DTP VACCINATION

DTP VACCINATION

DTP (triple) vaccine offers combined prophylaxis against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. The pertussis toxoid offers administrative convenience as well as potentiates the effect of diphtheria toxoid. Both whole cell and acellular vaccines are available. The latter is safer and also available as reduced antigem Tpad booster vaccine for use in older children and adolescents in whom immunity against DTP may have waned.

The vaccine is best stored at a temperature of 2 to 10 degree C.

Age to vaccinate

Primary vaccination consists in giving three doses at the age of 6, 10 and 14 weeks followed by booster at 15-18 months and 5 years. Administrative of OPV and triple vaccine at one sitting is an accepted procedure now and should be encouraged.

Administration

A dose of 0.25 to 0.5 ml of the triple vaccine is given deep intramuscularly over the lateral thigh or the deltoid.

Contraindications

The only contraindications to DTP immunization are

1. Server reaction to previous DTP injection
2. Progressive neurologic diseases

Adverse Reactions

1. Fever and febrile convulsion
2. Local painful swelling, even sterile injection abscess
3. Occasionally 1 to 3 hours after injection, collapse (pallor, sweating, slow pulse) from which the child invariably recovers in an hour or two
4. Allergic skin rash
5. Pseudotumor cerebri
6. Encephalitis
7. Provocation or activation of polio during an epidemic of the disease.