Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) and the Tdap Vaccine

Why the Tdap vaccine is one you don’t want to miss when you’re pregnant

Disclaimer: This page houses important information and resources pertaining to tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) and the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, including links to our evidence-based Fact Sheets. However, the resources here should not replace the care and advice of a medical professional.

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) are three different infections caused by bacteria. All three can be prevented by a single vaccine, called the Tdap vaccine. While the vaccine is the same, the illnesses themselves are not identical.

Tetanus

The bacteria that cause tetanus can be found in the environment and often enter the human body through open wounds. If you’ve ever stepped on a rusty nail, chances are you have been given a tetanus shot! Although tetanus is not a common illness, it can be serious and requires immediate treatment. Often, the first symptom of tetanus is spasms of the jaw muscles, also called “lockjaw.” Other symptoms can include fever, headaches, difficulty swallowing, and muscle pain and stiffness. Left untreated, tetanus can lead to very serious health complications and even death.

Diptheria

Diphtheria is a contagious disease that is most often spread by coughing and sneezing. The most common and serious type of diphtheria is the respiratory form of the disease, which infects the nose and throat (the upper respiratory tract). The most recognized symptom of respiratory diphtheria is the appearance of a “pseudo-membrane” in the nose and throat (a thick, gray coating of dead tissue that can make it hard to breathe and swallow). Diphtheria can kill healthy tissue in the respiratory system, which can cause the build-up of this pseudo-membrane. Other symptoms of diphtheria include fever, sore throat, and swollen neck glands. Like tetanus, untreated respiratory diphtheria can lead to very serious health complications and even death.

Pertussis

Finally, pertussis is a contagious disease that can easily spread from person-to-person through coughing and sneezing. At first, pertussis infection can look like a common cold, with symptoms like a mild cough, fever, and congestion. But within 1-2 weeks, those symptoms can escalate to coughing fits that get worse over time. In fact, pertussis is often referred to as “whooping cough” because of the “whoop” noise that can be heard when a person gasps for air after a coughing fit. These coughing fits can be so severe that they can cause breathing difficulties, vomiting, and even rib fractures.

Pertussis can be particularly deadly for newborns and infants under 1 year of age. This age group has the greatest risk of getting whooping cough and having severe complications from it. In addition, while coughing is a common symptom in older children and adults who get pertussis, babies might not cough at all. Their primary symptom may be difficulty breathing, including life-threatening pauses in breathing (apnea) that may cause them to turn blue (cyanosis). The severe nature of pertussis infection for newborns and infants is the reason why all leading medical organizations and public health agencies recommend that women receive the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy – keep reading for more information about this critical vaccine!

All pregnant women should get a Tdap shot between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, as early in that window as possible. The Tdap shot is a safe and effective way to protect you and your baby from serious illness and complications of pertussis.

– American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Tdap Vaccine

The Tdap vaccine is an immunization that protect adults and children over the age of 7 from all three of the bacterial illnesses described above: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. It is also recommended that pregnant women receive a Tdap vaccine early in the 3^rd trimester of every pregnancy. Why? Babies cannot receive the infant version of this vaccine (called the DTaP vaccine) until they are 2 months old. This leaves them highly vulnerable to pertussis during the first 8 weeks of life. Pertussis can be a very serious – and sometimes deadly – illness for babies. When a pregnant woman gets the Tdap vaccine at the recommended time in pregnancy, their immune system creates protective antibodies that can be shared with the baby before birth. These antibodies can then provide the baby with short-term, early protection against pertussis.

When breastfeeding, receiving the Tdap vaccine can protect you from getting tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Remember, diphtheria and pertussis are contagious and can spread through coughing and sneezing. Being vaccinated against these diseases will help prevent you from getting them and passing them on to your baby during the naturally close contact you have while breastfeeding and caring for an infant. The Tdap vaccine is also recommended for all other adults who will be caring for the infant.

Talk with your healthcare provider about the Tdap vaccine and all other recommended vaccines during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Be sure to bring up any questions or concerns you may have, so they can be addressed.

Please see our library of resources on Tdap during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

External Resources

• American Academy of Family Physicians: Pertussis Vaccine: Receiving Tdap During Pregnancy
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: The Tdap Vaccine During Pregnancy
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Why should I get Tdap during pregnancy?
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tdap Vaccination for Pregnant Women
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: You Can Start Protecting Your Baby from Whooping Cough Before Birth
• Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Tdap Vaccine During Pregnancy

Partners

• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
• Patient Education Genius
• Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Society for Birth Defects Research & Prevention