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Adacel® and Boostrix® Vaccines for Diphtheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough |
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What do Adacel® and Boostrix® protect against?
Adacel® (for 4 to 64 year olds) and Boostrix® (for those 4 years of age and older) are vaccines that protect people against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw) and whooping cough (also known as pertussis). It is recommended that all children, adolescents and adults be vaccinated against these diseases.
Who should receive these vaccines?
Adacel® and Boostrix® are free for:
- Children 7 years of age and older who missed their childhood series of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccination
- Adolescents between 14 and 16 years of age (up to 18 years of age if dose is missed)
- Adults (19 to 64 years of age) who missed their adolescent dose. One lifetime dose replaces tetanus/diphtheria vaccine that everyone should receive every 10 years
Vaccinating adolescents, new parents and grandparents against whooping cough can help protect newborns and young children, especially those too young to be vaccinated.
How long will Adacel® or Boostrix® protect against illness?
The vaccines protect against tetanus and diphtheria for 10 years. Whooping cough vaccine, while not providing life-long complete protection, often makes illness less severe for those infected.
What are the possible side effects of Adacel® or Boostrix®?
Side effects at the site of injection are usually mild and short-lived and include:
- localized pain
- redness
- swelling
Other, less common, side effects include:
- headaches
- decreased energy
- body aches, nausea
- chills
- diarrhea
- fever
- sore joints
- vomiting
Rarely, nervous system inflammation has been seen just after individuals receive tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine (Adacel® and Boostrix® contain tetanus toxoid). The vaccine may or may not cause this but most individuals recover completely. Rarely, a condition called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), an inflammation of the nerves in the arms and legs that can lead to temporary paralysis, can occur after tetanus vaccination in less than one time per million people vaccinated.
Who should not get Adacel® or Boostrix®?
Children or adults who have had a serious allergic reaction to these vaccines or parts of these vaccines should not receive them. Signs of severe allergy include hives, swelling of the mouth and throat, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, low blood pressure and shock. Tell your doctor if you or your child has had a reaction to a vaccine in the past.
What if I don't want to get or give my child the whooping cough vaccine?
The tetanus/diphtheria (Td) vaccine can be used. It is also free.
What if I got Adacel®/Boostrix® when I was 14 to 16 years of age?
Adacel® and Boostrix® are only free for adults 19 to 64 years of age who missed their dose at 14 to 16 years of age. Adults still need to continue to get tetanus/diphtheria (Td) vaccine every 10 years.
What if I just had a tetanus/diphtheria vaccine, can I get Adacel® or Boostrix® now?
Yes. Experts have found no evidence of an increased risk of severe side effects if you get these vaccines at intervals of less than 5 years.
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a serious but very rare disease of the nose, throat and skin and may cause sore throat, fever and chills. The toxin or poison made by the diphtheria bacteria can lead to breathing problems, heart failure and nerve damage. Diphtheria may kill 1 out of every 10 people who get the disease. It is most often spread through coughing, sneezing and on items like tissues used by a person with diphtheria.
What is tetanus?
Tetanus or lockjaw is a serious but rare disease that may occur when tetanus bacteria get into a deep cut in the skin. Tetanus bacteria are found everywhere including soil, dust and animal manure and can survive for long periods in the soil as spores or particles. Tetanus causes cramping of the muscles in the neck, arms, legs and stomach, and painful convulsions. It may kill up to 2 out of every 10 people who get the disease. Tetanus does not spread from person to person.
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough, a serious disease especially in very young children, spreads very easily through coughing, sneezing or contact with the discharge of an infected person. It may cause spells of violent coughing that can lead to vomiting and can cause breathing to stop for short periods of time. The cough can last for weeks and make it hard to eat, drink, sleep or breathe. Pneumonia occurs in more than 1 out of 5 children with whooping cough. It may also cause brain damage and in rare cases, death. Severe illness or death is more common in children less than one year of age, especially if they are not completely vaccinated (i.e. receive three doses of vaccine before age one).
People can get whooping cough more than once, even after infection or vaccination, because the body's immune system does not produce life-long protection. Therefore, you can still get the Adacel® or Boostrix® vaccine even after you have recovered from whooping cough.
Where can I get these vaccines?
Your doctor can provide them free to eligible individuals. Tell your doctor about any side effects you or your child has had to vaccines or other medicine. Update the yellow immunization card every time a vaccine is given. If your child attends a Toronto school and receives a vaccine, you should forward this information to Toronto Public Health's Immunization Information Line.
Where can I find more information?
Ask your doctor or call Toronto Public Health Immunization Information Line at 416-392-1250.
Last updated September 2011
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