Completing the routine vaccination series reduces the risk of developing diphtheria. Tetanus may occur following a clean tiny wound or a large contaminated wound. Neonatal tetanus occurs in infants born to inadequately vaccinated mothers. Adequately vaccinated mothers pass protection to their infants through the placenta. In the United States, tetanus occurs almost exclusively in persons who are unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated.
Vaccination is a part of routine childhood immunizations.
Pertussis Pertussis is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis . Controversy regarding the safety of pertussis vaccine led to much investigation into the whole cell pertussis vaccine. Current recommendations call for use of the acellular pertussis or more purified pertussis vaccine. This is due to the superior safety profile of the acellular vaccine. It is important to note that the benefits of the DTaP vaccination outweighs the risks.