The Tdap-IPV vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio. Adacel®-Polio and Boostrix®-Polio are combination vaccines that protect against four diseases in one needle. They protect almost 100 per cent of children against tetanus and diphtheria and approximately 90 per cent against severe whooping cough.
It is given as a booster vaccine for children four to six years of age. Vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and polio is required by law for children attending school in Ontario, unless there is a valid exemption.
Protection against tetanus and diphtheria lasts for approximately ten years and protection against pertussis is expected to last for at least four years. To stay protected, teenagers 14 to 16 years of age need a booster dose of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.
Adults should also get one booster dose with diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; then tetanus and diphtheria vaccine every ten years.
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that affects the throat, nose and skin, causing severe health complications like breathing problems, heart failure, and nerve damage. Today, diphtheria is rare due to vaccination.
Tetanus, also known as “lockjaw” is a rare and often fatal infection caused by bacteria found in soil, dust, and animal manure, leading to severe muscle cramps, especially in the jaw, neck and abdomen. The bacteria can enter the body through deep cuts and survive in the soil for long periods. Tetanus occurs worldwide but it is rare in Canada because of vaccination.
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a disease of the respiratory tract that can infect people of any age, but is most dangerous for children under one year old, especially if they have not started or completed their vaccinations. 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. Family and friends can get vaccinated to help protect babies.
Polio is a disease of the spinal cord that can cause nerve damage and paralyze the muscles used for breathing, talking, eating and walking. Polio has been eliminated in Canada due to vaccination. However, poliovirus is still found in other parts of the world and can be re-introduced to Toronto through travel or migration.
Side effects are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days. Common side effects include mild redness and swelling/pain where the needle was given.
Few people may have fever, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, nausea, chills, generalized body ache, low energy, and/or sore and swollen joints after getting the vaccine. These reactions are mild and last no more than a few days. Severe allergic and neurological reactions are very rare.
Call your health care provider or 911 if you or your child has any of the symptoms: hives, swelling of the face or mouth, trouble breathing, convulsions or seizure, drowsiness, or any other severe or unexpected symptoms.
After you receive any immunization, make sure your health care provider updates your personal immunization record (yellow card). Parents and guardians are responsible for reporting their school-age child’s immunizations to public health every time their child gets a vaccine.