Questions & Answers about Diphtheria, Tetanus & Pertussis Vaccination
Q. Are Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis diseases serious?Q. What is the new dTpa vaccine?
Q. What are the vaccine components?
Q. What if my child had a severe reaction to the old Triple Antigen or DTP vaccine as a baby?
Q. Should my child be vaccinated withthe new dTpa vaccine?
Q. What is “anaphylaxis”?
Q. Does the vaccine last for life?
Q. What if my child had a diphtheria/tetanus injection in the last 5 years?
Q. Is vaccination compulsory for thiscampaign?
Q. What can I do if I do not wish my child to be vaccinated at school or my child missed out on the vaccine at school because of illness/absence on the day of the nurses’ visit?
Q. Will I receive a record of the vaccination that my child received?
Q. Should I give my child a dose of paracetamol before going to school on the day of the injection?
Q. What if my child has asthma and takescortisone or prednisone by a “puffer”?
Q. Should the vaccine be given to a young woman who is or thinks she may be pregnant?
Q. Do homoeopathic preparations protect against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis?
Q. Where can I find more information?
Q. Are Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis diseases serious?
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One in fifteen patients with diphtheria
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One in ten patients with tetanus
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One in two hundred patients under the age of six months who catch pertussis.
Epidemics of pertussis occur in Australia every three to four years. Adults and adolescents are at particular risk of contracting whooping cough, which can be passed on to babies who are too young to be immunised. In 1996, six babies in NSW died from whooping cough.
It is therefore important that all adolescents are protected against these three serious diseases.
Q. What is the new dTpa vaccine?
The dTpa vaccine contains acellular pertussis components, which means that it causes fewer reactions than the old Triple Antigen or DTP vaccine, which was given to children between 1954 and 1997.
Q. What are the vaccine components?
Q. What if my child had a severe reaction to the old Triple Antigen or DTP vaccine as a baby?
A. Unless your child had an immediate severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction to the previous vaccine, it is safe for your child to receive the new dTpa vaccine.
Q. Should my child be vaccinated withthe new dTpa vaccine?
Q. What is "anaphylaxis"?
A. "Anaphylaxis" is a severe allergic reaction that may result in unconsciousness and death if not treated quickly. It occurs rarely after vaccination. The nurses are fully trained in the treatment of anaphylaxis.
Q. Does the vaccine last for life?
A. At this stage, no further doses are recommended.
Q. What if my child had a diphtheria/tetanus injection in the last 5 years?
A. The vaccine can be given if your child has received a diphtheria/tetanus vaccine within the past 5 years.
Q. Is vaccination compulsory for thiscampaign?
A. No. Parents can choose whether or not to sign the Consent Form and have their child vaccinated. Only those children with a Consent Form completed and signed by a Parent/Guardian will be vaccinated. All Parents/Guardians are asked to read the information provided and return the signed Consent Form. DO NOT return the consent form if you DO NOT wish your child to be vaccinated.
Q. What can I do if I do not wish my child to be vaccinated at school or my child missed out on the vaccine at school because of illness/absence on the day of the nurses' visit?
A. You can take your child to your local doctor to have the injection when he/she is 15 years old. However, you may have to pay for the medical consultation. It is advisable to inform the practice that your child requires diptheria, tetanus and pertussis (boostrix) vaccination when making the appointment.
Q. Will I receive a record of the vaccination that my child received?
A. Your child will be given a record of vaccination. It is important that you advise your GPthat this vaccination has been given, as universities, colleges, workplaces and other countries often require this information. Please store this record in a safe place for future reference.
Q. Should I give my child a dose of paracetamol before going to school on the day of the injection?
A. No. This is not necessary.
Q. What if my child has asthma and takescortisone or prednisone by a "puffer"?
A. It is safe to vaccinate children with dTpa vaccine if they use a "puffer" for asthma.
Q. Should the vaccine be given to a young woman who is or thinks she may be pregnant?
A. No. Any young woman who is or thinks she may be pregnant should not be vaccinated.
Q. Do homoeopathic preparations protect against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis?
A. No. There is no evidence that homoeopathic preparations prevent diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis disease.
Q. Where can I find more information?
A. The Australian Immunisation Handbook (current edition) provides detailed information about immunisation. It can be found at www.immunise.health.gov.au
This web page is managed and authorised by AIDS & Infectious Diseases of Centre for Health Protection of the NSW Department of Health. Last updated: 31 March, 2009
