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DTaP Frequently Asked Questions

When should my child get his or her DTaP shots?

Your child should have a total of five DTaP immunizations, one at each of these ages:

  • Two months.
  • Four months.
  • Six months.
  • Fifteen to eighteen months.
  • Four to six years.

How can I find an immunization clinic near me?

Call your local health department or call the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.

What diseases does DTaP protect against?

The DTaP vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

  • Diphtheria is a disease of the nose, throat, lungs, and skin. It is spread by coughing and sneezing. It can cause breathing and heart problems, paralysis, coma, and even death.
  • Tetanus (lockjaw) can occur when a tetanus germ enters a deep cut or puncture wound. It can cause muscle spasms, breathing problems, and death.
  • Pertussis (whooping cough), on the rise in Washington State, is easily spread by coughing or sneezing. It causes coughing spells that make it hard for a child to eat, drink or even breathe. Babies usually get pertussis from an adult or older child who is infected but who may seem to only have a mild cough. More information about pertussis is available at http://www.pertussis.com/parents.html.

Does the full series of DTaP shots protect my child for the rest of his or her life?

No, protection declines over time. After a child receives the full series of DTP or DTaP vaccines (at 2, 4, 6, 12-18 months of age, and at 4-6 years of age), a booster vaccine (known as Tdap) should be given at 11-12 years of age and is recommended every 10 years throughout adulthood.

 

Last Update: 05/21/2009 06:18 PM