diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine at a glance
Vaccine type
Inactivated, adsorbed Tdap vaccine containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids plus purified acellular pertussis antigens.
Main roles
Booster immunisation and maternal immunisation to protect young infants against pertussis.
Administration
Injected into the upper-arm muscle by a trained healthcare professional.
Live vaccine
No. It cannot cause diphtheria, tetanus or whooping cough.
What is diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine used for?
Licensed uses represented by ADACEL include:
Booster immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis after primary immunisation.
Maternal immunisation during pregnancy to provide passive protection against pertussis in early infancy.
Management of tetanus-prone injuries, with or without tetanus immunoglobulin, according to official recommendations.
How does diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine work?
Harmless diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and purified pertussis antigens stimulate antibodies and immune memory without causing the infections. During pregnancy, maternal antibodies cross the placenta and provide temporary protection against pertussis after birth.
How to take diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine
A trained healthcare professional gives the vaccine into the deltoid muscle. It is not self-injected.
Tell the vaccinator about previous vaccine reactions, neurological illness, fainting with needles, bleeding disorders, anticoagulants, immunosuppressive treatment and latex allergy.
Other injected vaccines given at the same visit should use separate injection sites.
The vaccine must not be mixed with another product in the same syringe.
diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine side effects
Common or expected effects
- Injection-site pain, redness or swelling
- Headache or tiredness
- Feeling unwell, muscle aches or weakness
- Diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting
- Fever or chills
- Joint pain or swelling
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including breathing difficulty, facial or tongue swelling, hives, low blood pressure or collapse
- Seizure, facial weakness or progressive numbness or weakness
- Rare reports include Guillain–Barré syndrome, brachial neuritis, myelitis and myocarditis; their frequency cannot be estimated
diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine in pregnancy
Pertussis-containing vaccination is recommended during pregnancy in the UK. It raises maternal antibodies that cross the placenta and protect the baby during early life. Available safety data have not identified vaccine-related harm to pregnancy or the fetus. Discuss previous severe vaccine reactions or relevant neurological conditions with the vaccinator.
diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can continue after vaccination. Risk to a breastfed infant is considered unlikely because the vaccine is inactivated. Breastfeeding does not replace the infant's routine vaccinations.
diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine interactions
Tell the vaccinator about medicines and other vaccines, particularly:
Immunosuppressants, chemotherapy or radiotherapy
The immune response may be reduced. A clinician should assess the individual benefits and risks.
Anticoagulants
Intramuscular injection may increase bruising or bleeding, so administration requires assessment.
Other vaccines or immunoglobulins
They may generally be administered at the same visit using separate injection sites, but must not be mixed in the same syringe.
Common questions about diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is this a live vaccine?
No. It contains inactivated toxoids and purified antigens rather than live bacteria.
Can it cause whooping cough?
No. It does not contain live Bordetella pertussis and cannot cause whooping cough.
Will my baby still need routine vaccines?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.