Teen girl getting vacine
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IMMUNIZATION

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)

The Tdap vaccine protects against three diseases in one needle: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.
• Routinely given to teenagers at 14-16 years of age as a booster to the immunizations they received as a child.
• All adults should receive one dose of Tdap if they have not had one in adulthood. This should replace one of their Td boosters of which are due for every 10 years.
• All pregnant women in every pregnancy, ideally from 27 – 32 weeks gestation, but can be given anytime from 13 weeks up until delivery. Getting the vaccine while pregnant provides protection for the newborn during the first 2 months of life (when they are at highest risk).

When given on the recommended schedule:

• 99% of those fully vaccinated are protected against tetanus.
• 97-100% of those fully vaccinated are protected against diphtheria.
• 85-90% of those fully vaccinated are protected against pertussis.

• At this time there are no other ways to prevent these diseases.
• Hand washing and covering the mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing can help reduce the spread of disease.
• The risk of a serious reaction or side effect from this vaccine is much less than the risk of tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis.
• If you experience any side effect worse than what is listed below, please seek medical advice and notify the health unit.

Common

• Mild pain in muscle
• Redness
• Swelling

Less Common

• Headache
• Nausea
• Mild fever
• Body aches
• Rash
• Chills
• Diarrhea
• Feeling tired

Rare

• Arthus-like reaction (severe pain, swelling, hard lump where needle was given).
• Anaphylaxis

 
• Anyone with an allergy to any of the vaccine components or who has had an allergic or anaphylactic reaction to this vaccine.
• Anyone who has developed Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of receiving tetanus containing vaccine.
• Anyone who has developed neurological symptoms within 7 days of a previous dose of a pertussis containing vaccine with the cause not yet identified.

Adacel®

Boostrix®

Also found in…

2-Phenoxyethanol

 

Skim creams, sunscreen

Aluminum phosphate

Aluminum phosphate

Breast milk, antacids

Glutaraldehyde

 

Water treatment

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde

Mushrooms, Pears, Apples

 

Glycine

Meat, Fish

 

Polysorbate 80

Ice Cream

 

Sodium Chloride

Table salt

 

Latex

Balloons

Tetanus toxoid

Tetanus toxoid

Other vaccines
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