According to the large Swedish study mentioned above, acellular vaccines appeared to carry the same side-effects as the whole-cell vaccine, including convulsions and HHEs, but at a lower incidence rate.1
The package inserts for DTaP vaccines (Daptacel and Infanrix, Section 6.2 Post-Marketing Experience) report a laundry list of adverse events including: lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes) , thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count), cyanosis Package inserts for Tdap vaccine boosters (Adacel and Boostrix) include: lymphadenitis (infected lymph node), lymphadenopathy, allergic reactions, including anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions, myocarditis (heart inflammation), myositis (inflamed muscles), muscle spasms, arthralgia (joint pain), back pain, myalgia (muscle pain), large injection site reactions (>50 mm), extensive limb swelling from the injection site beyond one or both joints, injection site induration, injection site inflammation, injection site nodule/ mass, injection site pruritus, injection site bruising, sterile abscess, hypersensitivity, angioedema, edema, rash (exanthem, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, urticaria), hypotension, convulsions (with and without fever), encephalitis, facial palsy, loss of consciousness, paresthesia (burning or prickling sensation), hypoesthesia (numbness), Guillain-Barré syndrome, brachial neuritis, syncope and myelitis.
