Boostrix vs. Daptacel for Bacterial Infection: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Boostrix

the DTaP vaccine

Summary for Boostrix

Prescription only

Boostrix is a Tdap vaccine. It protects you from tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (also known as whooping cough). This vaccine is approved for people ages 10 years and older. It's also approved to be given during the third trimester of pregnancy to help protect the newborn baby from whooping cough. Boostrix is given as an injection into the muscle by a healthcare professional. Side effects include pain at the injection site, headache, and fatigue.

Indications for Boostrix

Prevention of:
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis (also known as whooping cough)

Pros and Cons for Boostrix

Pros

Works well to protect you from tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough
Can be given with other vaccines

Cons

Given as an injection into the arm muscle by a healthcare professional
Can cause pain, redness, or swelling where it's injected

Common Side Effects for Boostrix

Pain at injection site (75%)
Headache (43%)
Tiredness (37%)
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain (26%)
Redness at injection site (23%)
Swelling at injection site (21%)
Fever (14%)

Warnings for Boostrix

Severe allergic reactions
Guillain-Barré syndrome and other nerve problems
Lower response to Boostrix for people with a weakened immune system
Fainting

Summary for Daptacel

Prescription only

The DTaP vaccine protects your child from diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (also known as whooping cough). DTaP is shorthand for this vaccine. It's a routine vaccine for all children starting at 2 months of age and given as a 5-dose series (1 injection at age 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 20 months, and 4 to 6 years). Children older than 7 years of age and adults who didn't receive or complete the DTaP vaccine series receive the Tdap vaccine instead of the DTaP vaccine. Common side effects include injection-site reactions, sleepiness, and irritability.

Indications for Daptacel

Prevention of:

Diphtheria
Tetanus
Pertussis (whooping cough)

Pros and Cons for Daptacel

Pros

Works well to prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough
Can be given with other vaccines
Readily available and easy to find
Can be given to children as young as 6 weeks old

Cons

Needs to be injected into the muscle
Must be given by a healthcare provider at an office, clinic, or pharmacy
Need to receive 5 injections to complete the series
Not used in people age 7 years and older

Common Side Effects for Daptacel

Daptacel

Irritability (32-40%)
Sleepiness (19-33%)
Fever (8-24%)
Tenderness at injection site (8-11%)
Low appetite (8-11%)
Vomiting (4-7%)
Swelling at injection site (1-6%)
Redness at injection site (1-4%)

Infanrix

Irritability (52%)
Redness at injection site (48%)
Pain at injection site (45%)
Sleepiness (36%)
Swelling at injection site (33%)
Loss of appetite (25%)
Fever (9%)

Warnings for Daptacel

Severe allergic reactions
Fainting
Lower response to the DTaP vaccine in children with weakened immune systems
Discuss benefits and risks of the DTaP vaccine with provider if your child has previously experienced reactions to a pertussis vaccine
Breathing issues (apnea) in premature babies
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and nerve problems