DPT / DTaP Combination Vaccines

What is the DPT Vaccine?

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This combination vaccine protects against three diseases:

Diphtheria: Diphtheria is a bacterial infection causing a thick covering in the back of the throat. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death.

Tetanus: Tetanus (lockjaw) is a serious disease that causes painful tightening of muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to “locking” of the jaw so the patient cannot open his mouth or swallow. Tetanus leads to death in about 1 in 10 cases.

Pertussis: Pertussis, also known as whooping cough or 100 day cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breathes which result in a “whooping” sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age. Since the 1980s, the number of reported pertussis cases has increased. These increases have been noted in both infants younger than age 1 year, ages 11-18 years and adults.

How to protect the baby from these diseases?

By vaccination. There are two types of vaccines available:

DPT/ DwPT vaccine: Normal/ whole cell/ painful vaccine as it is called, it contains the entire killed pertussis bacteria with the cell covering inside the vaccine
DaPT vaccine: Painless/ a cellular vaccine as it is called, it contains the killed pertussis bacteria with the cell covering removed. The cell covering of pertussis bacteria is responsible for most of the side effects of DPT vaccine like fever, pain, etc

When are these Vaccines given?

Given as an injection in the muscle in the side or front of the thighs
First/Primary doses are given at 6/10/14 weeks OR 2/4/6 Months
Booster 1 is given at15-18 months
Booster 2 is given at 4.5-5 years
In case you miss any dose, consult the doctor. The doctor will put up a new schedule depending on the dose missed

When are subsequent booster shots given?

Everyone from age 10 up should receive a booster vaccine, called Tdap. It’s a combined tetanus, diphtheria, and a cellular pertussis booster vaccine with smaller doses of bacteria inside the vaccine.

If normal DPT vaccine has been given as the primary immunization, Td booster shots every 10 years would suffice.

Normal DPT vaccine shouldn’t be given after 10 years of age.

Are there any side affects with these Vaccines?

Side effects are usually seen in whole cell vaccine and rarely seen in a cellular vaccine.

Pain and redness at the site
Swelling at vaccination site: In most cases, this swelling subsides within 48-72 hours after vaccination. Sometimes the swelling at the injection site becomes firm, nodular and may persist for several days to weeks. It may soften and form a sterile abscess. It usually disappears on its own, sometimes leaving thick skin behind which eventually also goes

When to worry about the swelling?

If the swelling is painful and warm on touch and child not able to move legs at the end of 5-7 days, it could be an abscess or pus collecting there. Consult your doctor immediately. An ultrasound and drainage might be required

Fever lasting upto 48 hours
Fussiness, irritability, mild drowsiness or poor appetite may be seen for 24- 48 hours after vaccination

Rarely(1 in 1 million doses) –

Very high fever (fever >105 F)
Hypotonic hypo-responsive episodes (HHE)/ collapse like/ shock like state, wherein the child stops responding and collapses
Seizures or fits, usually within 7 days of giving the vaccine

The serious side effects are attributed to the cell of pertussis toxin generally.

How to take care of the baby after the dose?

Your child may experience fever, soreness, and some swelling and redness in the area where the shot was given. Give acetaminophen (paracetamol) in doses of 10-15mg/kg/dose if fever, pain, swelling causes distress to your child every 4- 6 hours for the first 2 days
Ice fomentation/ pack help to numb the pain, if packs not available use a few ice cubes in a napkin or towel and compress the site lightly for 5 minutes and repeat after some time
It is safe to give a bath or a gentle massage the next day. Continue breastfeeding as usual
There is no need to immobilize the limbs

Do not hesitate to call or visit the doctors if:

Severe symptoms develop after immunization, including:

Convulsions/ fits
Fever above 105°F (40.5°C)
Difficulty in breathing or other signs of allergy
Drowsiness, shock or collapse
Uncontrolled crying for more than 3 hours
Severe tender swelling on the legs beyond 48-72 hours
High grade fever beyond 48-72 hours
Reduced leg movements beyond 48-72 hours

What if my child has missed any dose of the DPT VACCINE?

