If an adolescent was not fully vaccinated (see note 1) as a child, check the ACIP recommendations and catch-up schedule to determine what’s indicated.
If adolescents (13 through 18 years) missed getting Tdap at 11 to 12 years of age, administer at the next patient encounter or sooner if adolescent will have close contact with infants.
When feasible, Boostrix® (GSK) should be used for adults 65 years and older; however, either vaccine product administered to a person 65 years or older provides protection and may be considered valid. You should not miss an opportunity to vaccinate persons aged 65 years or older with Tdap. Therefore, you may administer the Tdap vaccine you have available.
UPDATED JAN 2020
You should administer Tdap regardless of interval since the previous Td dose. However, shorter intervals between Tdap and last Td may increase the risk of mild local reactogenicity.
UPDATED JUN 2015
Note 1: CDC defines fully vaccinated as 5 doses of DTaP or 4 doses of DTaP if the fourth dose was administered on or after the fourth birthday.
Note 2: healthcare personnel include but are not limited to physicians, other primary care providers, nurses, aides, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, students (e.g., medical, nursing, and pharmaceutical), dentists, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and dietary and clerical workers.
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