Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP/Tdap) Vaccine

Common side effects include:

• Some people may feel faint after the vaccination
• Sit for 15 minutes to avoid fainting
• Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
  • You may place a cold compress over the affected area for relief
  • You may give paracetamol for pain relief
• Crying, irritability, restlessness, sleepiness
• These side effects usually go away on its own
• Loss of appetite, diarrhoea, vomiting
• These side effects usually go away on its own

 Please see a doctor if these side effects do not get better or become worse.

Rare but serious side effects include:
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should inform your healthcare professional immediately.

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this vaccine or any of the other ingredients of this vaccine
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• You are taking any other medications
• You had an adverse reaction to the previous dose of the vaccination, especially involving the brain such as altered mental status, coma or fits
• You have a history of fits (convulsions)
• You are currently not feeling well and having a fever
• You have an history of bleeding disorders
  

​How Is the DTaP/Tdap Vaccine Given?
It is given by injection into a muscle.
The DTaP/Tdap vaccine is a combination vaccine given as one shot.
It may be given on its own as one shot, or in combination with other vaccines (e.g. Hepatitis B, Hib, Polio, Varicella) as one shot.