The DTP vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and polio. The vaccine is often recommended for travellers visiting certain countries. The protection typically lasts for ten years. Whether you need a booster dose depends on your vaccination history and travel destination.
What is the DTP-vaccine?
The DTP-vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and polio.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that spreads from person to person. An infected person can spread the bacteria through coughing and sneezing (airborne droplets), but the bacteria can also spread through physical contact, such as contact with open wounds or kissing. Symptoms of diphtheria can be mild, but in some cases the infection can be deadly.
Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria that can enter the body through broken skin, such as an open wound. Risk factors include wounds caused by animal bites or open wounds that come into contact with dirt or soil. Tetanus can cause severe muscle spasms.
Polio is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. While most infections are mild or have no symptoms, severe cases can cause muscle paralysis and may even lead to death. The virus spreads mostly by eating contaminated food and from person to person primarily through the fecal–oral route, and less commonly through airborne droplets or direct physical contact.
The DTP-vaccine protects you against these three infectious diseases.
What is the duration of immunisation?
Protection from the DTP vaccine usually lasts for ten years. It protects against diphtheria and tetanus during this period. Most people already have lifelong immunity to polio through their childhood immunisation programme and only need one booster dose. If you were not vaccinated as a child, the vaccination course consists of three doses given over a period of seven months.
When is vaccination needed?
Vaccination against DTP is recommended for many (sub)tropical countries. For some countries, a recent polio vaccination is mandatory. You can check which countries require a DTP vaccine in our list of travel destinations.
What is the difference between DTP, DKT, and DKTP?
The difference between these vaccines is the specific diseases they protect against. For most travel destinations, a DTP vaccine is recommended. The DKT vaccine offers protection not only against diphtheria and tetanus, but also against ‘kinkhoest’, which is Dutch for pertussis, or whooping cough. Whooping cough is a contagious respiratory infection that is mainly dangerous for infants. Healthy adults usually don’t need a booster vaccination for whooping cough.
| DTP | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio | Regular vaccine, recommended for travel abroad. |
| DKT | Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus | Specifically for work with young children in the Netherlands, not for standard travel abroad. |
| DKTP | Diphtheria, Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Polio | Specifically for children following the Dutch immunisation programme. |
What are the side effects of the DTP vaccine?
The vaccine can cause some mild side effects, such as pain, redness of the skin, and/or swelling around the injection site. In rare cases, the vaccine can cause tiredness or a mild fever. An allergic reaction can occur if you are allergic to a component of the DTP vaccine.
What does a DTP vaccine cost?
Please see our prices page for the current cost of the DTP vaccine.
Can the DTP vaccine be given simultaneously with other vaccines?
The DTP vaccine consists of inactivated toxins from diphtheria and tetanus bacteria, as well as inactivated poliovirus strains. Inactivated vaccines can be safely combined with other vaccines, such as vaccines against hepatitis A, typhoid, or yellow fever.
Frequently asked questions
A recent polio vaccination can be mandatory in some countries. Please see our list of destinations for a current overview of these countries. These mandatory polio vaccinations are only required for trips with a duration of four weeks or longer, and the vaccination must have been given no more than twelve months ago. The DTP vaccine is recommended for almost all countries outside Western Europe.
The DTP vaccine is usually given as a booster, because most people have already received it as part of their childhood immunisation programme. The vaccine starts working almost immediately in the case of a booster dose, and you will have enough antibodies after a few days. If you did not participate in a childhood immunisation programme, the DTP vaccine will offer sufficient protection after a series of three doses.
About ten years after your last DTP vaccination, you need a booster to help maintain your immunity. This is because immunity fades over time. A booster is recommended after ten years, especially when travelling to an area where DTP is common.
A DTP vaccination is recommended for a trip to Thailand.
Prices
Would you like to know more about costs? Please visit our prices page:
Book an appointment
Do you have any other questions, or would you like to book an appointment for personal (travel) advice? Click the appointment button below or contact us via email at info@vaccinatiecentrum.nl or call 085-9020303.