What is tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are serious diseases caused by bacteria.
Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airway. It can lead to breathing
problems, paralysis, heart failure, or death.
Pertussis (whooping cough) causes coughing so severe that it interferes with eating, drinking, or
breathing. These spells can last for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, seizures (convulsions), brain
damage, and death.
Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead
to "locking" of the jaw so the victim cannot open the mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about
1 out of 10 cases.
Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through a
cut or wound.
The diphtheria, tetanus acellular, and pertussis adult vaccine (also called Tdap) is used to help
prevent these diseases in people who are ages 10 to 64 years old. Most people in this age group
require only one Tdap shot for protection against these diseases.
This vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the
bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an
active infection that has already developed in the body.
Like any vaccine, the Tdap vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had a life-threatening reaction to any
vaccine containing diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus, including extreme drowsiness, fainting, or seizures
(convulsions).
You may not be able to receive this vaccine if you have ever received a similar vaccine that
caused any of the following:
-
a very high fever (over 104 degrees);
-
a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain;
-
fainting or going into shock;
-
an allergy to latex rubber;
-
severe or uncontrolled epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
-
Guillain-Barré syndrome (within 6 weeks after receiving a
vaccine containing tetanus).
Before receiving a Tdap vaccine, tell the doctor if you have:
-
a history of seizures;
-
a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if
this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);
-
a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow
transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
-
if it has been less than 5 years since you last received a
tetanus shot.
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a
more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this
vaccine.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this vaccine is harmful to an unborn
baby. Before receiving the Tdap vaccine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether Tdap vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
The adult version of this vaccine (Adacel, Boostrix) should not be given to anyone under the
age of 10 or over the age of 64. Another vaccine is available for use in children younger than 10 years
old.
How should I take tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a
doctor's office or other clinic setting.
In most cases, you will receive only one dose of the tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis
vaccine. Follow your doctor's instructions about receiving a booster dose if needed.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as
acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the
next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this
medicine to take.
It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring if you have a seizure disorder such as
epilepsy.
What happens if I miss a dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
Since the Tdap vaccine is usually given only once, you may not be on a dosing schedule.
Contact your doctor if you miss a recommended booster vaccine.
Where can I get more information about tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
Your pharmacist has information about tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
You should not receive this vaccine a second time if you had a life-threatening allergic
reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. If you ever have to
receive another vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first shot caused any side
effects.
Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your health
than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause
side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects within 7 days after
receiving this vaccine:
Less serious side effects include:
-
mild fever or chills;
-
redness, pain, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was
given;
-
headache or tiredness;
-
joint pain, body aches; or
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mild nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US
Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.
What is the most important information I should know about tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
In most cases, tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine is given in only one dose. Follow
your doctor's instructions about receiving a booster dose if needed.
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a cold or fever. In the case of a more severe illness
with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.
You should not receive this vaccine a second time if you had a life-threatening allergic
reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. If you ever need to
receive the vaccine again, you will need to tell your doctor if the first shot caused any side effects.
Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your health
than receiving the vaccine to protect against these diseases. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause
side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
What should I avoid while taking tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after
receiving a Tdap vaccine.
What other drugs will affect tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines you have recently
received.
Also tell the doctor if you have recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the
immune system, including:
-
an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
-
medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or
other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept
(Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
-
medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection,
such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3
(Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
this vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you have
received. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do
not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)?
