Vaccine guidance from Mayo Clinic
Vaccine benefits
What are the benefits of getting vaccinated?
Is immunity through infection, or natural immunity, better than vaccination?
Vaccine safety and side effects
How are vaccines authorized or approved?
Can vaccines give you a disease?
Vaccines and allergic reactions
What are the signs of an allergic reaction after a vaccine?
Why do adults need to get vaccinated?
What to know about vaccines for babies, children and teens
Why do babies need vaccines?
What vaccines do babies and children need?
Do kids have to be vaccinated to attend school?
Is it OK to change kids' vaccine schedules?
Is it OK to pick and choose kids' vaccines?
Do kids' vaccines cause autism?
Recommended vaccines for children and teens
COVID-19 vaccine for kids age 6 months and older
Influenza (flu) vaccine
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine (Tdap)
Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY)
HPV vaccine
What to know about vaccines and pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility
Is it safe for pregnant women to get vaccines?
Is it safe for people who are breastfeeding to get vaccines?
Do vaccines affect fertility and menstruation?
Recommended vaccines during pregnancy
Flu (influenza) shot
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine
COVID-19
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine
Tetanus is a serious disease that causes muscle contractions, particularly in the jaw and neck muscles. The bacteria that cause tetanus enter the body through cuts or wounds. Severe complications of tetanus infection can be life-threatening.
Diphtheria is a serious infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. In advanced stages, diphtheria can damage the heart, kidneys and nervous system. Even with treatment, the disease can be deadly, especially in children. Diphtheria is rare in the U.S., thanks to widespread vaccination. But many countries still have high rates of diphtheria.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. It often causes a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop." The infection can be deadly in infants.
One dose of Tdap vaccine is recommended during each pregnancy, regardless of when you had your last Tdap or tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccination. Receiving the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy helps protect your newborn from whooping cough (pertussis). Ideally, the vaccine should be given between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Getting the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy can protect you from infection and can also help protect your newborn before vaccination is possible.
