diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP)

What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?

Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your child's health than receiving this vaccine.

What is diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine?

Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are serious diseases caused by bacteria.

Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, or death.

Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles that can lead to "locking" of the jaw so the victim cannot open the mouth, swallow, or breathe. Tetanus can lead to death.

Pertussis (whooping cough) causes severe long-lasting episodes of cough that can interfere with eating, drinking, or breathing. Pertussis can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death.

Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound.

The diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis pediatric vaccine (also called DTaP) is used to help prevent these diseases in children. This vaccine helps your body develop immunity to the disease but will not treat an already active infection.

DTap vaccine is for use in children between the ages of 6 weeks and 6 years old (before the child has reached his or her 7th birthday).

Like any vaccine, the DTaP vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving this vaccine?

• a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine that contains diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus;
• fainting, going into shock, loss of consciousness;
• seizures;
• nervous system problems or brain disorders (such as infantile spasms or uncontrolled epilepsy);
• Guillain-Barré syndrome; or
• severe pain or swelling after receiving a vaccine that contains tetanus or diphtheria.

Tell the vaccination provider if your child was born prematurely or has a seizure disorder.

Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a minor cold. 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.

The pediatric version of this vaccine (Daptacel, Infanrix) should not be given to a child who is 7 years or older. Another vaccine is available for use in older children and adults.

How is this vaccine given?

This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle.

This vaccine is given in a series of shots usually given when the child is 2, 4, and 6 months old, followed by two booster shots between 15 to 20 months and again at 4 to 6 years of age.

The timing of this vaccination is very important for it to be effective. Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your child doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.

Your child may receive other vaccines at the same time as this vaccine.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine, or the child may not be fully protected against disease.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid before or after receiving this vaccine?

Follow the vaccination provider's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What are the possible side effects of 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 all side effects your child has. If the child receives a booster dose, tell the vaccination provider if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your child's health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is low.

• high fever (over 105 degrees F);
• fussiness, irritability, crying for 3 hours or longer;
• fainting, loss of consciousness going into shock;
• a seizure (within 3 days); or
• swelling of arm or leg where the shot was given.

Some side effects are more likely to occur after the 4th or 5th dose.

Follow the label directions or the vaccination provider's instructions.

It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.

Common side effects include:

• pain, redness, or swelling where the injection was given;
• fussiness or crying;
• fever;
• drowsiness, tiredness; or
• loss of appetite.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your child's doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

What other drugs will affect diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis vaccine?

Also, tell the vaccination provider if your child has recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:

• steroid medicine;
• cancer treatments;
• medicine to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders; or
• medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection.

If your child is using any of these medications, he or she may not be able to receive the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect this vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your child's vaccination provider, pharmacist, or doctor can provide more information about this vaccine. Additional information is available from your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.02. Revision date: 12/3/2021.