Content Map Terms

Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus Vaccines

What To Think About

Children with a mild illness, such as a cold, can get the DTaP vaccine. But if they are more ill, they should wait until they are better.

If you or your child developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting the tetanus vaccine, do not get any more.footnote 1 The tetanus vaccine may be linked to GBS. Talk to your doctor before having another dose of the tetanus vaccine if you or your child developed GBS within 6 weeks of having the shot.

How Well It Works

The protection against diphtheria and tetanus lessens over time, which is why Td booster shots are recommended.footnote 2

In recent years, there have been more people diagnosed with pertussis. Experts think this may be because a vaccine used in the 1980s and 1990s didn't work as well as the one used today, teens and adults may lose protection over time, and more health professionals now recognize and report the disease. For these reasons, one booster shot of Tdap is recommended for teens and adults.footnote 1

Why It Is Used

Before vaccines were available, many people became seriously ill or died from these diseases.

For children

A total of five shots of DTaP are given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, and between 4 to 6 years of age. If the 6-in-1 or 5-in-1 shot is used, the last dose given will be the 4-in-1 (it will not contain Hib).

For children older than 7 who did not have the DTaP vaccine series, three shots of Tdap will be given.

For teens

A booster shot of Tdap is given to teens between 14 to 16 years of age.

For adults

The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations (NACI) recommends that adults get the Tdap booster shot once if they did not get it as a teen. The Td vaccine is usually given to adults as a booster shot. You should continue to get a Td booster every 10 years throughout life, unless you have been injured. You should receive a booster as soon as possible if your wound is dirty and it has been 5 years or longer since your last Td booster. NACI also recommends that all pregnant people get the tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine to help protect the baby after birth. 

Examples

tetanus and diphtheria combined vaccine (Td)

tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis combined vaccine (Tdap)

Adacel

tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis combined vaccine (DTaP)

Tripacel

tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and hepatitis B combined vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib-hep B, called the 6-in-1)

Infanrix Hexa

tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b combined vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib, called the 5-in-1)

Pentacel

tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and polio combined vaccine (DTaP-IPV, called the 4-in-1)

Quadracel

Side Effects

Mild reactions 1 to 3 days after the DTaP shots are common, especially after the 4th and 5th doses. Your child may:footnote 3

  • Have a fever.
  • Have redness or swelling where the shot was given. Sometimes an arm or leg swells for 1 to 7 days after the shot.
  • Be sore or tender where the shot was given.
  • Be fussy or tired.
  • Not feel like eating or drinking.
  • Vomit.

Mild to moderate reactions to Tdap are also common and may include:

  • Pain, redness, and swelling where the shot was given.
  • Headache.
  • Tiredness.
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach ache.
  • Fever.

Even though serious allergic reactions are rare with these vaccines, call your doctor or local health unit right away if you or your child has trouble breathing, a high fever, or anything unusual after having the shot.

A person who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine should not get another dose. Tell your doctor or nurse if you or your child has had a severe reaction to any vaccine or has severe allergies.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

How It Works

Vaccines help your body make chemicals called antibodies to fight off the viruses and bacteria. These vaccines are given as shots (injections).

The two combined vaccines DTaP (for children) and Tdap (for teens and adults) protect against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus (lockjaw). For children, these vaccines may be combined with the vaccines for polio alone (known as the 4-in-1), or with polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (known as the 5-in-1), or with polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and hepatitis B (known as the 6-in-1).

The Td booster shot is for teens and adults. It protects against tetanus and diphtheria only.

References

Citations

  1. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) (2006). Pertussis vaccine. In Canadian Immunization Guide, 7th ed., pp. 257–266. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada. Also available online: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/cig-gci/p04-pert-coqu-eng.php.
  2. National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) (2006). Diphtheria toxoid. In Canadian Immunization Guide, 7th ed., pp. 166–171. Ottawa: Public Health Agency of Canada. Also available online: http://publications.gc.ca.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001). Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine: What you need to know. Vaccine Information Statement. Department of Health and Human Services, National Immunization Program (7/30/01). Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-dtp.pdf.

Credits

Adaptation Date: 1/23/2023

Adapted By: HealthLink BC

Adaptation Reviewed By: HealthLink BC