The DPT vaccine or DTP vaccine is a class of combination vaccines to protect against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus (lockjaw). The vaccine components include diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, and either killed whole cells of the bacterium that causes pertussis or pertussis antigens. The term toxoid refers to vaccines which use an inactivated toxin produced by the pathogen which they are targeted against to generate an immune response. In this way, the toxoid vaccine generates an immune response which is targeted against the toxin which is produced by the pathogen and causes disease, rather than a vaccine which is targeted against the pathogen itself. The whole cells or antigens will be depicted as either "DTwP" In comparison to alternative vaccine types, such as live attenuated vaccines, the DTP vaccine does not contain any live pathogen, but rather uses inactivated toxoid (and for pertussis, either a dead pathogen or pure antigens) to generate an immune response; therefore, there is not a risk of use in populations that are immune compromised since there is not any known risk of causing the disease itself. As a result, the DTP vaccine is considered a safe vaccine to use in anyone and it generates a much more targeted immune response specific for the pathogen of interest.

In the United States, the DPT (whole-cell) vaccine was administered as part of the childhood vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) until 1996, when the acellular DTaP vaccine was licensed for use.

History

thumb| An adherent, dense, grey [[pseudomembrane covering the tonsils is classically seen in diphtheria]]

Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and whole-cell Since the introduction of the combination vaccine, there has been an extensive decline in the incidence of pertussis, or whooping cough, the disease which the vaccine protects against. Additionally, the rates of disease have continued to decline as more extensive immunization strategies have been implemented, including booster doses and increased emphasis on increasing health literacy.

In the 20th century, the advancements in vaccinations helped to reduce the incidence of childhood pertussis and had a dramatically positive effect on the health of populations in the United States. However, in the early 21st century, reported instances of the disease increased 20-fold due to a downturn in the number of immunizations received and resulted in numerous fatalities. During the 21st century, many parents declined to vaccinate their children against pertussis for fear of perceived side effects, despite scientific evidence showing vaccines to be highly effective and safe.

Vaccination rates

In 2016, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 80.4% of children in the US had received four or more DTaP vaccinations by 2 years of life. Vaccination rates for children aged 13–17 with one or more TDaP shots was 90.2% in 2019.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 89% of people globally had received at least one dose of DTP vaccine and 84% had received three doses of the vaccine, completing the WHO-recommended primary series (DTP3). The WHO tracks DTP3 completion rates among one-year-olds on a yearly basis. The yearly DTP3 completion rate is considered a good proxy for the completeness of childhood vaccination in general, and numbers of children who have not received a first dose of DTP are used as a proxy for those who are not reached by vaccination programs at all (termed zero-dose children).

Combination vaccines with acellular pertussis

DTaP and Tdap are both combination vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The "a" indicates that the pertussis toxoids are acellular, while the lower-case "d" and "p" in "Tdap" indicate smaller concentrations of diphtheria toxoids and pertussis antigens.

DTaP

DTaP (also DTP and TDaP) is a combination vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, in which the pertussis component is acellular. This is in contrast to whole-cell, inactivated DTP (or DTwP). The acellular vaccine uses selected antigens of the pertussis pathogen to induce immunity. Because it uses fewer antigens than the whole-cell vaccines, it is considered to cause fewer side effects, but it is also more expensive.

Tdap

Tdap (also TDP) is a tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine. It was licensed in the United States for use in adults and adolescents in June 2005. In October 2011, in an effort to reduce the burden of pertussis in infants, the ACIP recommended that unvaccinated pregnant women receive a dose of Tdap. In October 2012, the ACIP voted to recommend the use of Tdap during every pregnancy. The ACIP and Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended that both adolescents and adults receive Tdap in place of their next Td booster (recommended to be given every ten years). Tdap and Td can be used as prophylaxis for tetanus in wound management. People who will be in contact with young infants are encouraged to get Tdap even if it has been less than five years since Td or TT to reduce the risk of infants being exposed to pertussis. NACI suggests intervals shorter than five years can be used for catch-up programs and other instances where programmatic concerns make five-year intervals difficult.

The World Health Organization recommends a pentavalent vaccine, combining the DTP vaccine with vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type B and hepatitis B. Evidence on how effective this pentavalent vaccine is compared to the individual vaccines has not yet been determined.

A 2019 study found that state requirements mandating the use of the Tdap vaccine "increased Tdap vaccine take-up and reduced pertussis (whooping cough) incidence by about 32%."

Excluding pertussis

DT and Td vaccines lack the pertussis component. The Td vaccine is administered to children over the age of seven as well as to adults. It is most commonly administered as a booster shot every 10 years.

<span class="anchor" id="Including polio"></span> Additional targets

In the United States, a combined inactivated polio (IPV), DTaP, and hepatitis B DTaP-IPV-HepB vaccine is available for children. In the UK, all babies born on or after 1 August 2017 are offered a hexavalent vaccine: DTaP, IPV, Haemophilus influenzae, and hepatitis B (DTaP-Hib-HepB-IPV in short).

As of 2023, most of the DTP vaccine procured by UNICEF is of the DTwP-HepB-Hib (pentavalent whole-cell) type. The UNICEF plans to procure the DTwP-HepB-Hib-IPV (hexavalent whole-cell) vaccine starting in 2024. The DPT vaccine should also be avoided if a person developed encephalopathy (seizures, coma, declined consciousness) within seven days of receiving any pertussis-containing vaccine and the encephalopathy cannot be traced to another cause. A DT vaccine is available for children under the ages of seven who have contraindications or precautions to pertussis-containing vaccines.

