A sterile suspension of adsorbed, purified diphtheria and tetanus toxoids with acellular pertussis vaccine components (aP). It is a combined vaccine used for active immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) in children from 6 weeks up to 7 years of age. It is a key component of the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in India, typically administered as a primary series and booster doses.
Adult Dosage: NOT RECOMMENDED for adults. Use Tdap (reduced antigen formulation).
Instructions: For intramuscular use only. Shake vial/syringe vigorously before use. Preferred site in infants and young children is the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. In older children, the deltoid muscle can be used. Do not inject intravenously, intradermally, or subcutaneously. Use a separate, sterile syringe and needle for each individual.
The vaccine contains purified, inactivated toxins (toxoids) of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Clostridium tetani, along with purified, inactivated components (pertussis toxoid, filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin) of Bordetella pertussis. Upon intramuscular injection, these antigens are taken up by antigen-presenting cells, processed, and presented to helper T-cells. This stimulates B-lymphocytes to produce specific neutralizing antibodies (IgG) against the diphtheria toxin, tetanus toxin, and pertussis antigens. These antibodies provide immunity by neutralizing the actual toxins/bacteria if the individual is exposed in the future.