Diphtheria Vaccine

During childhood we are given many opportunities to receive vaccinations that will help us to guard ourselves from serious illnesses throughout the rest of our lives. Booster shots are given as a series of follows ups for these initial vaccinations to keep our bodies immune. The diphtheria vaccine is one of these vaccines.

With any medication or vaccination including the diphtheria vaccine there is a chance of some type of side effect. While most experience very common and minor side effects or none at all there are very few people who have more severe side effects from the common vaccination. Typically the diphtheria vaccine is given with others and given to children in a series of shots at different ages. The most common side effects from the diphtheria vaccine include but are not limited to the following; fever, which may happen in about one in four children, swelling, redness and often times tenderness at the injection spot, also happens in about one in four children. These are very mild and very common. A few of the uncommon side effects may include seizures and high fever which happens in about one in every fifteen thousand children. The most severe side effects which are rarely ever reported are seizures that can be long term, coma and even brain damage. These are very rare and in most studies it is often very hard to determine whether the condition was even caused by the vaccine.

Vaccinations are a personal choice. They are always readily available for you and your loved ones. If you are feeling uneasy about a particular vaccine, talking to your doctor about what may happen with and without the vaccinations is always recommended. It is a personal choice but sometimes suffering from the illness may be slightly more detrimental than suffering from the vaccinations side effects.