VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Tdap Vaccine

What You Need to Know

(Tetanus, 

Diphtheria and 

Pertussis) 

Many Vaccine Information Statements are 

available in Spanish and other languages. 

See www.immunize.org/vis

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están 

disponibles en español y en muchos otros 

idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

1 Why get vaccinated?

Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are very serious 

diseases. Tdap vaccine can protect us from these 

diseases. And, Tdap vaccine given to pregnant women 

can protect newborn babies against pertussis..

TETANUS (Lockjaw) is rare in the United States today. 

It causes painful muscle tightening and stiffness, usually 

all over the body.

•	 It can lead to tightening of muscles in the head and 

neck so you can’t open your mouth, swallow, or 

sometimes even breathe. Tetanus kills about 1 out of 

10 people who are infected even after receiving the 

best medical care.

DIPHTHERIA is also rare in the United States today. 

It can cause a thick coating to form in the back of the 

throat.

•	 It can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, 

paralysis, and death.

PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough) causes severe 

coughing spells, which can cause difficulty breathing,

vomiting and disturbed sleep.

•	 It can also lead to weight loss, incontinence, and 

rib fractures. Up to 2 in 100 adolescents and 5 in 

100 adults with pertussis are hospitalized or have 

complications, which could include pneumonia or 

death. 

These diseases are caused by bacteria. Diphtheria and 

pertussis are spread from person to person through 

secretions from coughing or sneezing. Tetanus enters the 

body through cuts, scratches, or wounds.

Before vaccines, as many as 200,000 cases of diphtheria, 

200,000 cases of pertussis, and hundreds of cases of 

tetanus, were reported in the United States each year. 

Since vaccination began, reports of cases for tetanus and 

diphtheria have dropped by about 99% and for pertussis 

by about 80%. 

2 Tdap vaccine

Tdap vaccine can protect adolescents and adults from 

tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. One dose of Tdap is 

routinely given at age 11 or 12. People who did not get 

Tdap at that age should get it as soon as possible.

Tdap is especially important for healthcare professionals 

and anyone having close contact with a baby younger 

than 12 months.

Pregnant women should get a dose of Tdap during every 

pregnancy, to protect the newborn from pertussis. 

Infants are most at risk for severe, life-threatening 

complications from pertussis.

Another vaccine, called Td, protects against tetanus and 

diphtheria, but not pertussis. A Td booster should be 

given every 10 years. Tdap may be given as one of these 

boosters if you have never gotten Tdap before. Tdap 

may also be given after a severe cut or burn to prevent 

tetanus infection.

Your doctor or the person giving you the vaccine can 

give you more information.

Tdap may safely be given at the same time as other 

vaccines.

3 Some people should not get 

this vaccine

•	 A person who has ever had a life-threatening allergic 

reaction after a previous dose of any diphtheria, 

tetanus or pertussis containing vaccine, OR has a 

severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, should not 

get Tdap vaccine. Tell the person giving the vaccine 

about any severe allergies.

•	 Anyone who had coma or long repeated seizures 

within 7 days after a childhood dose of DTP or DTaP, 

or a previous dose of Tdap, should not get Tdap, 

unless a cause other than the vaccine was found. They 

can still get Td.

•	 Talk to your doctor if you:

- have seizures or another nervous system problem,

- had severe pain or swelling after any vaccine 

 containing diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis, 

- ever had a condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome 

 (GBS),

- aren’t feeling well on the day the shot is scheduled. 
4 Risks

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance 

of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on 

their own. Serious reactions are also possible but are 

rare.

Most people who get Tdap vaccine do not have any 

problems with it.

Mild problems following Tdap

(Did not interfere with activities)

•	 Pain where the shot was given (about 3 in 4 

adolescents or 2 in 3 adults)

•	 Redness or swelling where the shot was given (about 

1 person in 5)

•	 Mild fever of at least 100.4°F (up to about 1 in 

25 adolescents or 1 in 100 adults)

•	 Headache (about 3 or 4 people in 10)

•	 Tiredness (about 1 person in 3 or 4)

•	 Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache (up to 1 in 

4 adolescents or 1 in 10 adults)

•	 Chills, sore joints (about 1 person in 10)

•	 Body aches (about 1 person in 3 or 4) 

•	 Rash, swollen glands (uncommon)

Moderate problems following Tdap

(Interfered with activities, but did not require medical 

attention)

•	 Pain where the shot was given (up to 1 in 5 or 6) 

•	 Redness or swelling where the shot was given (up to 

about 1 in 16 adolescents or 1 in 12 adults)

•	 Fever over 102°F (about 1 in 100 adolescents or 1 in 

250 adults)

•	 Headache (about 1 in 7 adolescents or 1 in 10 adults)

•	 Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache (up to 1 or 

3 people in 100)

•	 Swelling of the entire arm where the shot was given 

(up to about 1 in 500).

Severe problems following Tdap

(Unable to perform usual activities; required medical 

attention)

•	 Swelling, severe pain, bleeding and redness in the arm 

where the shot was given (rare).

Problems that could happen after any vaccine:

•	 People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, 

including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 

15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries 

caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy, or 

have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

•	 Some people get severe pain in the shoulder and have 

difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given. This

happens very rarely.

•	 Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. 

Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated 

at fewer than 1 in a million doses, and would 

happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the 

vaccination. 

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a 

vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For 

more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/

5 What if there is a serious 

problem?

What should I look for?

•	 Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of 

a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or unusual 

behavior.

•	 Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, 

swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a

fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would 

usually start a few minutes to a few hours after the 

vaccination.

What should I do?

•	 If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other 

emergency that can’t wait, call 9-1-1 or get the person 

to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

•	 Afterward, the reaction should be reported to the 

Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). 

Your doctor might file this report, or you can do it

yourself through the VAERS web site at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.

VAERS does not give medical advice.

6 The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines.

Persons who believe they may have been injured by a 

vaccine can learn about the program and about filing a

claim by calling 1-800-338-2382 or visiting the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation. There 

is a time limit to file a claim for compensation.

7 How can I learn more?

•	 Ask your doctor. He or she can give you the vaccine 

package insert or suggest other sources of information.

•	 Call your local or state health department.

•	 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

- Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

- Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines

 Vaccine Information Statement

 Tdap Vaccine

 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

Office Use 

Only

2/24/2015