Daptacel (also called DTaP) is used to help prevent these diseases in children who are ages 6 weeks to 6 years old (before the child has reached his or her 7th birthday).
Daptacel works by exposing your child to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. Daptacel will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
Like any vaccine, the Daptacel vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
Important information
Daptacel is given in a series of shots. Children should get 4 doses of Daptacel vaccine, one dose at each of the following ages: at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months of age, at intervals of 6-8 weeks and at 17-20 months of age. Your child"s individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor"s instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.
Be sure your child receives all doses of Daptacel recommended by your healthcare provider or by the health department of the state you live in. If the child does not receive the full series of vaccines, he or she may not be fully protected against the disease.
Your child can still receive Daptacel if he or she has a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving Daptacel.
Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving Daptacel. When the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shots caused any side effects.
Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your child"s health than receiving Daptacel. However, like any medicine, Daptacel can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Before receiving Daptacel
Your child should not receive Daptacel if he or she has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine containing diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus, or if the child has:
Your child may not be able to receive Daptacel if he or she has ever received a similar vaccine that caused any of the following:
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a very high fever (over 104 degrees);
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a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain;
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excessive crying for 3 hours or longer;
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fainting or going into shock;
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seizure (convulsions); or
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Guillain-Barre syndrome (within 6 weeks after receiving a vaccine containing tetanus).
Before receiving Daptacel, tell the doctor if your child has:
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a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia or easy bruising;
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a history of seizures;
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a neurologic disorder or disease affecting the brain (or if this was a reaction to a previous vaccine);
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a weak immune system caused by disease, bone marrow transplant, or by using certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
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if the child is taking a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
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if it has been less than 4 weeks since the child last received a DTaP vaccine.
Your child can still receive Daptacel if he or she has a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until the child gets better before receiving Daptacel.
The pediatric version of this vaccine (Daptacel, Infanrix, Tripedia) should not be given to anyone over the age of 6 years old. Another vaccine is available for use in older children and adults.
How is Daptacel given?
Daptacel is injected into a muscle. Your child will receive this injection in a doctor"s office or other clinic setting.
Daptacel is given in a series of shots. Children should get 4 doses of Daptacel vaccine, one dose at each of the following ages: at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months of age, at intervals of 6-8 weeks and at 17-20 months of age. The customary age for the first dose is 2 months of age, but it may be given as early as 6 weeks of age and up to the seventh birthday. The interval between the third and fourth dose should be at least 6 months. At this time, data is insufficient to establish the frequency of adverse events following a fifth dose of Daptacel in children who have previously received 4 doses of Daptacel. The series should be completed before the child"s seventh birthday. Your child"s individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines.
Follow your doctor"s instructions or the schedule recommended by your local health department.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor"s instructions about how much of this medicine to give your child.
It is especially important to prevent fever from occurring in a child who has a seizure disorder such as epilepsy.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you will miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of Daptacel. Your child may not be fully protected if he or she does not receive the full series.
What happens if I overdose?
An overdose is unlikely to occur.
What should I avoid?
Follow your doctor"s instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
Daptacel side effects
Your child should not receive a Daptacel booster vaccine if he or she had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving Daptacel. When the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the child"s doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects.
Becoming infected with diphtheria, pertussis, or tetanus is much more dangerous to your child"s health than receiving Daptacel. However, like any medicine, Daptacel can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if your child has any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if the child has a serious side effect such as:
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extreme drowsiness, fainting;
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fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer;
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seizure (black-out or convulsions); or
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high fever.
Less serious Daptacel side effects include:
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mild fever or chills;
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redness, pain, tenderness, or swelling where the shot was given;
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mild fussiness or crying;
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joint pain, body aches;
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loss of appetite; or
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mild nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
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.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Daptacel?
Before receiving Daptacel, tell the doctor about all other vaccines your child has recently received.
Also tell the doctor if your child has recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:
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an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
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medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept (Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
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medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection, such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Daptacel. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications your child has received. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your child"s doctor.
