Adacel

Generic name: tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) [ TET-a-nus, dif-THEER-ee-a, and-ay-SEL-yoo-ler-per-TUS-iss ]
Brand names: Adacel (Tdap), Boostrix (Tdap)
Drug class: Vaccine combinations

Medically reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD. Last updated on Apr 15, 2024.

What is Adacel?

Adacel is a booster vaccine used to help prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in people who are 10 years old to 64 years old, and to help prevent whooping cough (pertussis) in infants who are younger than 2 months old when it has been given to pregnant women. Adacel vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. Like any vaccine, Adacel may not provide protection from disease in every person. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis are serious diseases caused by bacteria. Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through a cut or wound.

Tetanus (lockjaw) causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to "locking" of the jaw so the victim cannot open the mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about 1 out of 10 cases. 

Diphtheria causes a thick coating in the nose, throat, and airways. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, or death.

Pertussis (whooping cough) causes coughing so severe that it can interfere with eating, drinking, or breathing. These spells can last for weeks and can lead to pneumonia, seizures (convulsions), brain damage, and death.

Adacel given during the third trimester of pregnancy to help prevent whooping cough (pertussis) in infants who are younger than 2 months old. Adacel helps the pregnant woman create antibodies against the bacteria that cause whooping cough (pertussis) that are passed to her baby before birth. 

Adacel is especially important for healthcare workers or people who have close contact with a baby younger than 12 months old, to reduce the risk of the baby getting whooping cough.

Related/similar drugs

azithromycin, Zithromax, clarithromycin, Biaxin, Daptacel (DTaP), diphtheria toxoid/tetanus toxoid, Boostrix (Tdap)

Warnings

You can still receive the Adacel vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving Adacel.

You should not receive Adacel if you have ever had had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis vaccine. You also should not receive this vaccine if you had a neurologic disorder affecting your brain within 7 days after having a previous pertussis vaccine.

Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the Adacel vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

If Guillain-Barré syndrome occurred within 6 weeks of receipt of a prior vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, the risk for Guillain-Barré syndrome may be increased following a subsequent dose of Adacel vaccine. 

Persons who experienced an Arthus-type hypersensitivity reaction following a prior dose of a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine should not receive Adacel unless at least 10 years have elapsed since the last dose of a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine.

Fainting can occur with administration of injectable vaccines, including Adacel. Procedures should be in place to prevent falling injury and manage fainting reactions. 

Adacel side effects

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving Adacel vaccine. If you ever need to receive a booster dose, you will need to tell your doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects.

You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, Adacel vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Common Adacel side effects

Common Adacel side effects may include mild pain or tenderness where the shot was given, headache or tiredness, body aches, mild nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Serious Adacel side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Adacel with symptoms including hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these side effects within 7 days after receiving Adacel:

• numbness, weakness, or tingling in your feet and legs;
• problems with walking or coordination;
• sudden pain in your arms or shoulders;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• vision problems, ringing in your ears;
• seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
• redness, swelling, bleeding, or severe pain where the shot was given.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

Before taking this medicine

You should not receive Adacel if:

• you had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine that contains tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis; or
• you had a neurologic disorder affecting your brain (such as loss of consciousness or a prolonged seizure) within 7 days after having a previous pertussis vaccine.

You may not be able to receive Adacel if you have ever received a similar vaccine that caused any of the following:

• a very high fever (over 104 degrees Fahrenheit);
• a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain;
• fainting or going into shock;
• severe pain, redness, tenderness, swelling, or a lump where the shot was given;
• an allergy to latex rubber;
• severe or uncontrolled epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
• Guillain-Barr syndrome (within 6 weeks after receiving a vaccine containing tetanus).

If you have any of these other conditions, your vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all:

• a history of seizures;
• a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
• if it has been less than 10 years since you last received a tetanus shot.

You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you get better before receiving this vaccine.

It is not known whether Adacel will harm an unborn baby. However, you may need a Adacel during pregnancy to protect your newborn baby from pertussis. Young babies are most at risk for severe, life-threatening complications from pertussis. Your doctor should determine whether you need this vaccine during pregnancy.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of the Adacel on the baby.

It is not known whether Tdap vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Adacel should not be given to anyone under the age of 10. Another vaccine is available for use in children younger than 10 years old.

How is Adacel given?

Adacel is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a doctor's office or clinic setting.

Adacel Dosing Information

Routine Adacel Booster Dose (Patients 10 years to 64 years old)

A first dose of Adacel is administered 5 years or more after the last dose of the Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP) series or 5 years or more after a dose of Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Adsorbed (Td). 

A second dose of Adacel may be administered 8 years or more after the first dose of Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (Tdap).

Adacel Dose in Third Trimester of Pregnancy

To prevent pertussis in infants younger than 2 months of age, administer Adacel to pregnant individuals during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Adacel Dose for Wound Management

Adacel may be administered for tetanus prophylaxis for wound management. For management of a tetanus prone wound, a booster dose of Adacel may be administered if at least 5 years have elapsed since previous receipt of a tetanus toxoid containing vaccine.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Adacel vaccine is usually given only once, you are not likely to miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid before or after receiving Adacel?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after receiving Adacel.

What other drugs will affect Adacel?

Before receiving Adacel, tell your doctor about all other vaccines you have recently received.

Also tell the doctor if you have recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:

• an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
• medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders; or
• medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection.

When Adacel was given at the same time as trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) to adults 19-64 years of age, a lower antibody response was observed for pertactin antigen as compared to Adacel administered alone.

If you are using any of these medications, you may not be able to receive the vaccine, or may need to wait until the other treatments are finished.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with Adacel, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Frequently asked questions

• DTaP vs Tdap Vaccines - What's the difference between them?

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Adacel only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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