Diphtheria Vaccination
Pronounced (dif-THEER-ee-a)
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One of the Recommended Vaccines by Disease
Vaccines are available that can help prevent diphtheria, an infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria. There are four kinds of vaccines used today to protect against diphtheria, all of which are combined with vaccines for other diseases:
- Diphtheria and tetanus (DT) vaccines
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccines
- Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccines
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines
Diphtheria vaccination is recommended for all babies, children, teens, and adults. DTaP and DT are given to children younger than 7 years old, while Tdap and Td are given to older children and adults.
Talk with your or your child's healthcare professional if you have questions about diphtheria vaccines.
CDC recommends diphtheria vaccination for:
- Babies and children
- Preteens and teens
- Adults
Related Pages
- CDC's Diphtheria Website
- Diphtheria Information on vaccines.gov
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Whooping Cough Vaccine Information Statements
- DTaP (English / Other Languages)
- Td (English / Other Languages)
- Tdap (English / Other Languages)
- Photos of Diphtheria Bacteria and People Affected by Diphtheria
Warning: Some of these photos are graphic.
- Page last reviewed: November 22, 2016
- Page last updated: November 22, 2016
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