The FDA has approved a second new tetanus booster shot now containing a whooping cough (pertussis) booster as well. The vaccine is called ADACEL and is made by sanofi pasteur. (Another vaccine, BOOSTRIX, was approved in May 2005). The vaccine is licensed for use in children and adults (unlike the other vaccine) ages 11 through 64 years of age.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is not uncommon in teenagers and adults. Infants receive vaccination against pertussis as part of the DTaP vaccine; however, immunity wears off by adolescence. Whooping cough is not that serious a disease in teens and adults; however, they can give it to a baby before the baby can develop immunity, and it can be a very serious or fatal disease in infants and young children. Furthermore, whooping cough is actually increasing, putting more babies at risk.
It is expected that the Tdap vaccine will replace the standard tetanus booster in teenagers (currently recommended at age 11) and possibly adults as well, in an effort to reduce this disease among infants as well as teens and adults. Since ADACEL is approved for use in adults, it is likely that it will be recommended that all adults receive a dose of this vaccine.
