Diphtheria and Tetanus Vaccine Information

Vaccines used today against diphtheria and tetanus (i.e., DT and Td) sometimes also include protection against whooping cough or pertussis (i.e., DTaP and Tdap). Babies and children younger than 7 years old receive DTaP or DT, while older children and adults receive Tdap and Td.

The pertussis vaccine may cause soreness or swelling where the shot was given, fever, fussiness, feeling tired, loss of appetite and vomiting.
More serious reactions, such as seizures, non-stop crying for three hours or more or high fever (over 105°F) after DTaP vaccination can happen as well. Rarely, the vaccine is followed by swelling of the entire arm or leg, especially in older children when they receive their fourth or fifth dose. Rarely, long-term seizures, coma, lowered consciousness or permanent brain damage may happen after DTaP vaccination.
As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury or death.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program may provide compensation for:
(1) anaphylaxis, which is an acute allergic reaction to the antigen in the vaccine;
(2) encephalopathy, which is permanent or temporary brain damage, disorder or disease or encephalitis, which is inflammation in the brain, often resulting from a viral infection;
(3) Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine, known as SIRVA, which is a sometimes painful injury to the shoulder where the vaccine was administered, and
(4) Vasovagal Syncope which is when a person faints because his or her body overreacts to certain triggers, such as the sight of blood or extreme emotional distress and
(5) Brachial Neuritis, which is a form of peripheral neuropathy (weakness, numbness and pain from nerve damage) that affects the chest, shoulder, arm and hand..