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.
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) is recommended for all adolescents and adults, and during every pregnancy. As one of the most commonly administered vaccines, it generates significant VAERS reports.
The following symptoms are most frequently reported after vaccination:
Tdap is recommended during weeks 27-36 of every pregnancy to protect newborns from whooping cough (pertussis). This means a large portion of Tdap VAERS reports come from pregnant women, which may include pregnancy complications that arecoincidental rather than vaccine-caused.
Large-scale studies have found Tdap during pregnancy to be safe, with no increased risk of major birth defects, preterm birth, or small-for-gestational-age births.
Common:
Less common:
Rare:
Tdap is recommended for adolescents, adults, and during every pregnancy. See timing on the CDC vaccine schedule and our 2026 vaccine schedule analysis.
As of mid-2026, the Tdap vaccine continues to be monitored through VAERS and complementary surveillance systems including the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) and the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) project. No new safety signals have been identified in recent data that would change the established safety profile of this vaccine.
The HHS administration's announced development of AI-powered VAERS analysis tools may provide additional insights into Tdap vaccine adverse event patterns. These tools aim to detect subtle signals that traditional statistical methods might miss, though their implementation timeline and methodology remain under development.
It's worth noting that VAERS reporting for routine vaccines like Tdap has remained stable through the post-pandemic period. While COVID-19 vaccine reports surged and then declined, reporting patterns for established childhood and adult vaccines have been remarkably consistent, suggesting that the VAERS system continues to function as designed for ongoing safety surveillance.
When interpreting VAERS data for Tdap vaccines, several key principles apply:
VAERS data is most useful as a starting point for conversation with your healthcare provider, not as a basis for medical decisions. If you're concerned about Tdap vaccine side effects:
For the most up-to-date safety information, consult the CDC's vaccine information pages or speak with a qualified healthcare professional.
As of mid-2026, the Tdap vaccine continues to be monitored through VAERS and complementary surveillance systems including the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) and the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) project. No new safety signals have been identified in recent data that would change the established safety profile of this vaccine.
The HHS administration's announced development of AI-powered VAERS analysis tools may provide additional insights into Tdap vaccine adverse event patterns. These tools aim to detect subtle signals that traditional statistical methods might miss, though their implementation timeline and methodology remain under development.
It's worth noting that VAERS reporting for routine vaccines like Tdap has remained stable through the post-pandemic period. While COVID-19 vaccine reports surged and then declined, reporting patterns for established childhood and adult vaccines have been remarkably consistent, suggesting that the VAERS system continues to function as designed for ongoing safety surveillance.
When interpreting VAERS data for Tdap vaccines, several key principles apply:
VAERS data is most useful as a starting point for conversation with your healthcare provider, not as a basis for medical decisions. If you're concerned about Tdap vaccine side effects:
For the most up-to-date safety information, consult the CDC's vaccine information pages or speak with a qualified healthcare professional.