Tetanus (Tdap) Vaccine

Recommended every 10 years for those 19 years and older.

One dose is recommended for children at age 11 or 12.

 

Tetanus is an acute infectious disease, often fatal, caused by the toxins of a specific Bacillus which is most known to enter the body through wounds.  It is characterized by spasmodic contractions and rigidity of some or all of the voluntary muscles (lockjaw). In physiology, it is the state of continuous contractions of a muscle undergoing a series of rapidly repeated stimuli.

 

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease as well, characterized by weakness, high fever and formation in the air passages of a membrane (bacillus) which interferes with breathing.

 

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) causes severe coughing spells which can lead to difficulty breathing, vomiting, and disturbed sleep.  It can lead to weight loss, incontinence, rib fractures and passing out from violent coughing.  Up to 2 in 100 adolescents and 5 in 100 adults with pertussis are hospitalized or have complications, including pneumonia and death.

​

 

​

​