Adacel

Brand Names

Adacel (Tdap), Boostrix (Tdap)

What is Adacel

Adacel (Tdap vaccine) is a vaccine that used as a "booster" to help prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) in people 11-64 years of age. As with all vaccines, Adacel may not provide full protection to all individuals.

Side effects of Adacel

There is a list of serious side effects caused by this medication:

• hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat;
• extreme drowsiness, fainting;
• seizure (black-out or convulsions);
• high fever.

Less serious Adacel side effects include:

• mild fever or chills;
• redness, pain, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given;
• headache or tiredness;
• joint pain, body aches;
• mild nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Indication

Adacel is effective for preventing diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) in people 11-64 years of age.

Precautions

You should inform you doctor before receiving Adacel if you have/are:

• An immune-suppressing condition such as HIV or AIDS, diabetes, or cancer
• Had any sort of a reaction to any vaccine in the past
• Epilepsy or any other nervous system disorder
• An illness or infection (such as the flu)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Had a recent stroke
• Any allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, or preservatives
• Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
• Breastfeeding
• Taking any medications, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements

Dosage forms

The standard Adacel dose is 1vaccine (0.5 mL) injected one single time in individuals 11-64 years of age. Ideally, this will be given between the ages of 11 and 12, although Adacel can be given at any time as long as at least 5 years has passed since the previous Td (tetanus and diphtheria) booster was given.

In some cases, at the doctor’s discretion, Adacel can be given sooner than 5 years. For instance, if you have been exposed to pertussis, your doctor may decide to give Adacel even if it has not been 5 years since your last Td.

It is recommended that women receive Adacel immediately after giving birth (if they have not already gotten the Tdap vaccine earlier), in order to prevent the spread of pertussis to the newborn, as long as at least two years have passed since the previous Td booster.

After being vaccinated with Adacel, it is recommended that people continue to receive the Td vaccine every 10 years (as was previously recommended). Essentially, Adacel replaces one of the Td boosters (for most people).