dtap vaccination at home

what is dtap vaccine?

DTaP (DPT) vaccine is injected into individuals to provide immunity against three bacterial infections- diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), and tetanus. The DTaP vaccination is administered to children less than 7 years of age.  To continue its effect, Tdap vaccine is given at the age of 11 years which acts as a booster to offer protection during adolescent and adulthood.

If a child is not administered a DTaP vaccine he/she may have the following diseases-

• Diphtheria: This is a respiratory disease that may be characterized by breathing difficulty, heart failure, paralysis and even death. Owing to its contagious nature, this infection can spread by sneezing and coughing. The bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheria responsible for causing diphtheria affects the mucous membrane of the nose and the throat.
• Tetanus: Also known as lockjaw, the bacteria responsible for this type of infection is Clostridium tetani.Such bacteria are often found in dust, animal feces, and soil. When this bacterium enters into a human body, it releases a toxin that causes muscle spasm and even death if not treated on time.
• Whooping cough (pertussis): This is yet another contagious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis that causes coughing spasm in infants. Once infected by these bacteria, it can lead to pneumonia, seizures, damage to the brain and even death.

Administering a child with DTaP vaccination provides protection from developing these bacterial infections.

dtap vaccination

The DTaP vaccine is a five-dose course and should be given as per the following DTaP vaccine schedule-

• The first DTaP vaccine should be given at 2 months of age
• Second dose at 4 months of age
• Third dose at 6 months of age
• The fourth dose of DTaP vaccination should be between 15-18 months of age
• The fifth dose of DTaP vaccine should be given at 4-6 years of age.

All the five doses should be administered following the DTaP vaccine schedule. For children, who are not fit during the time of their scheduled dose should wait until fully recovered. In case a child is suffering from low-grade fever or cold he/she can receive a DTaP vaccination.

There are certain situations when a child cannot get a vaccine. These are-

• If a child is having any form of serious allergic reaction after receiving a single dose of vaccine
• A child suffering a brain injury or if the nervous system is affected within 7 days of administering a dose, he/she cannot take the next dose.

Some children may have a severe reaction to pertussis in DTaP. In such cases, the next dose shouldn’t be given. However, there is another vaccine called DT that can be administered after consulting with the doctor which will provide immunity against diphtheria and tetanus.

• Talk to the doctor immediately if your child is showing the following reactions after receiving a DTaP dose.
• Collapsed after a dose or having seizures
• Crying nonstop or for continuously 3 hours after a dose
• High fever

tdap vs dtap

The composition of both the vaccine is the same. Both DTaP and Tdap vaccination contain inactivated form of the bacteria. This means that the dose cannot cause an infection but can protect the body by producing antibodies to fight against the toxins produced as a result of infection by these three bacteria. In a Tdap vaccine, the dose of diphtheria and pertussis is reduced and acts as a booster dose. The Tdap vaccination is approved for adolescents and adults. Adolescents at 11 years of age and adults between 19-65 years can receive a Tdap vaccine.

The Tdap vaccination is called a booster dose because it boosts the immunity that wears off along with time. It is currently advised that every individual should receive a Tdap vaccination after 10 years of the first dose for tetanus and diphtheria. Although there is a booster dose available as Td, it cannot offer protection against pertussis. Therefore, a weaker dose of pertussis is added to Tdap vaccination and is administered as Tdap shot.

tdap vaccine schedule

There is change in the schedule of Tdap vaccination applicable for people between 11-65 years of age. It is recommended that a single dose of Tdap vaccine should be substituted by a single dose of Td vaccine.  A Tdap vaccine is also advised for pregnant ladies between 27 and 36 weeks gestation.

Children between 7-10 years of age who aren’t completely vaccinated against pertussis or who were never vaccinated before should get a single dose of Tdap shot. Again for people between 13-18 years of age who have not taken a Tdap injection before should get a single Tdap dose followed by a booster dose of tetanus and diphtheria after every 10 years.

dtap vaccine side effects

Vaccines too have side effects like every other medicine. But DTaP Vaccine side effects or side effects associated with Tdap are very less. Although one in a million, but a severe allergic reaction is one of the side effects which shows the following symptoms-

• Paleness
• Breathing difficulty
• Faster heartbeat
• Wheezing
• Dizziness
• Hoarseness
• Weakness
• Hives

There are other symptoms that may occur after a DTaP or a Tdap injection including–

• Fever
• Vomiting
• Swelling
• Soreness
• Tiredness

The Tdap vaccine cost and DTaP vaccine cost in India varies with the brand.

how can we help?

The bacteria causing diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus are most likely to infect a person who has not taken a vaccination. In case you have not received a dose, you can opt for a DTaP vaccine for adults near you at home with Portea.

Portea is a one-stop solution to solve all your queries regarding Tdap vaccine schedule at very affordable price in India. If you want Tdap shot to be scheduled for your child, all you need to do is just contact us. We have an experienced team of doctors and nurses that can give you a Tdap vaccine injection right at your home. With us, you don’t have to run to the hospital several times. You can contact us and know about the Tdap vaccine cost or schedule the appointment at your convenient time.