What is the most important information I should know about diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine?
This vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is
2 months old. The booster shots are then given at 4 months, 6 months, 15 months, and 18
months of age, and again between 4 and 6 years of age. Your child's individual booster schedule
may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule
recommended by your local health department.
Be sure your child receives all doses of this vaccine recommended by your healthcare
provider or by the health department of the state you live in. If the child does not not receive the
full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a cold or fever. In the case of a
more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before
receiving this vaccine.
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a
life-threatening
allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When
the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any
side effects.
Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your
child's 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 is diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine?
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are serious diseases caused by bacteria.
Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airways. 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 pediatric vaccine (also called DTaP) is
used to help prevent these diseases in children who are ages 6 weeks to 6 years old (before the
child has reached his or her 7th birthday).
This vaccine works by exposing your child 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 DTaP vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every
person.
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