Adacel

Adacel is a pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria, and tetanus vaccine used as a "booster" for people ages 11 to 64. It is given as a single, one-time injection into the upper arm. The vaccine works by "tricking" the body into thinking it has been exposed to diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. The body produces antibodies that will help fight these diseases if future exposure occurs.

What Is Adacel?

Adacel® (Tdap vaccine) is a vaccine approved for use as a "booster" to help prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) in people 11 to 64 years of age. As with all vaccines, Adacel may not provide full protection to all individuals.
 
(Click Adacel Uses for more information on what the vaccine is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Thimerosal Content and Other Concerns

Adacel does not contain thimerosal (a mercury-containing preservative). Individuals who are concerned about exposure to thimerosal can be confident that this vaccine has no thimerosal (not even trace amounts). Some people are concerned about aluminum content of vaccines; Adacel contains 0.33 mg of aluminum per dose.
 
This vaccine is not made from human fetal components or animal components, as some vaccines are.
 

Who Makes the Vaccine?

Adacel is made by Sanofi Pasteur Limited for Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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