Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine

A MinuteClinic provider can discuss your health history, talk to you about the Tdap vaccination and answer any questions you have about it. They can also administer this vaccine.

1. Prior to scheduling your appointment, you may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:



If you made your appointment online:

Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.



If you made your appointment in the clinic:

Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.

4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.

5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

Tetanus is a very dangerous disease because it is difficult to treat. Tetanus bacteria cause painful muscle tightening and stiffness over the entire body. This can make breathing hard. Even with the best medical care, 1 out of 10 people who get tetanus will die. Before the vaccine, there were 600 cases of tetanus every year. Thanks to the vaccine, fewer than 1 in 100 million people will get tetanus in the United States each year. Firefighters, farmers, construction workers and gardeners are all at higher risk of getting tetanus and usually get a booster shot every 10 years. But any adult age 19 or older should get a booster every 10 years, too. Ask your MinuteClinic® provider to review your risks for tetanus and to discuss whether regular boosters are right for you.

Tetanus is different from most other bacteria because it does not pass from person to person. You get tetanus from germs that are found in the soil, in dust and in manure. It only gets into your body when you cut or damage your skin. Common symptoms of tetanus include:

• Fever
• Headache
• High blood pressure
• Jaw cramping
• Painful stiff muscles all over the body
• Seizures and involuntary muscle movement
• Sweating
• Trouble breathing
• Trouble swallowing

Diphtheria is caused by a type of bacteria that once killed more than 15,000 people per year in the United States. Diphtheria can lead to serious breathing problems and heart problems. It can even cause paralysis and death. Thanks to the vaccines mentioned above, there are now fewer than five cases of diphtheria in the United States each year, and most people recover.

Diphtheria causes a thick covering to form in the back of the throat. It can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis and even death. Common symptoms of diphtheria include:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Swollen glands in the neck
• Weakness

Pertussis is often called whooping cough because people who get it have coughing fits that make it hard to breathe. After long coughing fits, people will take a deep breath and make a whooping sound. People who get pertussis can have this cough for many weeks. For babies whose lungs are not fully formed, pertussis can be deadly.

Pertussis is a dangerous infection and is easily spread from one person to another. Children under 1 year old are most at risk for developing a major problem related to pertussis. They usually get the first DTaP vaccine (a version of Tdap) when they are 2 months old. They typically receive this first dose in a pediatrician’s office. Untreated pertussis can lead to pneumonia, convulsions (seizures) and brain swelling. Common symptoms of pertussis include:

• Apnea — a pause in breathing
• Cough
• Low fever
• Runny nose

Babies don’t get their first DTaP vaccine until they’re 1 to 2 months old. This means that very young babies are at risk for pertussis. The best way to protect them is to keep them at home until they’ve had their vaccine. If people want to visit, make sure they’re up to date on their vaccinations or ask them to come when your baby is older.

It's recommended that you get vaccinated for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) during your pregnancy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that most people get the Tdap vaccine to protect against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis). Some people experience mild symptoms as their bodies get used to the medicine.

Common side effects include:

• Swelling or tenderness where the shot was given
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Body aches
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite and/or nausea
• Vomiting

Severe reactions to the Tdap vaccine are rare. These include:

• Blurred vision
• Hives or welts
• Swelling of the lips, tongue and throat
• Difficulty breathing

Mild side effects of the Tdap vaccine may occur within a day or two of getting the shot. These include fever, fatigue and nausea. In most cases, these side effects go away on their own in a few days. 

Severe side effects, including hives, welts and breathing problems, are rare. These types of reactions may occur within minutes or hours of receiving the Tdap vaccine.

While side effects can be uncomfortable, getting immunized for Tdap is important for protecting you from potentially serious diseases.

Like all vaccines, the Tdap doesn't provide immediate protection. It generally takes two or three weeks for your immune system to respond to the vaccine. You're protected once your body has produced enough antibodies to help fight infections.

If you're concerned about the risk of tetanus, diphtheria or whooping cough in the weeks following your shot, ask your health care provider for guidance.

In most cases, protection against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough lasts for about 10 years after you get the Tdap vaccine. These are preventable illnesses, so it's important to keep your immunizations up to date to safeguard your health. Consult with your MinuteClinic® provider if you're worried about your exposure to these diseases or how well the vaccine works.

The The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends children receive a Tdap vaccine at age 11 or 12. Adults should have the Tdap if they didn't have one as a child.

Initial Tdap immunizations should be followed by boosters every 10 years. You may be given another Tdap as a booster, or a Td vaccine, which protects against tetanus and diphtheria but not whooping cough.

Wounds can put you at higher risk of tetanus, especially if they're contaminated with dirt, saliva or other foreign matter. As a precaution, the CDC suggests an additional booster if you have a severe or dirty wound or burn and it's been more than five years since your last vaccination.