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About Tdap Vaccine

The Tdap vaccine is a combination vaccine used to prevent tetanus, diptheria and pertussis. Tetanus is a painful condition that causes severe muscle spasms all over the body and is fatal in about 20 percent of cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People with diptheria will develop a thick throat covering that can cause breathing problems, heart failure and death. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a respiratory condition that causes severe coughing spells and vomiting and can lead to pneumonia. The Tdap vaccine was approved for use in 2005 and is now included in the normal vaccine schedule for adolescents. The vaccine is approved for only one dose per lifetime per person.

  1. Injection Site

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of people receiving the Tdap vaccine will experience mild pain at the injection site. Additionally, about 20 percent of people will develop some redness or swelling at the injection site. These are the most commonly reported side effects of the vaccine, but they are no cause for concern.

    Other Side Effects

    • A fever of up to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is reported in as many as 1 in 25 children and 1 in 100 adults who receive the Tdap vaccine, according to the CDC. About 25 percent of children and 10 percent of adults will develop side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomachache and diarrhea shortly after receiving the vaccine, according to the CDC. About 40 percent of children and 30 percent of adults who receive the Tdap vaccine report developing a headache as a side effect of the immunization, and tiredness or fatigue is reported by a third of children and a quarter of adults who receive the Tdap vaccine, the CDC reports. None of these side effects is cause for concern.

    Severe Reactions

    • In extremely rare cases, people receiving the Tdap vaccine may experience a severe reaction, including a high fever or unusual behavior changes. People who experience these reactions should report it to their doctors immediately and seek medical attention. Additionally, in rare cases people may have an allergic reaction to the Tdap vaccine, which is often characterized by hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, and swelling of the face, lips, tongue and throat. People experiencing an allergic reaction need immediate medical attention.

    Uses

    • Because each person can only receive one dose of the Tdap vaccine per person, it is recommended for use in three ways. First adolescents should receive it between the ages 11 and 12. It can also be used as a booster shot for adolescents and adults who received the Td vaccine as children. The booster is needed to provide protection against pertussis. Finally, the Tdap vaccine can be given to help protect against tetanus after a person is wounded.

    Warnings

    • Not all people should receive the Tdap vaccine, including people who have had a life-threatening reaction after receiving the Td, DTP, DT or DTaP vaccines and people who have severe allergies to any component of the vaccine. Additionally, people who have gone into a coma or had long or multiple seizures within a week of receiving a dose of the DTP or DTap vaccine should not receive the Tdap shot unless the reactions can otherwise be explained.

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