Side effects

DTaP

Common side effects include soreness where the shot was given, fever, irritability, tenderness, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

Tdap

Common side effects include pain or swelling where the shot was given, mild fever, headache, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach ache. Increased incidence of fever is also noted in pregnant women. Research has not discerned an association between Tdap administration during pregnancy and other serious pregnancy complications such as neonatal death and stillbirth.

France

In France, children are given DTaP-Hib-HepB-IPV vaccines at 2 months (first dose) and 4 months (second dose) with a booster at 11 months of age. A tetravalent booster for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and poliomyelitis is given at 6 years, at 11–13 years, then at 25, 45, 65 years of age, then every 10 years.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, pertussis is known as kinkhoest and DKTP refers to the DTaP-IPV combination vaccine against diphtheria, kinkhoest, tetanus, and polio. DTaP is given as part of the National Immunization Program.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, Td/IPV is called the "3-in-1 teenage booster" and protects against tetanus, diphtheria and polio. It is given by the NHS to all teenagers aged 14 (the hexavalent vaccine is given to infants and provides the first stage of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, and polio, as well as pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B and hepatitis B). Subsequent boosters are recommended for foreign travellers where more than 10 years has passed since their last booster. This is provided on the NHS free of charge due to the significant risk that an imported case of polio could pose to public health in Britain.

United States

The standard immunization regimen for children within the United States is five doses of DTaP between the ages of two months and fifteen years. To be considered fully vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) typically requires five doses of Tdap. The CDC recommends that children receive their first dose at two months, the second dose at four months, the third dose at six months, the fourth dose between 15 and 18 months, and the fifth dose between 4–6 years. If the fourth dose of the DTaP immunization regimen falls on or subsequent to the recipient's fourth birthday, the CDC states that only four doses are required to be fully vaccinated. In U.S., there is no current tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccination (whooping cough) recommended or licensed for new born infants. Ideally, Infants should receive DTaP (name of whooping cough vaccine for children from age 2 months through 6 years) at 2, 4, 6 months of age and they are not protected until the full series is completed. For adults that have not received the DTP series, the CDC recommends a three-part vaccine series followed by a Td or Tdap booster every ten years. In October 2022, Boostrix (Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine, Adsorbed [Tdap]) was approved for immunization during the third trimester of pregnancy to prevent pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, in infants younger than two months of age.

Pregnant women who have not previously vaccinated with Tdap (i.e., have never received DTP, DTaP, or DT as child or Td or TT as an adult) are recommended to receive a series of three Td vaccinations starting during pregnancy to ensure protection against maternal and neonatal tetanus. In such cases, administration of Tdap is recommended after 20 weeks' gestation, Because the vaccine is administered postpartum, the mother is unable to develop antibodies that can be transferred to the infant in utero, consequently, leaving the infant vulnerable to the diseases preventable by the Tdap Vaccine. || 2005 || Adacel is indicated for active immunisation against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis in persons aged ten years and over as a booster following primary immunisation

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| Adacel Polio || 2006 || Adacel Polio is indicated for active immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis in adults, adolescents and children aged four years and older as a booster following primary immunization. All of them are indicated as childhood vaccinations with the schedules as follows:

{| class="wikitable"

|+ DTaP Vaccines in the US

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! Trade name!! Approval date !! Comments

!Contraindications

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| Daptacel || 2002 || For use in ages six weeks through six years as a five-dose series at 2, 4, and 6 months (6–8 weeks apart) and at 15–20 months of age and at 4–6 years. || 1997 || For use in ages six weeks through six years (before the seventh birthday) as a five-dose series as: a three-dose course at 2, 5, and 6 months (4–8 weeks apart), followed by a two booster doses at 15–20 months of age and 4–6 years of age. || 2008 || DTaP-IPV vaccine; also immunizes against poliomyelitis. Kinrix can be used for the fifth (last) dose in the DTaP immunization series and the fourth dose in the IPV immunization series in children aged 4–6 years old (before the seventh birthday) whose previous DTaP vaccine doses have been with Infanrix and/or Pediarix for the first three doses and Infanrix for the fourth dose. || 2002 || DTaP-IPV-HepB vaccine; also immunizes against hepatitis B and poliomyelitis as a three-dose series in infants two, four, and six months (4–8 weeks apart). || 2008 || DTaP-IPV/Hib vaccine; also immunizes against invasive Haemophilus influenza type b and poliomyelitis. It is a four-dose series given at: 2, 4, and 6 months, and at 15–18 months of age. || 2015 || DTaP-IPV vaccine; also immunizes against poliomyelitis. It is approved for use as a fifth dose for children aged 4–6 years old in the DTaP vaccination series and as a fourth or fifth dose in the inactivated polio (IPV) series. || 2018 || Active immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, and invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in children aged six weeks through four years of age (prior to fifth birthday).

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{| class="wikitable"

|+TDaP Vaccines in the US

!Trade name

!Approval date

!Comments

!Contraindications

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| Adacel || 2005 || For use in ages 10 through 64 as an active booster immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. It may also be administered as prophylaxis for wound management. || 2005 || For use in ages ten and older as a single intramuscular injection into the deltoid as a booster immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. It may also be administered as prophylaxis for wound management.