We used to hear about them all the time: tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (also known as pertussis). These diseases used to be a huge part of childhood mortality rates in the United States, but now they’re relatively rare. Why? Their decline is largely due to widespread vaccination.
Thanks to the DTaP and Tdap vaccines, most of the population is protected from getting and spreading these serious illnesses. So, when do you get these vaccines? And how do you know if you have all the vaccinations you and your child need?
Below, we’ll tell you what you need to know about the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis) and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) vaccines so you and your child can be fully protected while protecting others against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
Why Tdap and DTaP vaccines are important: What the DTaP and Tdap vaccines protect you against
Like many other vaccines, Tdap and DTaP help protect everyone against preventable diseases, especially vulnerable populations who could suffer serious illness or health complications from getting sick.
DTaP and Tdap protect people from the illnesses diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, which are all caused by bacteria.
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria. Inside the body, these bacteria produce a toxin that causes a thick layer of mucus to form at the back of the throat. This can make breathing difficult and is often accompanied by a low-grade fever and swollen glands in the neck.
Before the vaccine was developed in the 1920s, diphtheria was a common cause of death in children and teens. During that time, about 150,000 people got diphtheria each year. Thanks to these vaccines, the disease has almost completely disappeared in the U.S. Today, we usually see less than one case of diphtheria each year. Getting vaccinated against diphtheria helps prevent this deadly disease from coming back.
Tetanus
This is an infection caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria. Inside the body, these bacteria produce a toxin that makes muscles stiffen and contract painfully. For this reason, tetanus is sometimes called “lockjaw.” Tetanus starts when foreign material containing Clostridium tetani bacteria (usually dust, soil or manure) gets into the body through a puncture, cut or other wound.
Tetanus vaccines help protect you from serious infections. Tetanus doesn’t spread from person to person, so even if everyone around you is vaccinated, you’re still at risk if you haven’t gotten a vaccine.
Pertussis (whooping cough)
This is a respiratory infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. People sick with whooping cough suffer prolonged, hacking coughing fits, punctuated by sharp inhales that sound like “whoop” (hence the name). It can also cause serious symptoms and complications.
Getting a DTaP or Tdap vaccine helps to keep you and your loved ones safe. Whooping cough is highly contagious and spreads easily among children and adults. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have been getting whooping cough, so it’s even more important to get vaccinated against pertussis.
The difference between DTaP and Tdap vaccines
Both DTaP and Tdap protect us against the same three diseases, so what makes them different from each other? That comes down to who they’re meant for:
- DTaP – This formulation is designed for infants and children under 7 years old. Even if your child becomes sick with diphtheria or whooping cough, they should still be vaccinated once they recover. Having these illnesses creates a natural immunity, but it’s unknown how long that lasts.
- Tdap – Tdap is known as the “booster shot,” and it’s meant for adolescents, pregnant women and adults who already received their full series of DTaP when they were children. It’s given to adults once every 10 years.
What is the Td vaccine?
You may also have heard about the Td vaccine and wonder where it fits. As you might guess, Td provides protection against tetanus and diphtheria, but not pertussis. In some cases, a Td vaccine is used as the booster shot for adults instead of Tdap. At HealthPartners, we recommend Tdap for boosters unless you can’t get Tdap.
Like many vaccines, the DTaP and Tdap vaccines contain an inactive form of the bacteria that causes illness. This means the vaccines won’t make you sick. Instead, inactive bacteria cause your immune system to create antibodies, or defensive proteins used against the bacteria behind diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. That way, your immune system already knows what to do if you’re exposed to active bacteria.
Tdap and DTaP vaccine schedules: When you or your child should get vaccinated
Both DTaP and Tdap (plus Td) vaccines have different schedules that should be followed for full protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
DTaP vaccine schedule
The DTaP vaccine is given to infants and young children as a series of five shots. Babies get one shot of DTaP at each of the following well-child visits:
- 2 months old
- 4 months old
- 6 months old
- 15 or 18 months old
The fifth and final shot is given to children between 4-6 years old.
Tdap vaccine schedule
After the DTaP vaccine series is complete, it’s time for Tdap:
- Tdap in childhood – Children should receive a dose of Tdap as early as 7 years old if they missed one of their DTaP shots. Otherwise, one dose of Tdap is given to children between the ages of 11-12. Then Tdap (or Td) is administered as a booster shot every 10 years after that.
- Tdap in adulthood – All adults should get a Tdap (or Td) every 10 years. Staying up to date with vaccines may be especially important for people who spend time with babies or work in health care. Adults who missed their one dose of Tdap in childhood should plan to get Tdap as their next booster shot. Adults over the age of 65 should receive one dose of Tdap in place of a Td shot.
- Tdap during pregnancy – Women should get one dose of Tdap between weeks 27 and 36 of each pregnancy. The vaccine helps boost the mother’s pertussis antibodies, which are then passed to the baby through the placenta before birth.
- Tdap following an injury – You may need a Tdap if you have a skin injury, and it’s possible you could have been exposed to Clostridium tetani If the wound is clean or minor, you’ll need another Tdap if your last vaccine was more than 10 years ago. If the wound is dirty or serious, you may need a vaccine if it’s been more than 5 years since your last dose. A wound may be considered serious if it was caused when an object (such as a nail) punctured the skin; the wound contains dirt, feces or saliva; or if the tissue surrounding the tissue is damaged.
Possible DTaP and Tdap side effects
After receiving a vaccine, you may experience some mild side effects for 1-3 days as your immune system responds to the inactive bacteria. For most, pain, redness or swelling at the spot where the shot was given are the most common side effects, but other mild symptoms are possible.
After receiving the DTaP vaccine, children may experience:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Fussiness
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
After the Tdap or Td vaccine, adolescents and adults may experience:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Nausea, stomachache or diarrhea
Who should not get the DTaP or Tdap vaccines
Some people can’t receive these vaccinations due to health concerns. This is why it’s so important to get vaccinated if you can, to protect those who can’t.
Always talk with your doctor if you’re uncertain whether vaccination is a good idea for you or your child, especially if any of the following applies:
- Your child has another illness – If your child is sick, your doctor may recommend delaying the DTaP or Tdap vaccination. This is because the vaccine may not work as well when someone has a moderate or severe illness. It can also be difficult to tell if side effects are caused by the illness or the vaccine. However, if your child’s illness is mild or their symptoms are mostly gone, it should be okay to get the vaccine.
- Your child had a severe (but rare) reaction to a previous vaccine dose – DtaP and Tdap are incredibly safe and effective. While it’s extremely rare, some people can have life-threatening side-effects. Your child shouldn’t get another DtaP or Tdap if they had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine or component of the vaccine. Signs of anaphylaxis include hives, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat and dizziness. They also shouldn’t get the vaccine if they experienced encephalopathy within 7 days of receiving their last dose. Encephalopathy is a condition that changes how the brain functions.
Your child’s pediatrician or your primary care doctor may be able to offer alternatives if they determine the DTaP or Tdap vaccine is not a good option. Otherwise, these vaccines are safe, with risks and side effects being rare. Most importantly, they work to keep people safe from serious disease.
Stay on top of DTaP and Tdap vaccinations
Keeping current with your and your child’s regular well-child checkups can help make sure you’re staying on schedule with vaccine recommendations. But immunization-only appointments are also an option if you miss one.
Talk with your primary care doctor or pediatrician if you have any questions about vaccinations.
