Tetanus Diphtheria Acellular Pertussis Vaccine

Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine is a combination of vaccines used to help prevent Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. 

• Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine are available under various brand names: Adacel (Tdap), Boostrix (Tdap)

Common side effects of Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccine include:

• mild pain or tenderness at the injection site;
• headache or tiredness;
• body aches; or
• mild nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Serious side effects of Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccine include:

• hives,
• difficult breathing,
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• numbness, weakness, or tingling in the feet and legs;
• problems with walking or coordination;
• sudden pain in your arms or shoulders;
• a light-headed feeling,
• vision problems, ringing in the ears;
• seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
• redness, swelling, bleeding, or severe pain at the injection site.

Rare side effects of Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccine include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Pediatric dosage

DTaP suspension

• (10 mcg/15 Lf/5 Lf)/0.5 mL (Daptacel)
• (58 mcg/25 Lf/10 Lf)/0.5 mL (Infanrix)

Primary Immunization

Pediatric dosage

• 6 weeks-7 years
• 0.5 mL IM x 3 at 2, 4, 6 months of age; may administer as early as six weeks of age and repeated every 4-8 weeks; THEN 4th dose at 15-20 months of age but at least 6 months after the third dose & 5th dose at 4-6 years of age, prior to starting school or kindergarten; if fourth dose given at above 4 years of age, may omit fifth dose;
• For children below 7 years who didn't receive DTaP at early infancy, give first 3 doses every month, THEN 4th dose at least 6 months later

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccine has severe interactions with the following drug:
  • belimumab
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccine has serious interactions with at least 37 other drugs.
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccine has moderate interactions with the following drugs:
  • belatacept
  • dengue vaccine
  • ifosfamide
  • melphalan
  • mercaptopurine
  • methotrexate
  • oxaliplatin
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccine has minor interactions with the following drug:
  • chloroquine

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the rxlist Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine that contains tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis
• neurologic disorder affecting your brain (such as loss of consciousness or a prolonged seizure) within 7 days after having a previous pertussis vaccine
• a history of seizures;
• a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
• less than 10 years since you last received a tetanus shot
• You may not be able to receive a Tdap vaccine if you have ever received a similar vaccine that caused any of the following:
• a very high fever (over 104 degrees Fahrenheit);
• a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain;
• fainting or going into shock;
• severe pain, redness, tenderness, swelling, or a lump where the shot was given;
• 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).

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccine?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis Vaccine?”

Cautions

• You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis vaccine. You also should not receive this vaccine if you had a neurologic disorder affecting your brain within 7 days after having a previous pertussis vaccine.
• 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.
• The adult version of this vaccine (Adacel, Boostrix) should not be given to anyone under the age of 10. Another vaccine is available for use in children younger than 10 years old

Pregnancy and Lactation

• It is not known whether Tdap vaccine will harm an unborn baby. However, you may need a Tdap vaccine during pregnancy to protect your newborn baby from pertussis. Young babies are most at risk for severe, life-threatening complications from pertussis. Your doctor should determine whether you need this vaccine during pregnancy.
• It is not known whether Tdap vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.
• Lactation
  • It is not known whether dornase alfa passes into breast milk. Do not use dornase alfa without first talking to your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.