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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Tdap Immunisation
What is Tdap vaccine?
The Tdap vaccine (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis) is an inactivated vaccine that protects against three serious diseases: tetanus (lockjaw), diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).
Why is the Tdap vaccine given during pregnancy?
If you get the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, it helps protect your baby from whooping cough (pertussis) right from birth. When you are vaccinated, your body produces antibodies that cross the placenta and give your newborn early protection before they are old enough to be fully vaccinated.
This early protection matters because infants under 5 months old are at the highest risk of pertussis and can develop serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalopathy (brain dysfunction), and even death.
Babies only develop stronger immunity after completing the first three doses of the pertussis-containing vaccine, usually by 5 months of age under the National Immunisation Programme (NIP).
Tdap vaccination in pregnancy has been shown to be highly effective in preventing severe pertussis infection in newborns.
When should the Tdap vaccine be administered during pregnancy?
The Tdap vaccine is recommended during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. In Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities, it is usually given between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation.
What are the contraindications for receiving the Tdap vaccine?
The Tdap vaccine should not be given to individuals who have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity) to a previous dose or any component of the vaccine. (For detailed vaccine-specific contraindications please refer to the product package insert at www.npra.gov.my.)
How many doses of Tdap are needed during pregnancy, both for first-time mothers and those who have been pregnant before?
Only 1 dose of Tdap is required for each pregnancy.
For first-time mothers (primigravida), an additional dose of tetanus toxoid (TT) may be given if their tetanus vaccination history is incomplete or unknown.
Is the Tdap vaccine safe for pregnant women?
Yes, all vaccines used in Malaysia are registered and have been shown to be safe and effective, including the Tdap vaccine. Before being approved for registration and commercial use, vaccines undergo extensive clinical trials involving thousands of participants over several years, and they continue to be closely monitored for safety.
Furthermore, large immunisation registries in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have also found no evidence of harm to babies when the Tdap vaccine is given during pregnancy.
Does the Tdap vaccine cause any side effects to the mother or the baby?
The Tdap vaccine is safe in pregnancy, and any reported side effects are usually mild and short-lived.
- For the mother:
Common side effects include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site. Some individuals may experience transient headaches, fatigue, or nausea.
- For the baby:
There have been no reports of adverse effects on the foetus or newborn linked to the Tdap vaccine. Tdap has been given to hundreds of thousands of pregnant women in many countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia.
How long does the protection last?
Studies show that the antibodies passed from mother to baby after the Tdap vaccination help protect the infant against pertussis until they complete their primary immunisation series at 5 months old.
Because antibody levels in the mother’s body drop over time, Tdap vaccination is recommended during every pregnancy to ensure each baby receives enough antibodies for protection before birth.
If I received the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, does my baby still need to follow the immunisation schedule that includes the DTaP vaccine after birth?
Yes. Your baby must still follow the National Immunisation Programme schedule, including the DTaP vaccine (which also protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis). The maternal antibodies passed to the baby during pregnancy will gradually decrease over time. For sustained protection, your baby needs to develop their own immunity through vaccination, starting at 2 months of age.
Additionally, the vaccines given after birth protect against other diseases besides pertussis.
Do I need to get the Tdap vaccine after delivery if I missed it during pregnancy?
No. Receiving the vaccine after childbirth does not provide the same level of protection for your baby. The strongest protection comes from antibodies transferred to your baby before birth. There is currently no evidence that antibodies passed through breast milk offer adequate protection against pertussis. The dose given after delivery will protect the mother only against pertussis.
Can I receive the Tdap vaccine together with other vaccines like influenza or COVID-19 during pregnancy?
Yes. The Tdap vaccine can be given at the same visit as other vaccines such as those for influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, as long as each vaccine is given at a different injection site.
