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A Deep Dive into the TDaP Vaccine

Doctor doing vaccine injection to elderly woman
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One of the most effective vaccines commonly used in the US is the familiar TDaP vaccine that protects against three dangerous bacterial infections:

  • Tetanus (“lockjaw”) – A disease marked by tightness in the muscles, eventually leading to severe pain, trouble breathing, an inability to open the mouth, and death
  • Diphtheria – A respiratory disease that causes thick mucus secretions in the throat and bronchial tubes, and can lead to severe swelling, paralysis, and in rare cases, death
  • Pertussis (“whooping cough”) – A long-lasting, severe cough. In infants and children, pertussis is particularly dangerous, and leads to numerous infant fatalities every year.

In infants and children, a vaccine commonly referred to as DTaP is administered to prevent these three diseases. TDaP is a similar, but slightly different vaccine for people over the age of 7 – the CDC recommends that most adults receive a TDaP vaccine every ten years.

If you operate a skilled nursing or other residential care facility, your consulting pharmacy may be able to perform an on-site vaccine clinic to make sure your patients are up-to-date on their TDaP vaccine.

How Is TDaP Different from Other Vaccines?

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are different from most bacterial or viral diseases in that bacteria don’t directly cause the illness. Rather, the bacteria responsible for these conditions secrete toxins that ultimately make the patient sick. To prepare the body to fight off these illnesses, TDaP introduces deactivated samples of the toxins themselves into the patient’s body.

Because of this, no actual bacteria (live or deactivated) are used in TDaP vaccines, and so these vaccines are typically safe for everyone – even immunocompromised individuals.

How Are Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Spread?

Diphtheria and pertussis, like many respiratory infections, are spread through the air by infected individuals. Because of the airborne nature of the bacteria, residents in long-term care facilities must be immunized in order to prevent one infected patient from communicating the disease to other patients.

Tetanus, on the other hand, is contracted when tetanus bacteria enter the patient’s bloodstream through a cut or tear in the skin. The bacteria thrives in anaerobic, organic materials such as soil and manure, but may be present on almost any surface. While the disease is not communicable, older adults may be at slightly higher risk thanks to their thinner and more easily torn skin that provides more ways for the bacteria to enter.

How Common are Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis?

The various vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are incredibly effective, and these diseases are considerably less common today than they were before widespread vaccination.

Of the three, pertussis is easily the most common. Children are frequent sufferers, and even vaccinated individuals may contract the disease. Vaccinated individuals, however, frequently suffer from a much milder case, and the survival rate for vaccinated adults is nearly 100%.

Diphtheria and tetanus, on the other hand, are incredibly rare amongst vaccinated individuals. Only about 30 Americans contract tetanus each year, and these cases are almost invariably recorded among unvaccinated patients. Diphtheria is only slightly more common, with the US annually recording about 1 case in every 10,000,000 people.

Angus Lake Healthcare is your local pharmacy consultant, serving facilities and their residents across Central Georgia.

Your patients deserve the protection of an up-to-date TDaP vaccine. Angus Lake can hold vaccine clinics at your facility to protect your patients against these and other dangerous diseases. Schedule a consultation today to learn more: 478-233-1828.

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