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Boostrix Dosage
Although there is only one standard dose of Boostrix, several factors may affect when you receive it. For example, some of the factors that may affect the timing of the vaccine include your age, your previous vaccination history, and whether you have been exposed to pertussis. The standard dosage is one vaccine (0.5 mL) injected a single time in individuals age 10 and older.
There is only one standard dose for Boostrix® (Tdap vaccine), although it can be confusing to know when exactly (or if) the vaccine should be given. The following factors will influence the timing of the vaccine:
- Your age
- Your previous vaccination history
- Whether you have been exposed to pertussis (whooping cough).
The standard Boostrix dosage is one vaccine (0.5 mL) injected once in individuals age 10 and older. Ideally, this will be given between the age of 11 and 12 years. However, many individuals have never received the DTaP vaccine (either Boostrix or Adacel®) because the vaccine is relatively new. Therefore, for such individuals, Boostrix can be given at any time as long as at least five years have passed since the previous Td (tetanus and diphtheria) booster was given.
In some cases, at the healthcare provider's discretion, this vaccine can be given sooner than five years. For instance, if you have been exposed to pertussis, your healthcare provider may decide to give Boostrix even if it has not been five years since your last Td.
After receiving the vaccination, people generally are advised to continue to receive the Td vaccine every 10 years, as was previously recommended. Essentially, Boostrix replaces one of the Td boosters for most people.
People who did not fully complete their childhood DTaP series of vaccinations may need to receive more than one dose of Boostrix in order to receive full protection.
It is recommended that women receive Boostrix immediately after giving birth, if they have not already had the DTaP vaccine earlier, in order to prevent the spread of pertussis to the newborn, as long as at least two years have passed since the previous Td booster.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD