What are the differences between the DTP, DTaP, and Tdap vaccines?
All three of these are vaccines that protect against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. They differ in the quantities and purity of the components, whom they are recommended for and how many doses are given: • Available in 1948, DTP was the first version of the combined diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis-containing vaccines. This vaccine was known for causing several side effects. Approximately, one of every two recipients had a fever or swelling and pain at the sight of inoculation. A small number of children experienced a high enough fever that they had fever-induced seizures, and some experienced prolonged or inconsolable crying. Also, uncommon, but occurring on occasion was a state of unresponsiveness or collapse. These effects were found to be caused by the pertussis component of the vaccine. • Because of the high rate of side effects, scientists developed a more purified version of the pertussis vaccine, referred to as the acellular pertussis vaccine. When this was combined with