Catch up vaccination

Children upto 7 years of age who are not previously immunized the child should receive 3 doses of DPT or DaPT at interval of 1 month and a 4th dose after 6 months
In case the child has received 1-2 doses and presents later for the remaining vaccine doses, he/ she should receive only the remaining doses. There is no need to repeat the entire schedule
For children > 7years, if they have not received the vaccination, should be vaccinated with Tdap instead

ARE THERE ANY CONTRAINDICATIONS TO THE VACCINE?

DwPT and DaPT:

Not be used in patients with history of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to previous doses

Use DaPT in place of DwPT if the following develop after DwPT use:

Persistent inconsolable crying of more than 3 hours duration
Hyperpyrexia (fever>105 C)
Hypotonic hypo-responsive episodes (HHE) within 48 hours of DwPT
Seizures with or without fever within 7 days of administration

It is not contraindicated in children with non progressive brain illnesses like cerebral palsy, febrile convulsions, epilepsy.

Can the DPT Vaccine be administered in combination with any other Vaccines?

YES, commonly administered combinations are:

DwPT+HBV+HIB: EASY FIVE,COMVAC5, SHAN 5, PENTAVAC
DwPT+HIB:EASY FOUR,COMVAC 4,SHAN 4, QUADROVAX
DaPT+IPV+HIB: PENTAXIM
DaPT+IPV+HIB+HBV:HEXAXIM
DwPT+HBV+HIB+IPV: EASY SIX
Tdap: BOOSTRIX, ADACEL
TDaP: INFANRIX

What is the big difference between normal & painless vaccine?

Let’s get our basics right first:

Painless vaccines are not exactly painless. They pain while getting injected. Some parents think that painless vaccines don’t pain while getting injected
Painless vaccines can also give rise to mild fever, pain and swelling at injection site but the severity and frequency is much lesser
Both of them are equally effective after three doses. They protect around 80-85% for all three illnesses
Painless vaccine effectiveness starts fading after 5-6 years after last shot. This can very well be backed up booster shots every 5 years. The effectiveness of three doses of painful vaccine lasts longer
Painful vaccine can give rise to life threatening complications as mentioned, although the incidence is rare(1 in 1 million doses)
Animal studies have shown that animals vaccinated with painless vaccine can transfer the pertussis bacteria to others in the community without getting signs and symptoms of pertussis. Normal vaccine prevents against the transmission as well and hence protects the community from pertussis. We have not yet got results in humans though
Painless vaccines are very costly, approximately 4 to 6 times the normal vaccines
Both vaccines are available as combinations with Hepatitis B and H. influenza B vaccine. But painful vaccine is not yet available in India as combination with IPV, though its expected soon. So, your child has to take IPV as a separate vaccine
Parents can always interchange between the painless and normal vaccine. You can always communicate to your pediatrician regarding the same for future vaccination planning.

In a nut shell, parent has to decide whether they want to take the risk of rare life threatening complication of normal DPT vaccine versus the risk of pertussis outbreak later on in life. If they choose the first option, keeping a watch for complications is important and if they take the second option, booster shots should follow till 10 years of age. The last shot of Td may be considered 10 years after Tdap dose.

Some golden rules to be followed:

If anyone in your family gets infected with pertussis, vaccinate all family members, including the affected person
If vaccination status is in doubt, better to take the booster shots, especially in adolescent and college going children
Discuss with your pediatrician rather than your neighbor or net blogger to reach to a conclusion

What are the current recommendations?

Keeping in mind our country’s dynamics, IAP recommends DTwP for primary immunisation whereas AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) and CDC recommends DTaP for children >7 years age. Our personal opinion is that parents should take an informed decision along with their pediatrician.

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