| DISEASES and the VACCINES THAT PREVENT THEM |
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Tetanus
Reviewd February 2013
What is tetanus?
Tetanus is a serious disease caused by a toxin (poison) made by
bacteria. It causes painful muscle stiffness and can be deadly. The
DTaP and Tdap vaccines prevent tetanus.
What are the symptoms of tetanus?
Tetanus in children starts with headache, jaw cramping, and muscle
spasms (sudden, involuntary muscle tightening).
It also causes the following:
• Painful muscle stiffness all over the body
• Trouble swallowing
• Seizures (jerking or staring)
• Fever and sweating
• High blood pressure and fast heart rate
Tetanus is often called “lockjaw” because the jaw muscles tighten,
and the person cannot open his mouth.
How serious is tetanus?
Tetanus is very dangerous. It can cause breathing problems and
paralysis (unable to move parts of the body). Muscle spasms
can be strong enough to break a child’s spine or other bones.
It can take months to recover fully from tetanus. A child might
need weeks of hospital care. As many as 1 out of 5 people who
get tetanus dies.
How does a person get tetanus?
The bacteria that cause tetanus are found in soil. They get into the
body through a puncture of the skin. A person can also be infected
after a burn or an animal bite.
Tetanus does not spread from one person to another.
What is the DTaP vaccine?
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The DTaP vaccine is a shot that combines the vaccines for tetanus
and two other serious diseases: diphtheria and whooping cough
(pertussis). The vaccine protects children by helping their bodies
build up protection against the tetanus toxin.
Benefits of the DTaP vaccine
• Saves lives.
• Protects young children from serious disease.
Side effects of the DTaP vaccine
• The most common side effects are usually mild and
occur in about 1 out of 4 children. They include the
following:
–– Redness, swelling, and pain from the shot
–– Fever
–– Vomiting
• A fever over 105 degrees occurs in 1 out of 16,000
children.
• Nonstop crying for 3 hours or more occurs in about 1
out of 1,000 children.
• Seizures (jerking or staring) occur in about 1 out
of 14,000 children. The seizures do not cause
long-term harm.
• Serious reaction to the DTaP vaccine occurs in less
than 1 in a million children.
Almost everyone who gets all doses of the DTaP vaccine will be
protected against tetanus for at least 10 years.
Why should my child get the DTaP vaccine?
Getting your child the DTaP vaccine helps protect him against
painful and possibly deadly disease.
When should my child get the DTaP vaccine?
Children should get five doses of the DTaP vaccine at the following
ages for best protection:
• One dose each at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months;
• A fourth dose at 15 through 18 months; and
• A fifth dose at 4 through 6 years of age.
It is safe to get the DTaP vaccine at the same time as other vaccines,
even for babies.
Is the DTaP vaccine safe?
The DTaP vaccine is very safe, and it is effective at preventing
tetanus (along with whooping cough and diphtheria). Vaccines, like
any medicine, can have side effects. But severe side effects from the
DTaP vaccine are very rare.
If my child does not get the DTaP vaccine, will he
get tetanus?
Children who have not had the DTaP vaccine and are exposed to
the tetanus bacteria could get the disease.
Before the tetanus vaccine, there were more than 500 to 600 cases of
tetanus reported each year in the U.S. Cases dropped steadily after
the vaccine. Today, almost all cases of tetanus are among people
who have never had the vaccine or adults who don’t stay up to date
on their 10-year booster shots.
How can I learn more about the DTaP vaccine?
To learn more about the DTaP vaccine or other vaccines, talk to
your child’s doctor.
Call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) or go to
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines and check out the following resources:
• Vaccines and Preventable Disease—Tetanus (Lockjaw)
Vaccination: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/
tetanus/default.htm
• Infant Immunizations FAQs: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
parents/parent-questions.html
• Vaccines website for parents: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
parents
Booster vaccines needed to keep up
protection from tetanus
The tetanus vaccine does not offer lifetime
protection. People need booster vaccines to keep
up protection from tetanus.
Children should get a booster vaccine called Tdap
(which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and
whooping cough) at 11 or 12 years of age.
Adults need a booster called the Td vaccine (for
tetanus and diphtheria) every 10 years. Adults should
also receive a one-time shot of the Tdap vaccine in
place of one Td shot.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly
recommend all children receive the DTaP vaccine according to the recommended schedule.
| DISEASES and the VACCINES THAT PREVENT THEM |
Diphtheria
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Reviewed February 2013
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a serious disease caused by a toxin (poison) made
by bacteria. It causes a thick coating in the back of the nose or
throat that makes it hard to breathe or swallow. It can be deadly.
The DTaP vaccine protects against diphtheria.
What are the symptoms of diphtheria?
Diphtheria starts with sore throat, mild fever (101 degrees or less),
and chills.
