What is Tdap? Here's what you need to know to stay protected against whooping cough
With the risk of whooping cough infections rising, it's a good time to make sure you're up to date on your Tdap booster, experts say.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly infectious respiratory illness that causes rapid, uncontrollable coughing fits. Whooping cough is particularly dangerous to young infants—approximately one in three babies under the age of 1will be hospitalized if they develop the illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Whooping cough is preventable, and getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself. The DTaP and Tdap vaccines are very effective at preventing whooping cough, but you’ll need to stay on top of vaccinations to make sure you and your loved ones are protected. Here’s what experts need you to know.
What is DTaP, Tdap vaccine?
DTaP and Tdap are combination vaccines that protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. DTaP is given to infants and young children, whereas Tdap is administered to anyone above the age of 7, says Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at UCSF Health.
DTaP is formulated with full strength doses of the diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough vaccines. Tdap contains one full strength dose of the tetanus vaccine, and lesser doses of the diphtheria and whooping cough vaccines, per Healthline. Today’s whooping cough vaccines contain an acellular pertussis component, which is derived from inactive parts of the bacterium that causes whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis, per CDC.
“(The Tdap and DTaP) vaccines are often described as a ‘seat belt.’ So, (they) should prevent injury for most people,” says Dr. Matthew Harris, a pediatric emergency medicine physician and medical director of clinical preparedness at Northwell Health. Both vaccines are very effective at preventing whooping cough, but in the case you develop the illness, symptoms are typically milder.
When should children receive DTaP shots?
The people who suffer the most from whooping cough aren’t the adults—it's the kids, says Chin-Hong. Whooping cough is highly infectious, and in young children, symptoms can be life-threatening. Severe complications include pneumonia and apnea, says Harris.
For this reason, the DTaP vaccination series is encouraged in early childhood. The CDC recommends children under the age of 7 receive a series five DTaP shots at the following ages:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 15 to 18 months
- 4 to 6 years
How long is Tdap good for?
The CDC recommends adolescents receive a single shot of Tdap at 11 to 12 years old. If you weren’t vaccinated with DTaP as a child, you’ll receive Tdap as your first dose.
Unlike the MMR vaccine, in which you're considered to have lifelong 97% immunity against measles after receiving two doses, one dose of Tdap does not provide lifelong protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Of the three diseases, immunity wanes fastest for pertussis, says Chin-Hong.
Because protection from Tdap wanes over time, the CDC says adults should receive a booster dose of Tdap or Td (which only protects against tetanus, not diphtheria or pertussis) every 10 years.
If you get a deep wound or burn, you might need an additional dose of DTaP, Tdap or Td to protect against tetanus infection, according to Nemours Children’s Health. Not all wounds will require a tetanus booster; a physician will take into account how severe the wound is, your age and the last time you were vaccinated, says Harris.
Do I need a Tdap shot to be around a baby?
Yes, the CDC suggests anyone in close proximity to infants or young children receive a Tdap booster, regardless of your last dose. Infants under two months of age are particularly vulnerable to severe symptoms of whooping cough (as they aren’t yet able to receive the DTaP vaccine), says Chin-Hong.
If you’re pregnant, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends receiving a Tdap shot during your third trimester of pregnancy (between 27 to 36 weeks). It’s estimated that this helps prevent 78% of pertussis cases in babies under two months of age, according to a CDC evaluation. As the Tdap takes full effect, protective antibodies are transmitted to the fetus. When the baby is born, these antibodies may offer some degree of protection against whooping cough.