The essentials
- Usual timing
- From age 14, within the 14–16-year routine window
- How to get it
- Ask a primary care provider or public health unit about local appointments and funding.
Reinforces protection against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. Protection against some of these diseases fades over time, so a booster helps maintain it through adolescence.
School status
All three diseases are included in Ontario’s school requirements, unless a valid exemption applies.
Side effects & precautions
Soreness, redness, swelling, headache or fever can occur. Tell the clinic if needles have caused fainting before. Side-effect guidance
A severe allergic reaction is rare. A severe previous reaction or neurological condition needs a provider’s review.
Call 911 for trouble breathing or swelling of the tongue or throat. Not sure whether a reaction is expected? Contact a healthcare provider or call 811 for advice. Seek care promptly if symptoms are worrying or getting worse.
Useful to know
Is this the same as the preschool booster?
The teen Tdap booster does not contain polio. A provider checks the record if earlier doses were missed.
Pregnancy and wounds
Tdap is recommended in every pregnancy. A wound may also need a prompt tetanus assessment, depending on the wound and earlier doses. Ask for individual advice; do not wait for the routine age milestone. Tdap during pregnancy Tetanus and wound care
Ingredients & more detail
Check the exact product
Ask the clinic for the product name. Its official Canadian product information (product monograph) lists ingredients, packaging, side effects and precautions. This page is a short overview, not a complete safety list.
Your next step
Bring the immunization record and a list of questions to the visit. Ask which doses count, what comes next and how to report new doses to public health.
Sources and references (5)
Program details can change. How this guide is reviewed