Next, the diphtheria toxin makes a thick coating on the back of the
nose or throat. It may be blue or grayish green. The coating makes
it hard to breathe or swallow.
How serious is diphtheria?
Benefits of the DTaP vaccine
• Saves lives.
• Protects young children from serious disease.
• Keeps others safe.
Side effects of the DTaP vaccine
• The most common side effects are usually mild
and occur in about 1 out of 4 children. They
include the following:
–– Redness, swelling, and pain from the shot
–– Fever
–– Vomiting
The coating on the throat can get so thick that it blocks the airway,
so the person can’t breathe.
• A fever over 105 degrees occurs in about 1 child
The diphtheria toxin can attack the heart, causing abnormal heart
rhythms and even heart failure. It can also attack the nerves, which
leads to paralysis (unable to move parts of the body).
• Nonstop crying for 3 hours or more occurs in
About 1 out of 10 people who get diphtheria dies. In children
younger than 5 years, as many as 1 out of 5 children who get
diphtheria dies.
out of 16,000 children.
about 1 child out of 1,000 children.
• Seizures (jerking or staring) occur in about 1 out
of 14,000 children. The seizures do not cause
long-term harm.
• Serious reaction to the DTaP vaccine occurs in
fewer than 1 in a million children.
How does diphtheria spread?
Diphtheria spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. A
person can spread the disease for up to 2 weeks after infection.
What is the DTaP vaccine?
The DTaP vaccine is a shot that combines the vaccines for
diphtheria and two other serious diseases: tetanus and whooping
cough (pertussis). The vaccine helps the body to build up protection
against the diphtheria toxin.
Most children (about 97 children out of 100) who get all doses of
the vaccine will be protected against diphtheria.
Why should my child get the DTaP vaccine?
Getting your child the DTaP vaccine helps protect him against serious
disease. It also helps stop the spread of disease in the community.
When should my child get the DTaP vaccine?
Children should get five doses of the DTaP vaccine at the following
ages for best protection:
• One dose each at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months;
• A fourth dose at 15 through 18 months; and
• A fifth dose at 4 through 6 years of age.
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It is safe to get the DTaP vaccine at the same time as other
vaccines, even for babies.
Is the DTaP vaccine safe?
The DTaP vaccine is very safe, and it is effective at preventing
diphtheria (along with two other serious diseases: tetanus and
whooping cough). Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side
effects. But severe side effects from the DTaP vaccine are very rare.
If my child does not get the DTaP vaccine, will he
get diphtheria?
Children who have not had the DTaP vaccine and are exposed to
diphtheria could get sick.
Before the diphtheria vaccine, there were about 100,000 to 200,000
cases of diphtheria each year in the U.S. As many as 15,000 people
died each year from the disease. Cases dropped quickly after the
vaccine. In fact, in the last 10 years, less than 5 cases have been
reported in the U.S.
If we stopped vaccinating against diphtheria, cases could start to
rise again. In other countries, when vaccination rates dropped,
thousands of people got diphtheria.
Diphtheria booster needed every 10
years to keep up protection
The diphtheria vaccine does not offer lifetime
protection from the disease. Boosters are needed
to keep up protection from diphtheria.
Children should get a booster vaccine called Tdap
(which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and
whooping cough) once at 11 or 12 years of age.
Adults need a booster called the Td vaccine (for
tetanus and diphtheria) every 10 years.
Adults should also receive a one-time shot of the
Tdap vaccine in place of one Td shot.
How can I learn more about the DTaP vaccine?
To learn more about the DTaP vaccine or other vaccines, talk to
your child’s doctor.
Call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) or go to
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines and check out the following resources:
• Vaccines and Preventable Diseases—Diphtheria Vaccination:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly
recommend all children receive the DTaP vaccine according to the recommended schedule.
| DISEASES and the VACCINES THAT PREVENT THEM |
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Last updated October 2013
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough—or pertussis—is a very serious respiratory (in the
lungs and breathing tubes) infection caused by the pertussis bacteria.
It causes violent coughing you can’t stop. Whooping cough is most
harmful for young babies and can be deadly. The DTaP vaccine protects
against whooping cough.
What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
Whooping cough starts with the following symptoms:
• Runny or stuffed-up nose
• Sneezing
• Mild cough
• A pause in breathing in infants (apnea)
Benefits of the DTaP vaccine
• Saves lives.
• Protects children from serious disease.
• Keeps others safe.
Side effects of the DTaP vaccine
• The most common side effects are usually mild and
After 1 to 2 weeks, coughing, which can be severe, starts.
• Children and babies can cough very hard, over and over.
• When children gasp for breath after a coughing fit, they make a
•
•
•
“whooping” sound.This sound is where the name “whooping
cough” comes from. Babies may not cough or make this sound.
Coughing fits make it hard to breathe, eat, drink, or sleep. Coughing
fits happen more at night.
Babies and young children may turn blue while coughing from lack
of oxygen and vomit after coughing fits.
Coughing fits can last for 10 weeks, and sometimes recur with the
next respiratory illness.
How serious is whooping cough?
The disease is most dangerous for babies and young children. From
2000 through 2012, there were 255 deaths from whooping cough
reported in the U.S. Almost all of the deaths (221 of the 255) were
babies younger than 3 months of age.
About half of babies younger than 1 year who get the disease need care
in the hospital. About 1 out of 4 hospitalized babies with whooping
cough will get pneumonia (a serious lung infection). Whooping cough
can also cause seizures (jerking or staring) and brain damage.
How does whooping cough spread?
Whooping cough spreads easily through the air when an infected
person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. A person can spread the disease
while he or she has cold-like symptoms and for at least 2 weeks after
coughing starts.
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Many babies and young children get whooping cough from adults
or older brothers or sisters who don’t know they have the disease.
Pregnant women with whooping cough can give it to their newborn
babies. Because whooping cough is so harmful in babies, everyone
around them needs to be up-to-date with vaccines—to make a circle of
protection.
•
•
•
•
occur in about 1 out of 4 children. They include the
following:
Redness, swelling, and pain from the shot
Fever
Vomiting
A fever over 105 degrees occurs in about 1 out of
16,000 children.
Nonstop crying for 3 hours or more occurs in about 1
out of 1,000 children.
Seizures (jerking or staring) occur in about 1 out of
14,000 children. The seizures do not cause long-term
harm.
Serious reaction to the DTaP vaccine occurs in fewer
than 1 in a million children.
––
––
––
What is the DTaP vaccine?
The DTaP vaccine is a shot that combines the vaccines for whooping
cough (pertussis) and two other serious diseases: diphtheria and
tetanus. The DTaP vaccine protects children by preparing their bodies
to fight the bacteria.
Most children (about 89 children out of 100) who get all doses of the
DTaP vaccine will be protected from whooping cough. But, protection
from the DTaP vaccine decreases over time. Some children who are
vaccinated do get the disease, but it is usually a milder case.
Why should my child get the DTaP vaccine?
Getting your child the DTaP vaccine helps protect him against
whooping cough. It also protects other people who can’t get the
vaccine—especially newborn babies, who can get very sick and die
from whooping cough.
When should my child get the DTaP vaccine?
Children should get five doses of the DTaP vaccine at the following
ages for best protection:
• One dose each at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months;
• A fourth dose at 15 through 18 months; and
• A fifth dose at 4 through 6 years of age.
It is safe to get the DTaP vaccine at the same time as other vaccines,
even for babies.
If my child does not get the DTaP vaccine, will he
get whooping cough?
Almost everyone who is not immune to whooping cough will get
sick if exposed to it. Before the whooping cough vaccine, about 8,000
people in the U.S. died each year from the disease. Today, because of
the DTaP vaccine, this number has dropped to fewer than 40.
Cases of whooping cough have been increasing over the past several
years and outbreaks of whooping cough can occur. We don’t know
exactly why the number of cases is increasing, but we think it’s a
combination of many different reasons. Doctors and nurses are more
aware of whooping cough and recognize it more often, the ways we test
for the disease have gotten better, protection from vaccines decreases
over time, and more of the bacteria may be circulating.
In 2012, whooping cough made more than 48,000 people sick. 15
babies younger than 3 months died. Many of these babies were too
young to be fully protected against whooping cough.
Booster vaccine for pre-teens and adults
continues protection from whooping
cough
Protection from the DTaP vaccine for babies and young
children decreases over time. When this happens, a person is
at risk for getting and spreading whooping cough.
A one-time booster vaccine called Tdap for pre-teens and
adults helps people stay protected against the disease.
Is the DTaP vaccine safe?
The DTaP vaccine is very safe, and it is effective at preventing whooping
cough (and two other diseases: diphtheria and tetanus). Vaccines are like
medicines, and any medicine can have side effects. But severe side effects
from the DTaP vaccine are very rare.
How can I learn more about the DTaP vaccine?
To learn more about the DTaP vaccine or other vaccines, talk to your
child’s doctor.
Call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) or go to
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines and check out the following resources:
• Pertussis (Whooping Cough)—What You Need to Know:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/pertussis/
• Infant Immunizations FAQs: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/
parent-questions.html
• Vaccines website for parents: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents
Pre-teens should get the Tdap vaccine at 11 or 12 years of
age. Adults and teens who didn’t get the Tdap vaccine as preteens also should get it. This is very important for families and
caregivers of babies.
Pregnant women should get the vaccine during each
pregnancy, preferably during their third trimester (at 27
through 36 weeks gestation). If they have never received Tdap
and are not vaccinated during pregnancy, then they should
get the vaccine right after delivery, before they leave the
hospital.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly
recommend all children receive the DTaP vaccine according to the recommended schedule.