Why dpt vaccine

Tetanus leads to death in about 1 out of 10 cases. Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound. The diphtheria, tetanus acellular, and pertussis pediatric vaccine also called DTaP is used to help prevent these diseases in children who are ages 6 weeks to 6 years old before the child has reached his or her 7th birthday.

This vaccine works by exposing your child to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body. Your child should not receive this vaccine if he or she has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus. Your child may not be able to receive this vaccine if he or she has ever received a similar vaccine that caused any of the following:.

If your child has any of these other conditions, this vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all:. Your child can still receive a vaccine if he or she has a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving this vaccine.

The pediatric version of this vaccine Daptacel, Infanrix, Tripedia should not be given to anyone over the age of 6 years old. Another vaccine is available for use in older children and adults. This vaccine is given as an injection shot into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor's office or clinic setting. This vaccine is given in a series of shots. The first shot is usually given when the child is 2 months old. The booster shots are then given at 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and again between 4 and 6 years of age.

The timing of this vaccination is very important for it to be effective. Your child's individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.

Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin free pain reliever such as acetaminophen Tylenol or ibuprofen Motrin, Advil, and others when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this medicine to give your child.

It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder such as epilepsy. Contact your doctor if you miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over. Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine, or the child may not be fully protected against disease. Get emergency medical help if your child has signs of an allergic reaction: hives; dizziness, weakness; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

For pain and fever, check with your doctor to see if you can give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen , and to find out the right dose. A warm, damp cloth or a heating pad on the injection site may help reduce soreness, as can moving or using the arm.

Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis? The diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis DTaP vaccine protects against: Diphtheria : a serious infection of the throat that can block the airway and cause severe breathing problems Tetanus lockjaw : a nerve disease that can happen at any age, caused by toxin-producing bacteria contaminating a wound Pertussis whooping cough : a respiratory illness with cold-like symptoms that lead to severe coughing the "whooping" sound happens when a child breathes in deeply after a severe coughing fit.

Serious complications can affect children under 1 year old, and those younger than 6 months old are especially at risk. Teens and adults with a lasting cough might have pertussis and not realize it, and could pass it to vulnerable infants. DTaP Immunization Schedule DTaP immunizations are given as a series of 5 injections at ages: 2 months 4 months 6 months 15—18 months 4—6 years A vaccine called Tdap the booster shot should be given at ages 11 to 12, and to older teens and adults who haven't yet had a booster with pertussis coverage.

Possible Risks of DTaP Immunization The vaccine can cause mild side effects: fever ; mild crankiness; tiredness; loss of appetite; and tenderness, redness, or swelling in the area where the shot was given. Very rarely, long-term seizures, coma, lowered consciousness, or permanent brain damage may happen after DTaP vaccination. As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death.

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a severe allergic reaction hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness , call and get the person to the nearest hospital.

Your health care provider will usually file this report, or you can do it yourself. Visit the VICP websiteexternal icon or call to learn about the program and about filing a claim. There is a time limit to file a claim for compensation. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Turn on more accessible mode. Turn off more accessible mode.

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