 7 days after a previous dose of any pertussis vaccine (DTP, DTaP, or Tdap).
- Has seizures or another nervous system problem.
- Has ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (also called “GBS”).
- Has had severe pain or swelling after a previous dose of any vaccine that protects against tetanus or diphtheria.
- In some cases, your health care provider may decide to postpone Tdap vaccination until a future visit. People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting Tdap vaccine.
What are the possible side effects of Tdap vaccine?
| Mild problems |
- Fever, redness, swelling or soreness where the shot was given.
- Headache, feeling tired.
- Tiredness, body aches.
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache.
|
| Moderate to severe problems (get the person to the nearest hospital.) |
- Seizure (jerking), high fever over 40.5 degrees Celsius.
- Long-term seizures, coma, or lowered consciousness.
- Serious allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat).
|
What to do when having discomfort?
- If there is a fever, take a fever-reducing medicine with 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 Tdap vaccine and other medications
If you are taking any chronic medication, tell your health care provider or pharmacist before getting the vaccine.
References
For more information please contact:
Last modify: March 03, 2025