What it means
A series of five shots, usually given at 2, 4 and 6 months, at 15 to 18 months and at 4 to 6 years. The "a" stands for acellular: it uses only parts of the pertussis germ, which causes fewer reactions than older vaccines. Older children and adults get the booster TdapTEE-dapA vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) for older children, teens and adults.Full entry instead.
For the nurse
Give it IM, in the thigh for infants. Common reactions are fever, fussiness and soreness, swelling or redness at the site. Check the current CDC schedule and screen for past serious reactions before each dose.
Easy to confuse with
Tdap
A vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) for older children, teens and adults.
Related terms
vaccine
A product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.
Tdap
A vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) for older children, teens and adults.
immunization schedule
The recommended timetable of which vaccines to give, at what ages and how many doses.