Tdap Vaccine - Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
The Tdap vaccine is a booster shot protecting against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, also called whooping cough. It's for adolescents and adults between 11 and 64 years of age. DTaP is the infant vaccine protecting against these same serious, and sometimes fatal diseases. The Tdap booster shot is a one time only vaccination.
Tetanus is a toxin that causes severe muscle tightening and spasms. The jaw locks preventing swallowing. It can be deadly. Diphtheria is a respiratory infection that starts with difficulty breathing, affects the nervous system and heart, and can progress to pneumonia. It's contagious and can be fatal. Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is making a comeback. It's a severe respiratory infection, contagious, and can be fatal. Severe coughing spells interfere with breathing. It progresses into pneumonia, bronchitis, or even seizures.
Mild side effects are common. These include body aches, fever, chills, headache, nausea, diarrhea, rash, swelling or soreness at the injection site. Check with your doctor if the vaccination if followed by wheezing, difficulty breathing, hives, dizziness, or a feeling of weakness.
Anyone who's had a serious reaction to the DTP, Td, DT, or DTaP vaccine, or has a severe allergy to latex, shouldn't get the Tdap booster. Consult with your doctor if you've had epilepsy or Guillain-Barre syndrome. Serious and severe side effects are rare. You and your children have a much greater chance of catching one of these serious and potentially life threatening disease.
Adolescents should have this vaccination at age 11 or 12. For older teens and adults, if you've had a Td vaccination within the last 10 years, check with your doctor. New mothers, health care personnel who work directly with ill patients, and anyone in regular contact with infants under 12 months, should have this vaccination as soon as possible.
Vaccines have dramatically reduced the incidence of serious infectious diseases. They've been so successful that it's become a common myth that many of these disease don't exist anymore, and vaccinations are no longer necessary. This is a complete misconception. Vaccines inject a weakened or dead bacteria or germ into the body. The immune system goes to work producing antibodies. When exposed to the disease, the vaccinated person is immune, doesn't even know he's been exposed to the disease. The immune system is boosted, not weakened by vaccinations.
Vaccines are routinely available at doctors offices and pharmacies. Also public health care clinics or community heath care centers provide free or low cost vaccinations. It's advisable to check with your doctor on a regular basis to be sure you and your children's vaccinations are up to date.
Five DTaP vaccinations are given to children between the ages of 2 months and 6 years old. The purpose of the Tdap vaccine is to provide continuing protection to adolescents and adults between 11 and 64 only. Even though pertussis is rarely fatal to adults, it's contagious to infants who are at greater risk. Vaccinations of adults protects infants. If you have any allergies at all, any neurological illnesses, or prior reactions to other vaccines, consult with your doctor before vaccinating. Let your doctor decide what is relevant information.
Tetanus is a toxin that causes severe muscle tightening and spasms. The jaw locks preventing swallowing. It can be deadly. Diphtheria is a respiratory infection that starts with difficulty breathing, affects the nervous system and heart, and can progress to pneumonia. It's contagious and can be fatal. Pertussis, also called whooping cough, is making a comeback. It's a severe respiratory infection, contagious, and can be fatal. Severe coughing spells interfere with breathing. It progresses into pneumonia, bronchitis, or even seizures.
Mild side effects are common. These include body aches, fever, chills, headache, nausea, diarrhea, rash, swelling or soreness at the injection site. Check with your doctor if the vaccination if followed by wheezing, difficulty breathing, hives, dizziness, or a feeling of weakness.
Anyone who's had a serious reaction to the DTP, Td, DT, or DTaP vaccine, or has a severe allergy to latex, shouldn't get the Tdap booster. Consult with your doctor if you've had epilepsy or Guillain-Barre syndrome. Serious and severe side effects are rare. You and your children have a much greater chance of catching one of these serious and potentially life threatening disease.
Adolescents should have this vaccination at age 11 or 12. For older teens and adults, if you've had a Td vaccination within the last 10 years, check with your doctor. New mothers, health care personnel who work directly with ill patients, and anyone in regular contact with infants under 12 months, should have this vaccination as soon as possible.
Vaccines have dramatically reduced the incidence of serious infectious diseases. They've been so successful that it's become a common myth that many of these disease don't exist anymore, and vaccinations are no longer necessary. This is a complete misconception. Vaccines inject a weakened or dead bacteria or germ into the body. The immune system goes to work producing antibodies. When exposed to the disease, the vaccinated person is immune, doesn't even know he's been exposed to the disease. The immune system is boosted, not weakened by vaccinations.
Vaccines are routinely available at doctors offices and pharmacies. Also public health care clinics or community heath care centers provide free or low cost vaccinations. It's advisable to check with your doctor on a regular basis to be sure you and your children's vaccinations are up to date.
Five DTaP vaccinations are given to children between the ages of 2 months and 6 years old. The purpose of the Tdap vaccine is to provide continuing protection to adolescents and adults between 11 and 64 only. Even though pertussis is rarely fatal to adults, it's contagious to infants who are at greater risk. Vaccinations of adults protects infants. If you have any allergies at all, any neurological illnesses, or prior reactions to other vaccines, consult with your doctor before vaccinating. Let your doctor decide what is relevant information.
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