Adacel vs. Boostrix: What Tdap Vaccination is Best for Me?
Key takeaways:
Adacel and Boostrix are two FDA-approved Tdap vaccines. They help protect you against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) infections.
Both Adacel and Boostrix are safe and effective for adults and children 10 years and older. They’re also safe and recommended for pregnant women.
Boostrix is preferred if you are 65 years of age or older. And you shouldn’t receive the Boostrix prefilled syringe if you’re allergic to latex.
Table of contents
The CDC recommends regular vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. There are two types of vaccines that cover these three diseases: DTaP vaccines and Tdap vaccines. The best vaccine for you depends on your age, allergies, and your previous vaccinations.
Adacel and Boostrix are two Tdap vaccines approved by the FDA for use as a booster shot. This means they’re meant for people who’ve already completed the initial recommended DTaP vaccine series. In some cases, they’re also used as catch-up vaccines if you didn’t receive the DTaP vaccine series as an infant.
Below, we’ll highlight some of the differences between Adacel versus Boostrix.
Adacel vs. Boostrix: What are the similarities?
Adacel and Boostrix are both Tdap vaccines recommended by the CDC for the following:
As a booster shot in people aged 10 years and older who received a full vaccination series with DTaP
During the third trimester of pregnancy (between 27 to 36 weeks) to prevent pertussis (also known as whooping cough) in babies younger than 2 months old
As a single dose for children or adults who have never received a dose of Tdap
To prevent tetanus from a wound
All of the ingredients in both Adacel and Boostrix are inactive, meaning they can’t cause an infection. But they do help your body learn how to fight these three bacteria in order to prevent infection. Adacel and Boostrix don’t contain preservatives. But they do have other ingredients that help the vaccine work better, like aluminum phosphate (Adacel) or aluminum hydroxide (Boostrix).
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Adacel and Boostrix are both dosed as 0.5 mL and should be injected into the muscle of the upper arm by a healthcare provider.
Adacel vs. Boostrix: What are the differences?
Although Adacel and Boostrix are very similar, they do have some differences.
Adacel is only approved for people 10 to 64 years old, whereas Boostrix is approved for people 10 years and older. So if you’re over the age of 65, Boostrix is a better option for you.
Some of the inactive ingredients between the two are different. This is important if you have certain allergies. For example, the tip caps of Boostrix prefilled syringes contain latex, but the vials don’t. Adacel vials and syringes don’t contain latex. Discuss these inactive ingredients with the healthcare professional giving you the vaccine ahead of time, so you can make the best decision for you or your child.
How effective are Adacel and Boostrix vaccines?
Both Adacel and Boostrix are very effective against tetanus and diphtheria. They’re slightly less effective against pertussis.
The CDC estimates Adacel and Boostrix are almost 100% effective against tetanus.
Vaccines against diphtheria, which include Adacel and Boostrix, are around 97% effective.
Overall, the CDC considers Adacel and Boostrix about 80% to 85% effective at preventing pertussis. In studies, they protected about 73% of adolescents in the first year after vaccination. And when given during pregnancy, both vaccines prevent about 90% of pertussis hospitalizations for infants younger than 2 years old.
How long are you protected after getting vaccinated?
The protection against tetanus and diphtheria the Tdap vaccine gives isn’t permanent. Over time, your body loses some of it. So the CDC recommends that adults get a booster of Tdap or Td (which only protects against tetanus and diphtheria, not pertussis) every 10 years. This helps make sure you have continued protection.
Pertussis protection doesn’t seem to last as long. It takes about 2 weeks for you to get the full effects of the pertussis portion of the vaccine. After that, protection seems to last about 4 to 12 years. But the antibody levels peak within a month of the vaccine and then fall over the first year. This is why the Tdap vaccine is recommended with every pregnancy to make sure antibody levels are high enough to protect the baby after birth.
Age recommendations and dosing schedules
Below, we’ll outline the CDC’s current dosing recommendations for Tdap.
Dosing schedule in children
Your healthcare provider will give the first dose of Adacel or Boostrix at around age 11 or 12. This should be 5 years or more since the last dose of the initial series of childhood DTap vaccines. If your child didn’t receive the series and is 7 years or older, talk with their provider about receiving Tdap as part of their catch-up schedule.
Adolescents who haven’t received Tdap before and plan to have close contact with an infant younger than 12 months old should get a dose of Adacel or Boostrix. This should happen at least 2 weeks before contact.
Dosing in adults
Adults 19 years and older who’ve never received Tdap should receive a single dose of Adacel or Boostrix at any time. The CDC also recommends adults receive a dose of Tdap in the following situations:
Adults who haven’t received Tdap before and plan to be close to an infant younger than 12 months old should receive it at least 2 weeks before contact.
Healthcare providers who haven’t had a dose of Tdap.
Women between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
Adults with a minor wound that’s not clean (like a nail puncture), if it’s been more than 5 years since their last tetanus-containing vaccine.
The CDC recommends adults get a Tdap booster every 10 years with either Adacel or Boostrix. If needed, you can receive an additional dose of Adacel 8 years or more after the first dose. For Boostrix, you should wait at least 9 years for another dose. But you can receive both sooner if you’re pregnant or have a minor wound. If you’re 65 or older, Boostrix is preferred.
Who should avoid Adacel and Boostrix vaccines?
There are some situations when a Tdap vaccine may not be recommended:
If you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in Adacel or Boostrix. Or to a previous dose of a tetanus, diphtheria, or pertussis vaccine.
If you’ve had a rare reaction called the Arthus reaction (severe pain, swelling, or hardness at the injection site). It’s recommended to wait at least 10 years after your last dose, and talk to your healthcare provider before receiving another one.
If you’ve had encephalopathy (brain problems) within 7 days of a previous dose of a Tdap vaccine and a healthcare provider couldn’t find another cause for it.
If you have uncontrolled seizures or spasms.
If you’ve had Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of a previous tetanus vaccine.
These may not always stop you from receiving a Tdap vaccine — your healthcare provider will be able to help decide if it’s safe for you.
Also, tell your provider if you’re feeling sick when it’s time to receive your vaccination. If you have a minor illness, it’s probably still fine to get vaccinated. But if you’re feeling really bad or have a fever, they might want to wait until you’re feeling better.
What are the known side effects of Adacel and Boostrix?
The most common side effects reported for both Adacel and Boostrix are injection site reactions. These include pain, redness, and swelling in the area of the injection.
Other side effects include:
Headache
Feeling tired
Stomach symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain)
Fever
Body aches
Swollen lymph nodes
Sore and swollen joints
Can Tdap vaccines cause autism?
No. A study published in 2018 looked at over 80,000 children. Children born to mothers who received a Tdap vaccination during pregnancy didn’t have a higher risk of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder than those who didn’t receive the vaccine.
In addition, the CDC asserts that vaccines in children don’t cause autism. If you have concerns, speak with your child’s healthcare provider.
How to save on Adacel and Boostrix
You can receive many vaccines at no cost. This is usually the case if you have private or government-funded health insurance. And if you’re uninsured or underinsured, there are programs available that provide access to free or low-cost vaccines.
The bottom line
Adacel and Boostrix and two brands of Tdap vaccines. They both work well to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in older children and adults. They’re also given during the third trimester of pregnancy to help protect the baby after birth. You should receive either Adacel or Boostrix around the age of 11 or 12 and then once every 10 years.
Boostrix is preferred if you’re 65 years of age or older. And if you’re allergic to latex, you shouldn’t receive the vaccine from a Boostrix prefilled syringe. Speak with your healthcare provider to find out which Tdap vaccine is best for you.
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