The Tdap vaccine provides protection against three life-threatening bacterial diseases - (1) tetanus (2) diphtheria and (3) pertussis.

Tetanus - A serious disease caused by a bacteria that affects the nervous system, leading to painful muscle tightening, particularly of the jaw and neck muscle. It can interfere with one’s ability to breathe and threaten life.

Diphtheria - A disease that can cause build up of a thick coating at the back of the throat, and can lead to difficulty in breathing, airway obstruction, respiratory failure, heart failure, paralysis, and even death.

Pertussis - A disease that can cause uncontrollable coughing due to thick mucus in the airways. Infants may not cough at all, instead they will struggle to breathe or may even temporarily stop breathing. It can lead to complication such as lung infection, slowed or stopped breathing, seizures and brain damage. In worst case it can lead to death.

When given during pregnancy, the vaccine also protects the newborn from pertussis during its first few months of life, when there is highest risk of severe complications from pertussis