Vaccines What Is the Tdap Vaccine? By Mark Cichocki, RN Updated on December 05, 2023 Medically reviewed by David Snyder, PharmD Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Uses Before Using Dosage Side Effects Warnings & Interactions The Tdap vaccine is used to protect individuals against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. It may be given to adolescents and adults to boost waning immunity from the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP) vaccine they were given as part of their childhood vaccination schedule. Westend61 / Getty Images Although aims of the two combination vaccines are the same, their composition and indications for use differ. Tdap or Td (tetanus and diphtheria vaccine) is recommended as a booster every 10 years to sustain immunity to these potentially serious infectious diseases. Top 20 Vaccines You Should Know Uses The Tdap vaccine was licensed for use in adults and adolescents by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 10, 2005. It is used to afford ongoing protection against three diseases: Tetanus: This relatively rare but serious disease is caused by a bacteria that enters the body through breaks in the skin. Commonly known as lockjaw, tetanus causes a painful tightening of the muscles (including the mouth, jaw, abdomen, and neck) as well as fever, difficulty swallowing, fever, and rapid heart rate. If left untreated, tetanus can be fatal in up to 20% of cases. Diphtheria: Also caused by a bacteria, diphtheria manifests with a thick coating on the back of the throat. If left untreated, it can lead to breathing difficulty, swallowing problems, and heart failure. In extreme cases, paralysis and even death can occur. Pertussis: Also known as whooping cough, this bacterial infection causes a distinctive cough that literally sounds like whoop. The severe coughing spells can cause vomiting and sleep disturbances. Untreated, pertussis can lead to weight loss, rib fractures, pneumonia, and hospitalization. Vaccines for Adults: Which Do You Really Need? Indications for Use The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination for everyone. While the DTaP vaccine is given as a series of five shots to children from 2 months through 6 years, the Tdap vaccine is indicated for anyone 10 years or older as a booster shot to sustain immunity. There are two Tdap vaccine licensed for use by the FDA: Adacel: Approved for people 10 to 64 years of ageBoostrix: Approved for people 10 years of age or older When used as a booster, Tdap is typically given five years after the completion of the DTaP series and then every 10 years thereafter. Tdap contains the same amount of tetanus vaccine as DTaP, but smaller amounts of diphtheria and pertussis vaccines. Other Uses Though the Tdap vaccine is primarily used as a booster shot for people who have been previously immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, it has other uses as well. Among the other indications for use are: Previously unvaccinated people: Healthcare providers can give Adacel or Boostrix to anyone 7 years and older who has not been previously vaccinated for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Pregnancy: Adacel or Boostrix is also given during pregnancy to protect a woman's baby from whooping cough during the first months of life. Wound management: To prevent tetanus, the Tdap or Td vaccine is given to people who have a tetanus-prone wound. All About Tetanus Shots Before Using Although vaccination for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis is recommended for everyone, there a few rare individuals in whom Tdap vaccination may be harmful. Neither Adacel nor Boostrix should ever be used in: Anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a dose of the Tdap vaccine or to any other diphtheria, tetanus, or pertussis vaccine Anyone with a severe allergy to any component of Tdap Be sure to advise your healthcare provider if you or your child has epilepsy or any other neurological condition. The same applies if you or your child has ever had a severe autoimmune disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). However, in neither instance is the Tdap vaccine contraindicated, and the chances of a severe reaction are rare. Of note, a 2013 study in Clinical Infectious Diseases could find no evidence of an increased risk of GBS following vaccination of any kind. While vials of the Tdap vaccine do not contain latex, prefilled syringes do. Anyone with a known latex allergy should talk with their healthcare provider about getting the Tdap vaccine from a vial. Vaccine Side Effects vs. Adverse Events Dosage The administration of Adacel and Boostrix is nearly identical but there are some minor variations. Even so, some healthcare providers and clinics use them interchangeably. Both are given as an injection into a large muscle in a 0.5 milliliter (mL) dose. The vaccine either comes in a single-use vial or as a prefilled syringe. The shot is preferentially given in the deltoid muscle of the shoulder. Some healthcare providers and clinics will use the tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine, rather than the Tdap vaccine, for routine boosters. Even so, the CDC recommends that one of the Td doses be substituted with the Tdap vaccine to protect against pertussis in adults, who are more likely to be hospitalized if infected. The CDC recommends the use of Boostrix in adults 65 and over. With that said, they allow for the use of Adacel if only to avoid missing the opportunity to vaccinate during a routine healthcare visit. Side Effects Side effects to the Tdap vaccine, if any, tend to be mild and transient, usually resolving within a day or two. Severe side effects are rare but can occur. Call your healthcare provider or clinic immediately if you experience any side effects that are unusual, persistent, or worsening. Common The most common side effects experienced by those who receive Adacel or Boostrix include: Injection site pain, redness, or swellingHeadacheFatigueGastrointestinal symptoms (including nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting)Fever With Adacel, muscle pain and malaise are also common. Severe Severe side effects are rare with Adacel and Boostrix. The following adverse events have been noted in post-marketing surveillance, although a causal association has not been found: Facial palsy Convulsions Encephalitis Fainting These events are so rare that it remains unclear if the vaccines have anything to do with them. Vaccines Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Email Address Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Warnings and Interactions Out of an abundance of caution, the Tdap vaccine is deferred in people who have a progressive or unstable neurological disorder until such time as the symptoms have stabilized. People who have a mild illness, such as a cold, can probably get the vaccine. Those who have a more serious illness should probably wait until they fully recover. Tdap vaccines are sometimes given at the same time as other vaccines. Most of the time doing this is not a problem and will not undermine the efficacy of either vaccine. The only exceptions may be the flu vaccine or, with Boostrix, the meningococcal vaccine Menactra. There is evidence, albeit scant, that using these vaccines together may reduce the antibody response against pertussis. While the interaction may be negligible, you may want to separate the doses by four weeks just in case. On the other hand, advise your healthcare provider if you are on any immunosuppressive therapy as this can undermine the effectiveness of Tdap and other vaccines. This includes: Chemotherapy High-dose corticosteroids (including prednisone) Radiation therapy The 6 Vaccines All Grandparents Should Get 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccination: what everyone should know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice recommends adult vaccination with new tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine (Tdap). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tetanus: symptoms and complications. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diphtheria. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pertussis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccination: what everyone should know. Sanofi Pasteur. Package insert - Adacel. GlaxoSmithKline. Package insert - Boosterix. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine recommendations. Baxter R, Bakshi N, Fireman B, et al. Lack of association of Guillain-Barré syndrome with vaccinations. Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Jul 15:57(2):197-204. doi:10.1093/cid/cit222 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiology and prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases, 13th edition. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whooping cough vaccines are safe but side effects can occur. By Mark Cichocki, RN Mark Cichocki, RN, is an HIV/AIDS nurse educator at the University of Michigan Health System for more than 20 years. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit