Difference between DTaP and Tdap

The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends DTaP and Tdap vaccines for children and adults. The two vaccines protect against three diseases:

• Tetanus (a condition that causes painful muscle tightening and might extend to muscles that control breathing)
• Diphtheria (a disorder that causes heart failure, breathing problems, and death)
• Whooping cough (coughing episodes that can lead to breathing difficulty)

The main difference between the two vaccines is when they’re administered. DTaP is administered during early childhood, while TDAP is a booster dose administered later.

While the two vaccines have hugely reduced tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough infections, some people might react to these vaccines. To address such issues, the federal government developed the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Qualified claimants can get coverage for medical bills, income loss, and pain and suffering from the vaccine.

If you or your loved one developed complications after DTaP or Tdap shots, consider consulting a vaccine attorney to discover your rights under the VICP.

Here’s what you need to know about the difference between DTap and Tdap.

DTaP vs. Tdap: Understanding the Differences

DTaP and Tdap protect against the same illness. The only difference is in their composition and the age group they are issued.

DTaP is administered to children under seven, while Tdap is for children over seven.

Typically, DTaP is administered when the child is:

• 2, 4, and 6 months
• 15 -18 months
• Between 4 – 6 years

On the other hand, the Tdap is administered as a booster when a person is:

• Around 11 or 12 years
• Every ten years after that

While the two vaccines protect against the same diseases, the composition might vary slightly. The DTaP has full-strength vaccine doses against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. On the other hand, the Tdap offers full-strength tetanus vaccines and a small amount of diphtheria and whooping cough to boost immunity.

What Are The Ingredients in Tdap and DTaP Vaccines?

The components of DTaP and Tdap vaccines are similar, with only slight variations. Here is a quick highlights of the ingredients common in both vaccines:

• Tetanus toxoid: This is a detoxified tetanus bacterium.
• Diphtheria toxoid: This is a detoxified bacteria that causes diphtheria.
• Pertussis components: This is a purified component of the bacteria that causes whooping cough.
• Adjuvants: These are substances added to the vaccine to enhance the body’s immune response. The common ones are aluminum hydroxide and formaldehyde, phosphate, and 2-phenoxyethanol.
• Preservatives: Initially, most vaccines used a mercury-containing compound called thimerosal as a preservative. However, today, you can find thimerosal-free formulations,
• Stabilizers and antioxidants: Manufacturers add stabilizers and antioxidants to vaccines to help maintain their efficacy during storage.

The main composition difference between the two vaccines is the amount of pertussis. DTaP has an increased amount of pertussis components compared to Tdap vaccines.

Increased pertussis content is designed for younger children, who need a more robust immune response to protect against whooping cough effectively.

Vaccine Injury: Risks Associated with DTaP and Tdap

According to the CDC, the DTaP and Tdap vaccines dropped the rates of tetanus and diphtheria by 99% and whooping cough by 80% in the USA. However, like any medicine, the two vaccines can have side effects.

The huge risk of getting the vaccine is an allergic reaction. Even though it’s uncommon, some allergic symptoms one might get after DTaP of a Tdap shot include:

• Hives
• Paleness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Hoarseness
• Wheezing
• Rapid heartbeat

Other very rare complications one might develop include:

• Long-term seizure: The vaccine can stimulate the immune system, causing mild fever. These fevers might trigger seizures after a vaccination.
• Lower consciousness: A patient can temporarily lose consciousness after a DTaP and Tdap vaccination. Studies show that lower consciousness can be common among adolescents after vaccination.
• Brain damage: In rare cases, some children develop brain damage after vaccine shots, leading to autistic symptoms or autism.
• Brachial neuritis: The condition causes nerve inflammation in the brachial plexus. It can cause shoulder and arm pain, weakness, and sometimes paralysis.
• Joint pain and stiffness: The two are typically mild and temporary side effects and should go away within a few days.
• Parsonage-turner syndrome: This is a sudden onset of shoulder pain and weakness due to brachial plexus inflammation.
• SIRVA (Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration): SIRVA can happen when your physician administers the vaccine too high on the shoulder.

These complications occur so rarely that the CDC says it’s almost impossible to tell whether they are actually related or caused by something else.

Other mild problems that might occur after DTaP and Tdap shots include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Fussiness
• Swelling or redness at the site of the shot
• Tenderness and soreness at the site of the shot

The mild complications can appear within one to three days after vaccination and pass away quickly.

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Legal Aspects of Vaccine Injuries

No question. The severe effects of DTaP or Tdap vaccination are rare. But If you or a family member develop complications after DTaP and Tdap vaccination, consider talking to a vaccine lawyer.

The federal government has a National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) that might cover victims’:

• Medical bills
• Income loss
• Pain and suffering

This program started in the 1980s after lawsuits against healthcare providers and vaccination companies threatened to limit the vaccination rate. The government intervened to prevent the resurgence of diseases that are preventable with vaccines.

How Can a Vaccine Attorney Help With Your DTaP and Tdap Case?

A vaccine attorney can help you discover your rights to VICP, file a claim, and walk you through the entire process.

Most attorneys offer free case evaluations to let you know if you’re eligible for compensation. If you qualify for the claim, you won’t incur attorney fees. The federal government will cover the legal fees and deliver full compensation to the victim.

Call a Vaccine Injury Attorney to Fight For Your Right

If you or your loved one has complications stemming from DTaP or Tdap, don’t wait for help. Instead, contact a vaccine injury attorney to guide you through the journey.

Contact us online for a free consultation about your claim against DTaP or Tdap injury.