In order to promote prevention of pertussis, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) planned to include the combined tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis(Tdap) vaccine into the routine childhood immunization program to replace the current tetanus diphtheria (Td) at the end of March, 2009.Every child attending the first grade at elementary school will be inoculated with the Tdap vaccine during the second semester.

Following the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the introduction of the Tdap vaccine into the routine childhood immunization program was proposed as the first priority among all the new vaccines to be offered in the near future.The Tdap vaccine includes a new type of acellular pertussis vaccine, which does not merely upgrade the immunity of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, but also lowers the adverse reaction.Additionally, the vaccine can both protect schoolchildren from infection and reduce the rate of severe complications in younger children when the diseases spread out.The Tdap vaccine and the Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine that is included in the routine childhood immunization program in March can be inoculated at the same time (on different inoculation sites) or with any time interval.The implementation of the new vaccine policy aims to improve schoolchildren’s overall immunity against infectious diseases.

Taiwan CDC indicates that the Tdap vaccine is being introduced into routine childhood immunization program for the first time ever.This new vaccine policy will be implemented by health units at elementary schools located in all counties and cities in the nation.Students inoculated with the Tdap vaccine are advised to drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest.If a child, however, experiences reaction to the vaccine or parents who wish to know more about the vaccine, please call the toll-free consultation hotline, 1922, operated by Taiwan CDC.