Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Combined Tdap Vaccine
Combined Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccines
See the timeline of Tdap vaccine recommendations and summaries below.
Other resources available to help implement pertussis vaccine recommendations include
- a chart of pertussis vaccine recommendations for all age groups,
- information on pertussis vaccine recommendations for multiple audiences, and
- more about the Tdap recommendation for pregnant women.
Timeline of Adolescent and Adult Recommendations
On June 30, 2005, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the routine use of Tdap vaccines in adolescents aged 11–18 years in place of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) vaccines.
On October 26, 2005, the ACIP voted to recommend routine use of a single dose of Tdap for adults 19-64 years of age to replace the next booster dose of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids vaccine (Td). The ACIP also recommended Tdap for adults who have close contact with infants younger than 12 months of age.
On October 27, 2010, the ACIP voted to recommend:
- use of Tdap regardless of interval since the last tetanus or diphtheria containing vaccine,
- use of Tdap in certain adults ages 65 and older, and
- use of Tdap in under-vaccinated children ages 7 through 10 years.
On February 22, 2012, the ACIP voted to recommend:
- use of Tdap in all adults aged 65 years and older.
MMWR References
- December 2006 MMWR: Preventing Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Among Adults: Use of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine
- February 2006 MMWR: Preventing Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Among Adolescents: Use of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccines
- April 2009 MMWR: FDA Approval of Expanded Age Indication for a Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine
- January 2011 MMWR: Updated Recommendations for the Use of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
- June 2012 MMWR: Updated Recommendations for Use of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine in Adults Aged 65 Years and Older — Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2012
Disease and Vaccine Information
- Tetanus disease and vaccine information
- Diphtheria disease and vaccine information
- Pertussis disease and vaccine information
Healthcare Personnel Recommendations
Healthcare personnel recommendation:
- use of Tdap in all healthcare personnel (HCP), regardless of age, as soon as feasible if they have not previously received Tdap and regardless of the time since last tetanus or diphtheria containing vaccine.
MMWR Reference
- November 2011 MMWR: Immunization of Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
Pregnancy-related Recommendations
On June 22, 2011, the ACIP voted to recommend:
- women’s health care providers should implement a maternal Tdap vaccination program for women who have not previously received Tdap and
- for pregnant women, health care providers should administer Tdap preferably during the third trimester or late second trimester (after 20 weeks gestation). If not administered during pregnancy, administer Tdap immediately postpartum.
MMWR References
- May 2008 MMWR: Prevention of Pertussis, Tetanus, and Diphtheria Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women and their Infants (ACIP Recommendations)
- October 2011 MMWR: Updated Recommendations for Use of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine in Pregnant Women and Persons Who Have or Anticipate Having Close Contact with an Infant Aged Less than 12 Months — Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2011
Additional Resources
"Ask the Experts" website:
- Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus Vaccine Questions
- DTaP-Hib (TriHIBit®) Vaccine Questions
- DTaP-IPV-HepB (Pediarix®) Vaccine Questions
- DTaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel®) Vaccine Questions
- Hib-HepB (Comvax®) Vaccine Questions
Content last reviewed on July 12, 2012
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases