Diseases it protects from

• tetanus
• diphtheria
• pertussis (whooping cough)
• polio

Who should get this vaccine

As part of the routine immunization schedule, children get this vaccine as a booster dose (extra dose) if they are age 4 years and have already had their first 4 doses of a tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and polio vaccine. Those first 4 doses are called a primary series. Babies get these doses using a vaccine that also protects against other diseases.

You may also get the Tdap-IPV vaccine if you are age 7 years or older and did not complete your primary series.

The Tdap-IPV vaccine was previously called the dTap-IPV vaccine.

Who may not be able to get this vaccine

You may not be able to get this vaccine if:

• You have an allergy to any part of the vaccine. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any allergies you may have.
• You had a severe (serious) or unusual side effect after this vaccine or one like it.

If either of these apply, check with your healthcare provider before you get the vaccine.

Although you can get the vaccine if you have a mild illness such as a cold or fever, you should stay home until you are feeling better to prevent spreading your illness to others.

Doses

Most children need 1 booster dose of the Tdap-IPV vaccine at age 4 years.

Anyone age 7 years and older who has not had all the doses in the primary series will need extra doses of the Tdap-IPV vaccine. The number of doses you need depends on your age. Ask your healthcare provider how many doses you need.

Other vaccines that protect against the same diseases

• DTaP-IPV-Hib-HB protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B. As part of the routine immunization schedule, babies get this vaccine starting at age 2 months.
• DTaP-IPV-Hib protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, and Hib. As part of the routine immunization schedule, this vaccine is given to children who are age 18 months as a booster dose. Children may also get this vaccine if they are under age 2 years and are not getting the DTaP-IPV-Hib-HB vaccine and children age 2 to 6 years who have not had all their doses of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and Hib vaccines.

Get the vaccine

You can get the vaccine at your local public health or community health centre.

How well it works

After the primary series of tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, and polio vaccine and a booster dose of the Tdap-IPV vaccine, protection is:

• almost 100% for tetanus, diphtheria, and polio
• about 90% for pertussis

It is important to get booster doses because protection may weaken over time.

Safety

Vaccine safety is a top priority. Canada uses extremely safe vaccines. Learn more about vaccine safety in Canada, including how vaccines are monitored for continued safety, and ingredients in vaccines.

Side effects

There can be side effects from the Tdap-IPV vaccine, but they tend to be mild and go away in a few days. Side effects may include:

• redness where you had the needle that may look red on lighter skin or purple on darker skin
• swelling, bruising, itching, or feeling sore where you had the needle
• feeling tired or getting upset easily
• a headache
• a fever or chills
• body aches or sore joints
• not feeling hungry or not wanting to eat (poor appetite)
• feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), vomiting (throwing up), or loose stool (diarrhea)
• a rash

At least 1 out of 100 people who got this vaccine reported 1 or more of these side effects. In some cases, it is unknown if the vaccine caused these side effects.

It is important to stay at the clinic for 15 minutes after your vaccine. Some people may have a rare but serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If anaphylaxis happens, you will get medicine to treat the symptoms.

It is rare to have a serious side effect after a vaccine. Call Health Link at 811 to report any serious or unusual side effects.

How to manage side effects

• To help with soreness and swelling, put a cool, wet cloth over the area where you had the needle.
• There is medicine to help with a fever or pain. Check with your healthcare provider if you're not sure what medicine or dose to take. Follow the directions on the package.
• Some people with health problems, such as a weak immune system, must call their healthcare provider if they get a fever. If you have been told to do this, call your healthcare provider even if you think the fever is from the vaccine.

There can be mild, short-term side effects after getting a vaccine. Find tips to manage these side effects at home.