Tdap (
Adacel®,
Boostrix®) is a vaccine approved for use as a "booster" to help prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (
whooping cough) in adolescents and adults. As with all vaccines, Tdap may not provide full protection to all individuals.
As with any vaccine, Tdap may cause side effects. However, not everyone who receives the vaccine will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it well.
If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Some of the most common side effects include, but are not limited to:
(Click Side Effects of Tdap to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Getting It?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to receiving Tdap if you have:
- An immune-suppressing condition such as HIV or AIDS, diabetes, or cancer
- Had any sort of a reaction to any vaccine in the past
- Epilepsy or any other nervous system disorder
- If you are moderately to severely ill
- An illness or infection (such as the flu)
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Had a recent stroke
- Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Thimerosal Content and Other Concerns
Tdap vaccines do not contain thimerosal (a mercury-containing preservative). Individuals who are concerned about exposure to thimerosal can be confident that this vaccine has no thimerosal (not even trace amounts). Some people are concerned about aluminum content of vaccines;
Adacel contains 0.33 mg of aluminum per dose and
Boostrix contains no more than 0.39 mg of aluminum per dose.
These vaccines are not made from human fetal components, as some vaccines are. However, Boostrix is made from bovine (cow) components.
Tdap contains pertussis antigens, diphtheria toxoid, and tetanus toxoid. Toxoids are bacterial toxins that have been detoxified. Although the toxoids will not cause the actual disease, they stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies to the toxin.
"Antigen" is the generic term for substances that cause the body to produce an immune response and to produce antibodies. Tdap contains a few different pertussis antigens which have been detoxified. Much like the toxoids, the detoxified antigens will not cause the actual disease but can stimulate an immune response.
Basically, the antigens and toxoids in Tdap "trick" the body into thinking it has been exposed to diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The body produces antibodies that will help fight these diseases if future exposure occurs.
When and How to Get the Vaccine
Some general considerations include the following:
- This vaccine is given as a single, one-time injection into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm (where most immunizations are given).
- Your healthcare provider should shake the vial well before injecting Tdap.
- Multiple doses of this vaccine are not recommended in most situations. After an individual receives the Tdap vaccine, all future boosters should be given as the Td (tetanus and diphtheria) vaccine.
- In general, the vaccine should be given only if at least five years have passed since the last DTaP or Td vaccine was given. In some cases, the vaccine can be given sooner.
There is only one standard recommended dosage for this vaccine. However, because there are several different similar vaccines that are given during childhood and adolescence, it can be confusing to know when exactly (or even if) this vaccine should be given.
Adacel is made by Sanofi Pasteur Limited for Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.
Boostrix is made by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics for GlaxoSmithKline.
Tdap should be stored in the refrigerator. It should not be frozen.
The vaccine is available in two forms, standard 0.5 mL single-dose vials or 0.5 mL prefilled syringes (which are packaged without needles).
Is There a Generic Version of Tdap?
