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DTaP
Vaccine You
can protect your children from diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis by getting
them immunized with DTaP vaccine. DTaP is actually three vaccines - Diphtheria,
Tetanus, and Pertussis - combined into one
shot. DTaP
is an updated version of DTP vaccine. The "a" stands for "acellular"
pertussis, which means that only part of the pertussis bacteria is used
in the vaccine. The older DTP vaccine is rarely used in the U.S. A
child needs five DTaP shots for maximum protection. The first three shots
should be given at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The fourth (booster) shot
is given between 15 and 18 months, and a fifth shot - another booster
- is given when the child is about to enter school, at 4-6 years of age.
When DTaP vaccine is given according to this schedule it protects most
children from all three diseases. If a child does get one of the diseases
in spite of the vaccine, it will probably be milder than it would have
been otherwise. Side
Effects from DTaP Immunization Up
to one third of children who get DTaP have local reactions (tenderness,
pain, redness, swelling) where the shot was given. These reactions are
more likely after the fourth and fifth doses of DTaP than after the earlier
doses, and may also be more pronounced. When they do occur, it is usually
within two days after the shot. Some children also experience swelling
of the entire leg or arm after the fourth or fifth DTaP dose. This happens
within 3 days of the vaccination and usually lasts around 4 days, with
no after-effects. Fever
is another fairly common reaction. Up to about 1 child out of 20 will
get a fever of over 101°F; more often after the fourth or fifth dose.
Up to 1 out of 5 children will be fussy or lose their appetite for a day
or two after the shot, and nearly half may be drowsy afterward. Occasionally,
a child will have a more serious side effect. About one child in 3,000
will get a fever of 104°F or more. Rarely a child may cry continuously
for 3 hours or more after getting the shot (in various studies this has
happened with anywhere from about 1 child in 8,000 to about 1 child in
900). About once in 14,000 injections, a child may have convulsions or
become limp or pale for a short while. Convulsions
that occur after a DTaP shot are usually not caused directly by the vaccine
but by a fever, which in turn was triggered by the vaccine. These are
called "febrile seizures" and, while they might be alarming
when they occur, children recover from them quickly and they do not cause
permanent harm. Some experts recommend giving a non-aspirin pain reliever
(Tylenol® or other acetaminophen products) to reduce the chances of
a fever, which should also make febrile seizures less likely. These pain
relievers can be given at the same time as the shot and then every 4-6
hours over the next 24 hours. The
older DTP vaccine was sometimes accused of being "unsafe," mainly
because of the pertussis component. While DTP vaccine was associated with
more reactions than many other vaccines, the small risk was still far
outweighed by its benefits. It is DTP that has been largely responsible
for bringing diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis under control in the United
States and around the world. Reactions are much less likely with DTaP
vaccine. Serious
reactions to either DTP or DTaP have been very rare. Over the years several
cases of permanent brain damage were reported following DTP vaccination.
But whether these were true vaccine reactions or merely coincidence is
impossible to say, because they occurred so infrequently. Some people
used to believe that DTP or DTaP shots could cause Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS), but studies have not shown a connection. Most experts,
including the SIDS Alliance, agree that vaccinations do not cause SIDS.
No deaths are known to have ever been caused by DTP or DTaP vaccine. Precautions A
child who has had convulsions or other nervous system problems in the
past is slightly more likely than other children to have a serious reaction
after DTaP, although the risk is still very small. There
are several reasons a doctor might want to delay giving a child a DTaP
vaccination or not give it at all:
NOTE:
Children who should not get a pertussis-containing vaccine can get DT
(diphtheria/tetanus) vaccine instead of DTaP (see Similar Vaccines, below).
Your doctor or nurse can give you more details. After
Getting DTaP Vaccine . . . If
your child has any serious or unusual problem after getting DTaP
or any other vaccine, call your doctor or get your child to a doctor right
away. Similar
Vaccines There
are two other related vaccines you should know about. The first is called
Td. Td is a vaccine for children 7 years old and over, and for adults.
It does not contain pertussis vaccine, and has less diphtheria toxoid
than DTaP. Immunity to diphtheria and tetanus starts to fade over time,
and a "booster" shot of Td every 10 years keeps you protected.
The first dose of Td is recommended at 11-12 or 14-16 years of age, with
another dose every 10 years after that. The second vaccine is called DT. DT contains diphtheria and tetanus toxoids but no pertussis vaccine. It is given to children under 7 years old who should not get pertussis vaccine. Usually these are children who have had certain reactions after a previous DTaP shot. Side effects from DT or Td vaccines are not common. If they occur at all, they usually consist of soreness where the shot was given and a slight fever. U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES |