Immunization Recommendation

On June 30th, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend the use of Tdap instead of Td for immunization of adolescents.  This vaccine has the potential to provide considerable benefit, both in reducing the frequency of Pertussis (whooping cough) disease in adolescents and adults and in minimizing the spread of infection to more high-risk patient populations.  A study recently demonstrated that immunization of adolescents, between 10 and 19 years of age, with a single Tdap dose replacing a Td booster, could prevent between 0.4 and 1.8 million cases of Pertussis.  This would also save approximately $0.3 to $1.6 billion in health care costs over a decade.

Just as with Pertussis vaccination, the use of a Tdap vaccine is contraindicated in patients with a history of encephalopathy, a progressive neurological disorder, epilepsy, or progressive encephalopathy after the administration of any Pertussis vaccine.  Like the Td vaccine, subsequent doses of Tdap should be administered at 10-year intervals.

Please consult your physician when your child's tetanus booster is due (every 10 years) regarding this recommendation.