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The DTP & TDAP Differences

Vaccine safety is a topic that produces strong emotions on both sides. Parents who vaccinate do it to protect their children from diseases, while parents who do not vaccinate or who vaccinate selectively fear possible side effects of the vaccinations. The DTP/DTaP and the Tdap are common vaccines in the United States. The DTP was phased out in 1997 in favor of the DTaP vaccine.

  1. Purpose and Use

    • Both the DTP and the Tdap vaccines are intended to prevent children and young adults from contracting diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The full series of DTP/DTaP vaccines includes a shot at two, four and six months, as well as one between 12 and 18 months and one between four and six years. The Tdap vaccine is intended for older children, adolescents and adults who need protection from diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. A dose of Tdap is recommended for children between 11 and 12 years and for adults every 10 years, as well as for pregnant women or those who expect to have close contact with infants.

    Ingredients

    • DTP and DTaP have different active ingredients. DTP contained "whole cell" pertussis while the DTaP shot contains "acellular" pertussis, which is a purified form of the disease that is intended to reduce the vaccine's side effects. Some ingredients that the DTP and DTaP have in common include formaldehyde and aluminum. The DTP vaccine also contained a small amount of thimerosol; one brand of the DTaP vaccine contains trace amounts of thimerosol. The Tdap vaccine contains formaldehyde, bovine extract, thimerosol and aluminum.

    Safety

    • DTaP has replaced DTP in the United States because of some concerns about safety. The DTP vaccine had a slightly higher risk of causing febrile (infant) seizures. According to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), parents and professionals reported approximately one serious reaction for every 10,000 doses of the DTP vaccine. By contrast, the VAERS reports 0.3 serious reactions per 10,000 doses of the DTaP vaccine. Serious but rare reactions to either vaccine can include seizures, allergic reactions, nonstop crying for three hours or more and a fever over 105 degrees Fahrenheit. If your child experiences any of these reactions, see a doctor right away. Side effects for the Tdap vaccine include headache, nausea, swelling at the injection site and fever.

    Contraindications

    • There are certain times when a child or adult should not receive either the DTP/DTaP or the Tdap vaccines. If your child has been moderately or severely ill, you should wait until she is better before vaccinating. If your child has a severe allergic reaction or any severe reaction to the DTP or DTaP vaccine, you should not continue the series. If you have any concerns about the DTP/DTaP or other vaccines, you should discuss them with your doctor.

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