Contents
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
DTP vaccine is the term for a vaccine that protects us against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. This vaccine is given in four doses. They should be given between two and eighteen months of age. At the age of 6 and 14, your child will need booster doses. The DTP vaccine can be administered alone or as a highly combined vaccine.
Although in Poland the DTP vaccine is mandatory and should be administered to every child, there are numerous controversies associated with it. What is DTP? What are the side effects?
DTP vaccine – characteristics
The DTP vaccine is a combined vaccine that offers protection against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. These are serious infectious diseases that can even lead to death.
The active substance of the DTP vaccine is tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (ingredients derived from bacteria that do not cause infection) and a suspension of a non-infectious pertussis strain. After the injection, your child’s body begins to produce antibodies to protect against these diseases. The effect of DTP vaccine is enhanced by the action of aluminum hydroxide.
DTP vaccine – variants
The DTP vaccine is mandatory and free of charge if we want to vaccinate a child with the traditional version of the vaccine, i.e. DTP-w.
We can also decide on the DTP vaccine, i.e. cell-free. It contains only a few proteins of pertussis bacteria, instead of whole-cell, dead pertussis bacteria.
The DTP vaccine in this version is already payable, either as a separate vaccine or in highly combined vaccines.
Check also: Forgotten disease kills again – whooping cough is back
DTP vaccine – vaccination calendar
The DTP vaccine appears in the vaccination calendar 4 times. The first dose of DTP vaccine should be given to the baby in the second month of life, i.e. around 6-8 weeks. The next two doses should be given to your child every 6-8 weeks. The next doses of the DTP vaccine fall around 3-4 months and 5-6 months of age. The fourth dose of the vaccine should be administered around 16-18 months.
The vaccination calendar also includes two more DTP booster doses that should be given to a child at the age of 6 and 14.
DTP vaccine – side effects
Side effects from the DTP vaccine are usually swelling, pain and redness at the injection site. There may also be nausea, vomiting and sometimes a slight, rarely high fever. However, it should be remembered that after administration of the DTP vaccine, limb paresis, neurological disorders or muscle relaxation may very rarely occur.
A much lower risk is associated with the administration of the DTP vaccine.
DTP vaccine – autism
The DTP vaccine has many opponents. Their main argument is that vaccination is linked to the development of autism in children. The ingredient responsible for the development of autism is to be thimerosal, which contains mercury and is a preservative. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting this link.
The ethyl mercury used in the DTP vaccine is completely excreted from the body. In addition, its dose in the vaccine is considered safe.
Thiomersal is an ingredient in the free DTP vaccines used in the basic free immunization calendar.
The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website.