What the Td/IPV vaccine is for
The Td/IPV vaccine protects against 3 serious illnesses:
It boosts the protection provided by the 6-in-1 vaccine and 4-in-1 pre-school booster vaccine.
Who should have the Td/IPV vaccine
Children are given the Td/IPV vaccine (3-in-1 teenage booster) at around 13 or 14 years old (school year 9) as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.
If you or your child missed getting vaccinated, speak to your school nurse, or your GP surgery if you've left school, about getting vaccinated.
The Td/IPV vaccine is also given to adults at higher risk of tetanus, diphtheria or polio, such as:
- people who need protection against these illnesses before travelling abroad (the vaccine may be recommended if you're going to an area where it may be difficult to get medical help quickly and your last dose was more than 10 years ago)
- people who have a large, dirty or deep wound that could mean they're at risk of tetanus
- people at risk of these illnesses through their work, such as some laboratory staff
Who cannot have the Td/IPV vaccine
Most people who need it can have the Td/IPV vaccine, including if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
You only cannot have the vaccine if:
- you've had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine
- you've had a serious allergic reaction to anything in the vaccine (including neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin)
The vaccine may also not be suitable for you if you have a rare condition called phenylketonuria. Tell the person who'll be vaccinating you if you have this.
Getting vaccinated if you're unwell
If you have a high temperature or feel too unwell to do your normal activities, wait until you're feeling better before having the vaccine.
Td/IPV vaccine ingredients
There is 1 type of Td/IPV vaccine given in the UK. You can check the ingredients in the patient leaflet:
Revaxis vaccine patient leaflet (Electronic Medicines Compendium website)
How to get the Td/IPV vaccine
There are different ways to get the Td/IPV vaccine.
| Who should have it | Where to get it |
|---|---|
|
Children aged 13 or 14 (school year 9) |
Secondary school (or community clinics for those not in school) |
|
Anyone who missed getting vaccinated at 13 or 14 |
Check with your school nurse (or your GP surgery if you've left school) |
|
People who need the vaccination for travel (you may have to pay for this) |
Travel vaccination clinics, pharmacies with travel health services and some GP surgeries |
|
People who need the vaccination for their job |
Speak to your employer about getting vaccinated |
Having the Td/IPV vaccine at the same time as other vaccines
You can have the Td/IPV vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, such as the MenACWY vaccine.
Side effects of the Td/IPV vaccine
Most of the side effects of the Td/IPV vaccine are mild and do not last long.
They can include:
- swelling or pain where the injection was given
- a high temperature
- a headache
- dizziness
- feeling or being sick
More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are very rare. The person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.
The vaccine used in the UK contains killed (destroyed) versions of the illnesses it protects against, so there's no risk of getting the infections from the vaccine.
More about vaccine safety
Find out more about why vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself