infections
Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis Vaccine
Administration of Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis Vaccine
The DTaP vaccine is given as an injection into a muscle. As a part of Childhood Vaccinations , five injections of DTaP are given: typically at age 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years (see DTaP is followed by one lifetime dose of a Tdap booster given at age 11 to 12 years and given to people 13 years or over who have never received Tdap or who are unsure about whether they received it. This dose is followed by a Td booster every 10 years (seeCDC: Recommendations for Ages 19 Years or Older). Pregnant women are given a dose of Tdap duringeachpregnancy (preferably at 27 to 36 weeks gestation). After pregnancy, women who have never received Tdap are given a dose. Certain conditions may affect whether and when people are vaccinated (see alsoWho Should NOT Get Vaccinated With These Vaccines?from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]). If people have a temporary illness, doctors usually wait to give the vaccine until the illness resolves. 