Important: VAERS reports alone cannot determine if a vaccine caused an adverse event. Reports may contain incomplete, inaccurate, or unverified information. Correlation does not equal causation.
DTaP protects children against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). Given as a 5-dose series between ages 2 months and 6 years, it's one of the most frequently administered childhood vaccines — and one of the most reported in VAERS.
The following symptoms are most frequently reported after DTaP vaccination:
The original DTP vaccine used whole pertussis bacteria and was associated with higher rates of fever, fussiness, and rare neurological events. The modern DTaP uses purified (acellular) pertussis components and has a significantly improved safety profile.
When looking at VAERS data, it's important to separate pre-1997 DTP reports from modern DTaP reports. The 2,414 death reports across both formulations largely reflect the older vaccine and the era before improved infant health monitoring.
Common (up to 50% of doses):
Less common:
Rare:
DTaP is almost always given alongside other vaccines (Hib, IPV, PCV13, hepatitis B, rotavirus) at the 2, 4, and 6-month visits. This means many VAERS reports listing DTaP also list other vaccines — making it impossible to attribute symptoms to DTaP alone from VAERS data.