The Tdap vaccine protects against three different bacterial illnesses:

• Tetanus (or lockjaw-bacteria) - bacteria live in the soil. Infection can occur after a "dirty" wound. It causes painful muscle spasms all over the body leading to difficulty breathing. It can be fatal.
• Diphtheria - an infection that causes a thick covering in the back of the throat. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure and death.
• Pertussis (or whooping cough) - causes coughing spells that can make it hard to eat drink or breathe. It can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and death.

Although the possibility is extremely rare, patients should be aware that any vaccine may cause a shock-like or anaphylactic reaction. For your protection, MinuteClinic recommends the following precautions:

• Remain in the clinic waiting area for 20 minutes after receiving your vaccination.
• Alert the practitioner if you experience any systemic allergic reaction.

Patients may be referred to primary care provider if:

• Serious adverse reaction to previous dose of tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine (either individually or in combination)
• History of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS)
• Progressive or uncontrolled central nervous system condition such as epilepsy
• Weight less than 33 lbs
• Allergy to any component of the vaccine
• History of latex allergy
• Moderate to severe illness at the time of visit – delay vaccination until acute illness has resolved
• Patients on anticoagulant therapy (such as Coumadin) with recent dose changes
• Have an immunocompromised condition