The Tdap vaccine is the first vaccination that will be covered. It is a combined vaccine that protects adolescents and adults against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. These three diseases are caused by bacteria and can be very life-threatening. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2016), before vaccines about 200,000 cases of diphtheria, 200,000 cases of pertussis, and hundreds of cases of tetanus were reported in the United States each year. Tetanus also known as Lockjaw causes painful muscle tightening and stiffness, usually all over the body. It can lead to the muscles in the head and neck to be tightened which prevents one from being able to open their mouth, swallow, or sometimes breathe. Tetanus kills…show more content… Pertussis is also known as the whooping cough. It causes severe coughing spells which can cause difficulty breathing, vomiting, and disturbed sleep. It may also lead to weight loss, incontinence, and rib fractures. According to CDC (2016), up to 2 in 100 adolescents and 5 in 100 adults who are infected with pertussis are hospitalized or have complications such as pneumonia or death. Pertussis is especially life-threatening for infants because their bodies are not strong enough to handle the severe coughing. Diphtheria and pertussis can be spread from person to person through the secretions of an infected person from coughing or sneezing. One dose of the Tdap vaccine is routinely given at the age of 11 or 12 (CDC, 2016). Pregnant woman should also get this vaccine during every pregnancy to protect their newborn from pertussis. Health care professionals and anyone in close contact with a baby younger than twelve months should get vaccinated (CDC, 2016). Since people began to get vaccinated, reports of cases for tetanus and diphtheria have dropped by about 99% and cases for pertussis have dropped by about 80% (CDC,
