DOH Logo
Immunization Program

CHILD Profile

Immunization Logo
skip main navigation

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is spread by coughing and sneezing. It causes a sore throat, low-grade fever, and can completely clog a person's airway. Diphtheria can cause breathing and heart problems, coma, paralysis, and death.

Symptoms include:

  • The gradual onset of a sore throat.
  • A low-grade fever.
  • Weakness.
  • Enlarged lymph nodes of the neck.

Scientific Term:

Diphtheria

Generic Term:

Diphtheria

Age Groups at Risk:

All

Fact Sheets:

Vaccine Info:

  • Ages 0-7:  DTaP or DT
    Children should be immunized in the first 18 months of life with a four-shot series of the combination vaccine, DTaP, which includes diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Children who receive all four doses before their fourth birthday should receive a fifth dose before entering kindergarten or elementary school. The fifth dose is not necessary if the fourth dose was given on or after the fourth birthday. This combination vaccine is not given to individuals over age seven years.
  • DT is available for children under seven years who cannot tolerate the pertussis (whooping cough) component.

  • Ages 10 and Up: Tdap or Td

  • One dose of Tdap is recommended for adolescents aged 11 or 12 years in place of one Td booster.  Children in Grades 6 or 7, who are at least 11 years old, are required to show proof of Tdap vaccination if it has been 5 years since they received a tetanus-containing vaccine (DTaP, DT, or Td). One dose of Tdap is also recommended for older adolescents aged 13-18 years and adults aged 19 through 64 years.

Vaccine Information Statements:

There is no separate Vaccine Information Statement for combination vaccines.

Related Information:

 

  Last Update: 08/26/2008 01:51 PM